About Nagpur
About Nagpur
History
Nagpur is the winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, a
fast growing metropolis and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and
Pune. With a population of 46,53,570 (2011) Nagpur Metropolitan Area is the
13th largest urban conglomeration in India. It has also recently been ranked as
the cleanest city and the second greenest city of India . In addition to being
the seat of annual winter session of Maharashtra state assembly “Vidhan Sabha”,
Nagpur is also a major commercial and political center of the Vidarbha region
of Maharashtra, and is also famous throughout the country as “Orange City” for
being a major trade center of oranges that are cultivated in the region. In
addition, the city also derives political importance from being the
headquarters for the RSS and an important location for the Buddhist movement.
The city was founded by
the Gonds but later became part of the Maratha Empire under the Bhonsles. The
British East India Company took over Nagpur in the 19th century and made it the
capital of the Central Provinces and Berar. After the first reorganisation of
states, the city lost its capital status but according to the “Nagpur Pact”
between political leaders it was made the second capital of Maharashtra. Nagpur
is also called, “Tiger Capital of India ” as it connects many Tiger Reserves in
India to the world. It is among the important cities for IT sector in
Maharashtra after Pune. Nagpur lies precisely at the center of the country with
the Zero Mile Marker indicating the geographical center of India.
The Nag River, a tributary of the Kanhan River, flows in a
serpentine path and is therefore named “Nag”, the Marathi word for snake. And
hence, the river and city is named as Nagpur.. While others says that the river
flows through the old city of Nagpur and hence the city is named after this
river. “Pur” is a common suffix given to cities, villages and towns across
India, and is often simply translated “city” The seal of Nagpur Municipal
Corporation depicts a cobra in the water of a river.
Human existence around present day Nagpur city can be
traced back 3000 years to 8th century BC. Mehir burial sites at Drugdhamna
(near Mhada colony) indicate megalithic culture existed around Nagpur and is
still followed in present times. The first reference to the name Nagpur is
found in a 10th century copper-plate inscription discovered at Devali in the
neighbouring Wardha district. The inscription is a record of grant of a village
situated in the visaya (district) of Nagpura-Nandivardhana during time of
Rastrakuta king Krsna III in the Saka year 862 (940 CE). Towards the end of
third century King Vakataka dynasty, Vindhyasakti is known to have ruled the
Nagpur region. In the 4th century Vakataka Dynasty ruled over the Nagpur region
and surrounding areas and had good relations with the Gupta Empire. The
Vakataka king Prithvisena I moved his capital to Nagardhan (ancient name
Nandivardhana), located at 28 kilometres (17 mi) from Nagpur. After the
Vakatakas, the region came under the rule of the Hindu kingdoms of the Badami
Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas, and finally the Yadavas. In AD 1296 Allauddin
Khilji invaded the Yadava Kingdom after capturing Deogiri, after which the
Tughlaq Dynasty came to power in 1317. In the 17th century, the Mughal Empire
conquered the region. However, regional administration was carried out by the
Gond kingdom of Deogarh-Nagpur in the Chhindwara district of the modern-day
state of Madhya Pradesh.
Recent history ascribes the founding of Nagpur to
Bakht Buland, a prince of the kingdom of Deogarh-Nagpur. The next Raja of
Deogarh was Chand Sultan, who resided principally in the country below the
hills, fixing his capital at Nagpur which he made a walled town. On Chand
Sultan’s death in 1739, Wali Shah, an illegitimate son of Bakht Buland, usurped
the throne and Chand Sultan’s widow invoked the aid of the Maratha leader
Raghuji Bhonsle of Berar in the interest of her sons Akbar Shah and Burhan
Shah. The usurper was put to death and the rightful heirs placed on the throne.
After 1743, a series of Maratha rulers came to power, starting with Raghoji
Bhonsle, who conquered the territories of Deogarh, Chanda and Chhattisgarh by
1751.
