Kamdar family tree

Mehta or Kamdar (its same family's last name) of Jetpur, (Saurastra, Gujarat ) India. One of the world's oldest family trees with authentic genealogies, and their unique influences, connections, and contributions to India's freedom from British government. An important concept to highlight is that the Kamdar family only disagreed politically with the British agenda. We were in fact major traders and were the main agents in the Western States of India for European and North American products and services for at least 200 Years. Once this Kamdar family was involved in the Gandhian movement, they became against using any British products. Evidence of the intensity and tenacity to free India from dependency of British government will be unraveled in this web site..

j It was Nagar sheth of Jetpur Shri Nautamlal B. Mehta (Kamdar) who was the first to use and bestow "Mahatma" for Shri Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on January 21, 1915 at Kamri Bai School, Jetpur, India. From then on, Gandhiji was known as Mahatma Gandhi. It is commonly believed that Rabindranath Tagore first bestowed the name. However, this is incorrect. Read the original documents about the day Gandhi became Mahatma (Manpatra) by clicking here! Also you will read similar Manpatra was given to Smt Kasturba Gandhi too.

A member of this family, Shri Chhotalal Mansingh Kamdar, was among the very few Indians to participate in Chicago (USA) World Trade Fair in 1930. Click Here!

Why did America's famous business icon, William Randolph Hearst write letters to Nautamlal Mehta (Kamdar ) in 1907? Click Here

Bhagvanji Narbheram Mehta (Kamdar) was part of the original first 10 members of the Indian National congress since it's inception in 1885.

Read Gandhiji's View and his advice in his letter to Mulshanker Mehta on Marriage whether to marry or not to while fighting for Freedom for India from British

Click here to Read one of the world's most noble and humanistic actions of Manilal, his wife Sharda, and his younger brother Vajubhai who Protected 5000 people while risking their own lives and property during WW II in Burma. Read the full facts here.

Hand drawn sketch of Narbheram Kamdar and his son Bhagavanji Kamdar dated 1819, In this Picture the small note in hand of Narbherambhai shows the written names of his great grand father.

Click here to discover the connections between Mahatma Gandhiji and our family as early as 1885, and what Gandhiji had written about a member of our family.

Read here How Mohandas Gandhi become Mahatma Gandhi It Was Nautamlal Mehta Used that term to him. on January 21.1915 . Read Mahatma Gandhi's view on marriage. See photos of Indira Gandhi and Nehru at Manilal Mehta's Home. Guess why American Famous business Icon William Randolph Hearst wrote letters to Nautamlal Mehta-Kamdar. do you want to know connection between Subhaschandra Bose and Kamdar family. Scroll down for some interesting unknown, but authentic and documented info.

Details of Genealogy of Shri Kota Mehta-Kamdar- Family of Jetpur

Kamdars of Jetpur have a unique sect in the Jain religion( stha na k vasi) . This Kota Kamdar family tree is one of the oldest family trees in the World. This clan also has last names such as Domadia and Mehta. Their Kul Devi, the goddess of their clan, is maymai Ma of Thorala which is located 50 miles from Rajkot, Gujarat. This Kamdar Tree is rare, unique, and has one of the longest family trees in the world. It seems like we started using Mehta from the mid-18th century. This Kamdar family have ruled Jetpur for two generations, during Gopaljee and Chatrabhuj's time when the local ruler of the Kathis were de-thronged. Gopaljee Kamdar and Narbheram Kamdar had great influence and power over the British Agency in Bombay and Rajkot British Agency had great respect and trust for Chatrabhuj Kamdar and Gopaljee Kamdar, at that time their recommendation had the power to get release people from death chamber .

Mahatma Gandhiji visited Nautamlal Bhagvanji Kamdars home on January 21, 1915. He was first citied by Nautamlal Bhagvanji Kamdar, and in that citation Nautamlal Bhagvanji Kamdar used the word "Mahatma" for first time for Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. From that day forward Gandhiji was recognized as Mahatma.

