Ahmedabad: Our series on Gujarat Yatra ends with our final stop, at Ahmedabad, which is often perceived as a city of contrasts, between the urban areas and the resettlement colonies for the riots victims across the Sabaramati that paint a picture of neglect. These are the two sides to a vibrant Ahmedabad: one with the hustle and bustle, well-paved roads and a rapid transport system that has become a role model for our cities and the other grotty, with garbage, poor sanitation, and alienation.
Shabbir Shah, who resides in one of those resettlement colonies, escaped the Ahmedabad suburb of Naroda Patiya after the 2002 riots. He will be casting his first vote this year. His home is in Citizen Nagar. The area appears to have literally fallen off the map, with no schools, medical facilities or even basic sanitation.
Shabbir, however, says he'll never leave the place. "We are comfortable where we live now, we don't think of the other Ahmedabad," he says. Unlike Shabbir, Gaurang wasn't caught in the vortex of violence. But he is only too aware of the growing chasm between the two Ahmedabads.
"Young people live in their own small circle, so the Hindu middle class people will have 99 per cent friends belonging to their own caste, class and religion. The Muslim young people will have their own people," he says. What's further worrying for both sides is that the wounds are yet to heal, the relationship still unforgiving....
09:44 AM, Dec 14, 2012
Surat: Surat - Gujarat's second-largest city, that recorded the ninth-highest GDP in India in 2012, is growing rapidly and new flyovers are being constructed every month. The diamond city is commended for best utilising the Centre's JNURM funds. The city is also known for its women entrepreneurs. Bhartiben from Ankleshwar picks up her monthly stock of saris from a wide array available at Surat's textile market and takes them back... 
Banaskantha: In North Gujarat's Palanpur area, Arun Kumar Saini, a farmer, is unaware of the FDI debate raging in Parliament. Arun has been growing potatoes for multinational Mc Cain since 2004, a partnership that has not only been profitable but has also helped him get technical expertise that has increased his yield manifold. The government couldn't have achieved in 50 years, what Mc Cain has done for us in 10... 
Vadnagar: It's Day 4 of CNN-IBN's Gujarat yatra and CNN-IBN heads to Vadnagar, which is the hometown of Chief Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi. The town, which boasts of a rich history, is completely sold on the idea of Modi and finding a detractor there is next to impossible. In the narrow bylanes it isn't hard to locate the house where the family, from the low Ghanchi caste, lived. The house... 
Bhavnagar: It's Day 3 of CNN-IBN's Gujarat yatra and CNN-IBN heads to Bhavnagar, where life revolves around a ship breaking yard. Alang, that employs almost 50,000 people, is a big money spinner both for the state and the central government, but is also a big polluter. Alang, the graveyard of ships, is a place where ageing vessels are torn apart by labourers and the metal is then sold as scrap.... 
