"The element that binds the people of Gujarat, across differences of religion and region, caste, communities or creed, is the Gujarati language. Evolved during the Chaulukya era on the foundation of Sanskrit, Prakrit and Apabhransh, Gujarati acquired its distinct character in the Sultanate era. During the Mughal era, it was further cultivated by saint poets on the one hand and merchants on the other. As the court language of both the Gujarat Sultanate and the Mughals was Persian and because merchant communities had extensive linkages with Arabic-speaking West Asia, the influence of Persian and Arabic is immense and pervasive. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it is impossible to write good Gujarati without using Persian or Arabic words. In addition to administrative and legal words like zilla (district), taluk (block), jamin (land), jaydad (property), faujdari (criminal), diwani (civil), adalat (court) and insaaf (Justice), Persian and Arabic words related to human existence like dil (heart), dimaag (mind), jindagi (life), lohi (blood), jaban (speech), hayati (existence) and khud (self) have been internalized by Gujarati."