The sons of Nautamlal are Manilal, Mulshankar,(who was one of the Gandhiji's group in Dandi Kuch and Vajubhai who were also very active Gandhians, with their home, their activities were always hovered by Subhas Chandra Bose, Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Tilak, and prominent Nationalist during that time. Nautamlal's daughter Manjula (Maya) was also very active in the Free India Movement. Gandhiji had a lot of respect and trust in her, as well as Mayaben's father-in-law Dr.P.J. Mehta. Mahatma Gandhi has written about Dr. P.J Mehta and his help to him in his book" The Story of my Experience with Truth" on pages 39, 40 41, 42, 74, 75, 76, 237, 310, 347, 375. ( click here to see the Photocopies of Gandhijees writing on Dr.PJ Mehta in his autobiography " My experience with Truth.") Also Dr. Mehta became the main financer of promoting Gandhi's ideas and movements. When Gandhiji wanted BIG money to establish Gujarati Medium based University in Amedabad "Gujarat Vidyapith" . He tried with Ghanshyamdas Birla, Jamnalal Bajaj, and Ambalal Sara bhai all were scared and afraid of the British anger and avoided any contribution at that time to that request, however, Dr. Mehta and Nautam bhai Kamdar came out openly, bravely with intense nationalism and contributed Rupees 1,28,000.00 for the University. In the same way Nautamlal bhai Kamdar also contributed earlier stage of Gandhi's movement similar amount anonymously to Gandhiji. here we talking of 1920 Rupees. present value could be 200 crores.

Furthermore, we feel proud to be able to display our pioneering work in diamond cutting since the late 19th century. This link will lead to references depicting our involvement in Western India's diamond cutting and polishing industry by Bhagvanji Narbheram Kamdar and his son Nautamlal. Click here!

We welcome any more information about this tree from anybody, who has interest or link to this Kamdar tree. Whatever we have written, has been documented from newspaper, books, and photographs or from family's record

Mehta-Kamdar Family Tree

The family began with Kota Kamdar as far as authentic record goes:

Kota Kamdar	Picture Not Available
Kamar Kamdar	Picture Not Available
Kadva Kamdar	Picture Not Available
Megh Kamdar	Picture Not Available
Leva Kamdar	Picture Not Available
Tulsidas Kamdar	Picture Not Available
Venidas Kamdar	Picture Not Available
Deva Kamdar	Picture Not Available
Bhimji Kamdar	Picture Not Available
Chatrubhuj Kamdar	Picture Not Available
Gopalji Kamdar (year could be 1835)
Narbheram Kamdar - married Gangaben		Picture of Ganga Ba not available
Bhagvanji Kamdar - married Jamnaben	Bhagvanji	w. Jamnaben				Bhagvanji has two sons and two daughters: Nautamlal, Chamanlal, Manibhen, Jhabakbhen
Bhagvanji's Children: Nautamlal Kamdar (Mehta) - married Achartben	Nautamlal	w. Acharat Ba		Chamanlal		W.Moti Ba she was one of the first indian woman to go to jail as freedom fighter in 1930		Bhagavanji bhai had two daughters Manibhen and Jhabakbhen
Nautamlal's Children: Manilal Kamdar (Mehta) - married Sharada (Pushpa), Mulshankar Kamdar (Mehta), Vajubhai Kamdar (Mehta)	Manilal	w. Sharada		Mulshankar never married because of involvement in the Gandhian Freedom Movement		. Vajubhai never married because of involvement in the Gandhian Freedom Movement.		Nautambhai has six daughters: Jayalaxmi, Kashi, Prabha, Manjula, Laxmi and Vanita
Manilal's Sons: Dhirendra Mehta, Ashok Mehta, Niranjan Mehta, Atul Mehta	Dhirendra Kumar (far right)	w. Usha (picture not available)	Ashok(died at age 16)	Niranjan	w. Veena	Atul	w. Alpa
Atul's Sons: Anish Mehta and Anup Mehta	Anish Atul Mehta					Anup Atul Mehta

Additional Family Photos and Commentary

Although most of the photographs were lost in WWII, we are lucky to documenting some significant and important events that were saved in the Kamdar family.


