Gujarati language (or ગુજરાતી, pronounced [ɡudʒə’raːt̪i]) is an Indo-Aryan language native to the west Indian region of Gujarat. Its writing system is abugida (each symbol stays for a consonant) rather than an alphabet. 4.5% of population of India (1.21 billion according to 2011 census) speaks Gujarati, which amounts to 54.6 million speakers in India and 65.5 million speakers worldwide, making it the 26th most spoken native language in the world. Gujarati was the first language of Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel, the “Iron Man of India”. Writing system: Gujarati alphabet (Brahmic) Official language in: Gujarat, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli (India)