Anavil

Anavil Brahmins are a community originally from southern Gujarat in India with typical last names of Desai, Naik, Vashi, & Mehta. The Anavil community originated in the village of Anaval in what is present day southern Gujarat well over a thousand years ago. Various myths and theories exist on how the village was founded, but what is known is that the Anavils (original inhabitants of Anaval) lived through tumultuous times during the history of India including the Mogul, Maratha, and British rules. Along the way, the Anavils acquired a number of surnames: Desais, from the Mogul period, were designated for being principal revenue officers or head of the district. Naiks, traced to perhaps the Maurayan period, means one who leads or accompanies, or a commander. Vashis, the word originally Sanskit based with an unknown exact origin, were similar to present day civil officers or administrators. Mehtas, with an unknown exact origin, were administrative ministers of various kingdoms. With these illustrious legacies in the Anavil ancestry, some Anavils began an emigration to the United States in earnest towards the end of the '60's and beginning of the 70's, heeding the call for engineers and scientists during the cold war. The Anavil community today is much larger, probably roughly ranging around 4,000. Using this and other forums and meeting places, we can hopefully learn and draw from our roots and legacy as the first generation descendents of our Anavil immigrant parents.