1. Mahatma Gandhi with Nautamlalbhai Kamdar at Kamri Bai School on January 21,1915	2. Indira Gandhi and Jawarharlal Nehru, stayed with Manilal Mehta Kamdar in May 1937 in Rangoon for" seen with Sharda (Amma) & a family members.	3. Gandhiji visiting Mill in Rangoon seen with Manilal Mehta & other Family members.	4. Jawarharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi were received at the airport by Manilal Mehta during their Rangoon trip in May 1937	5. Letters were written to Nautamlal Kamdar in 1907 from America's famous Business Icon William Randolph Hearst of Hearst castle. CA.

6. Kamdar history in Gujarati. A Famous Jain Muni, (Guru) Jethmalji Swami has written about Kamdar Family, and their influence over British through Integrity and Trust.	7. Documentation of how and when Mohandas K. Gandhi became known as the "Mahatma". This is called a Manpatra. Click Here for an English Translation (Jan. 21,1951)	8. This is back side of Mahatma Gandhiji's Manpatra from prominent civilians of Sorath(Jetpur) signed here. in those days age of a person was more important then money.	9. Wife of Mahatma Gandhi, Shrimati Kasturba Gandhi was also given Manpatra in Jetpur on January 21, 1915.	10. Reverse side of Kasturba's Manpatra. Signed by Prominent Lady Personalities of Jetpur.


11. Mahatma Gandhi's Hand written letter to Mulshankar Nautamlal Mehta, (Kamdar) is about him advising him whether to marry or not to marry while fighting for Freedom for India from British. For an English Translation Click Here	12. Click the photo above to know about a unique connection between the Kamdar and Nehru family. This connections are recorded to have started in 1885. Bhagvanji and Nautamlal Kamdar met Motilal Nehru during the formation of the Indian National Congress between 1885 to 1920. of contact with Kamdars. 2nd Generation: Manilal, the son of Nautamlal, and Manilal's wife, Sharda hosted had Nehru and Indira Gandhi at their Rangoon home. This was during their visit to Rangoon. (of 8 days) in 1937. 3rd Generation Pallavi Mehta, seen in the last photo, met Smt Indira Gandhi at Rajkot Airport in 1960	13. This is the tithis of our Kamdar kutum's Nived (Naived). We have to perform Nived on these tithis to get the blessings of Surdhan Bapa. This Nived is very strictly followed according to proportion of food and the weight of food.	14. Read about a true story as to how business was done based on shear trust and honesty in the old days (around 1830- 1840). This story involved the famous Nagar seth of Ahmedavad, Seth Himabhai and Nagar Seth of Jetpur, Seth Nabherambhai Kamdar. Seth Himabhai had honored a hundi of one lakh 50 thousand rupees from Seth Narbherambhai without having personally known him. At present value, it could be equivalent to 300 to 400 crore rupees.	The special bond that Seth Himabhai and Seth Narbherambhai left, was revived unknowingly in 1970 at Atul's Factory in Valsad (Gujarat). That story goes a little something like this. Niranjan Mehta, the great grandson of Narbheram Seth, was the captain of the Gujarat Cricket team. (www.coachguru.com ) The host of the match was the local industrialist, Seth Siddarth Kasturbhai Lalbhai. Before the match day, Seth Siddarth's son, Sunil (age 10) was stricken with typhoid. As a great fan of cricket, he wanted to meet, Gujarat's captain, Niranjan Mehta ( www.niranjanmehta.com ) and Maharashtra's captain Chandu Borde. His father, Seth Siddarth, invited Borde and Niranjan Mehta to his home, without him knowing that this Niranjan Mehta is the great grandson of Seth Narbheram (see the picture on the right). This is the same Seth Narbheram that Seth Himabhai visited in 1830 in Jetpur. To these great business families were able to maintain contact by forces unknown. Both families have the longest family recorded history in the world.

