Eklera

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Eklera is a small muslim farming village located in the district of Surat, Gujarat, India. It is about 15 km from the arabian sea coast and less than 5 km from Surat City Municipal Boundary. Its nearest railhead is Bhestan, Surat City about 5 km distance from the village. The adjoining village of Bhanodra is a continuation of Eklera and hence counted within it. Eklera has a population of about 1200 people, the vast majority being Sunni Surti Vohra and a small number of Tribal Hindus. Most of the families are engaged in agriculture. Eklera initially saw a high degree of immigration, this has now slowed. Approximately a quarter of the population is settled abroad including UK, Botswana, Panama, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and in the past Fiji and Burma. The Muslim population has many families the more prominent being the Patels specifically those residing in the Dabi Mollah Street of the village. They share a common relative and are originally from Baleshwar, Surat and are said to have settled in the town and founded it. The Patels have traditionally dominated the villages politics as well as owning the vast majority of land and were among the first to settle abroad. The family is very large and today the majority members of the Patel family are settled in London, UK and are now in their Second Generation. Other prominant muslim families include Boda, Hafezjee, Aswat, Kasu, Bhana Patel, Natali, Rawat, Seria, Rangooni and others. Some families have their own history of migration from other villages prior to settling in Eklera.

Some of the largely Vohra Muslim populace and especially the Patels of this area and ancillary muslim villages in its vicinity were known to be of High Hindu/Brahmin caste (see also Sidhra-Rudhra Brahmins) and land owners before adopting Islam sometime during the rule of the Zafar Shah and the Gujarat Sultanate. During British rule Eklera was part of the Nawab of Sachins domains.

From persons settled abroad Eklera has produced lawyers, doctors as well as successful business people.

Eklera also possesses two mosques and two schools. In more recent times it has seen much development both in the village itself and in its immediate proximity with the rise of new houses, construction of roads, infrastructure, townships and residences on land previously belonging to the village largely due to its proximity with Surat City. All of the previously agricultural land of the village has now been transferred into Surat Residential Zone. It is also widely expected that Surat City boundaries next increment will take Ekerla into its boundaries thus facilitating further development. There are three major roads connecting the village with Unn, Sachin and Bhestan. The relative prosperity of the village has also increased substantially within recent times due to the high land prices in Surat and because of the return of many former NRI's (Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin) and thus their contributions to the villages welfare.