This is Nautamlal Kamdar and Acharat Ba. This photo could be taken in 1880.	Nautamlal Kamdar has written a letter to his father, Bhagvanjibhai, requesting him to send his tennis racket which was forgotten at home. This letter was written in Jan. 15, 1880. He was studying at Gujarat College, Ahmedabad.	This doll was made by Sharda (Amma) when she was 10 years old. It is still with her.	Manilal Nautamlal (second from left), two princes of Muli State, and Ramriklal Kamdar (brother-in-law of Manilal Kamdar). The other gentlemen are assistants (wearing turbans).	The middle row are (from left) the sons of Nautamlal: Vajubhai, Manilal, and Mulshankar. The other two gentlemen are not identified. This picture was taken in Kamdar vadi in Jetpur in 1920.

Manilal (in center, sitting) at Ferguson College in Pune. 1924. If anyone knows the other gentlemen in the picture, please contact us.	Family in Mumbai: Ketoo Desai (daughter of Malini), Anibhen (grand-daughter of Dr. P. J. Mehta, Nalini Desai (daughter of Manilal), Shardabhen (wife of Manilal), Appabhai (grandson of Dr. P. J. Mehta), Hasmukh Chokshi (Manilal's Sister's Son), Pallavi Mehta (daughter of Manilal)	Dhirendra (in front center) with royal family of Muli could be 1940	Nautamlal Kamdar (4th from the left) and Mulshankar (second from the left) attending a marriage in Muli.	Nautamlal with 3 sons in front (from left): Manilal, Vajubhai, and Mulshankar. could be 1930

Niranjan and Atul at the ends, sitting. Pallavi is in the center on the floor. The back row (sitting) is Jyoti.	This is the proof of our family's use of astrology. This is Nautamlal Bhagvanji Kamdar's kundli. This was made in 1866. We are looking for some one who knows Pali to help us translate this text into Gujarati and English.	This is a street in Rangoon in early 20th century. Mogul Street	Another shot of Rangoon, early 20th century	Last living sibling of Manilal Nautamlal is Vanibhen (farthest left). She married into M.U. Mehta family of Morbi. They were vaqils in South Africa. Here she is seen with grand-daughters of Manilal (Anjali and Riddhi), and her son Rohit and wife Devyani.

Kamdar family women were very progressive as early as in the 1920s and 1930s. As seen in the photograph, Motiba (wife of Chamanlal Bhagvanji Mehta (Kamdar)) and Savita Kaki took part in the Freedom Movement and went to jail. In this picture you can see them sitting on the bottom right is Motiba and in the center is Savita Kaki (wife of Gijubhai Mansing Kamdar). Gijubhai was also very popular in Madras as a social worker.	In these pictures you can see Bhagvanji Narbheram Mehta (Kamdar) in his stately order.	Here is Subhadra Jyotindra Doshi. She is the grandaughter of Nautamlal Mehta. And she is the daughter of Kashiben. In this picture she is seen with Tenzing Norgay, the first to reach the top of Mount Everest.	Here is the picture of Bhagvanji Narbheram Mehta (Kamdar.) He is in the center. This picture was taken around 1860.	This is the most interesting picture. It is rarely seen anywhere. Mahatma Gandhi is sitting with Chiang Kai-shek. He was the first leader of independent Taiwan and promoter of capitalism.

In this picture, Gandhiji is playing with Nautamlal Mehta's grandson, Appa. Appa was the grandson of Dr. P.J. Mehta son of Gandhiji's favorite daughter, Manjula. Manjula was the daughter of Nautamlal Mehta. Later Appa became a doctor and he taught in Mumbai, India. His birth name was Indrajit and this name was given by Mahatma Gandhi himself. Appa (Indrajit) died very peacefully in Mumbai on May 14, 2006 at the age of 70.