In 1803 Raghoji II joined the Peshwa against the
British in the Second Anglo-Maratha War, but the British prevailed. After
Raghoji II’s death in 1816, his son Parsaji was deposed and murdered by Mudhoji
II. Despite the fact that he had entered into a treaty with the British in the
same year, Mudhoji joined the Peshwa in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1817
against the British, but suffered a defeat at Sitabuldi in present-day Nagpur
city. The fierce battle was a turning point as it laid the foundations of the
downfall of the Bhonsles and paved the way for the British acquisition of
Nagpur city. Mudhoji was deposed after a temporary restoration to the throne,
after which the British placed Raghoji III the grandchild of Raghoji II, on the
throne. During the rule of Raghoji III (which lasted till 1840), the region was
administered by a British resident. In 1853, the British took control of Nagpur
after Raghoji III died without leaving an heir.
From 1853 to 1861, the Nagpur Province (which
consisted of the present Nagpur region, Chhindwara, and Chhatisgarh) became
part of the Central Provinces and Berar and came under the administration of a
commissioner under the British central government, with Nagpur as its capital.
Berar was added in 1903. Tata group started the country’s first textile mill at
Nagpur, formally known as Central India Spinning and Weaving Company Ltd. The
company was popularly known as “Empress Mills” as it was inaugurated on 1
January 1877, the day queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India.
The Non-cooperation movement was launched in the
Nagpur session of 1920. After Indian Independence in 1947, Central Provinces
and Berar became a province of India, and in 1950 became the Indian state of
Madhya Pradesh, again with Nagpur as its capital. However, when the Indian
states were reorganised along the linguistic lines in 1956, Nagpur and Berar
regions were transferred to Bombay state, which in 1960 was split between the
states of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
At a formal public ceremony on 14 October 1956 in
Nagpur B. R. Ambedkar along with his supporters converted to Buddhism starting
Dalit Buddhist movement which is still active. Nagpur is a city with great
capabilities to grow and prosper in the coming days. It is very important for
State and Central Governments to contribute to the growth, development,
prosperity of Nagpur. Nagpur completed 300 years of establishment in the year
2002. A big celebration was organised to mark the event.
History and Culture
Kalidas Festival : 
Kalidas Memorial, Ramtek
Kalidas Festival is celebrated annually at Ramtek and Nagpur for two days in the month of November. Organized by MTDC in association with the District Collectorate Office of Nagpur, this festival of Music, Dance and Drama is held to honour Kalidasa. Kalidas was a great Sanskrit poet and dramatist of India, renowned for his historical drama Shakuntalam, Kumaarasambhava , Ritusamhaara and for the epic poem Meghdoot alias Meghdootam. It is said the picturesque Ramtek has inspired Kalidas to write his famous literary work,
Meghdootam.
During Kalidas festival, celebrities of music, dance
and drama gathered here to perform their talent. The festival brings back
memories of the golden period of the Vidarbha region. People from different
parts of India come here to attend the festival with full enthusiasm.
Kasturchand Park : 
Kasturchand Park
One of the biggest meeting places in Nagpur city,
Kasturchand Park is situated at about 1 km. from central railway station. It is
the most popular place when it comes to holding big processions in the city. In
fact, a lot of trade shows and fairs are also organized in the park owing to
the space available here. The park is always thriving with all sorts of
activities the entire year.
Nagardhan Fort , Ramtek : 
Nagardhan Fort , Ramtek
Nagardhan, situated 38 kms northeast of Nagpur and
about 9kms south of Ramtek, is an old town founded by a Suryavanshi King. Main
attraction of Nagardhan is the Nagardhan Fort, supposed to be built by Raja
Raghuji Bhonsle, a maratha king of the Bhonsale dynasty. The square shaped
palace inside the fort has an outer rampart with bastions and had an inner wall
surrounding the buildings. The main gate of the fort on the north-west side is
still in good condition.
Inside the fort, nearby the palace there is a well
which has two levels underground for people to stay with proper rooms. It also
houses an idol of goddess Durga.
Sitabuldi Fort : 
Sitabuldi Fort
Sitabuldi Fort in Nagpur Sitabuldi fort, site of the
1817 Battle of Sitabuldi, is located atop a small hillock in the middle of
Nagpur. The fort was built by Appa Sahib or Mudhoji II Bhonsle of the Kingdom
of Nagpur, just before he fought against the British East India Company during
the Third Anglo-Maratha War. The area surrounding the hillock is now known as
Sitabuldi and is an important commercial hub for Nagpur.
Inside the fort one can find graves of numerous
British soldiers and a cell where Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned. At present,
Sitabuldi fort is the home to the office of the territorial army. The fort
opens to the general public only on two national holidays- 26th January and
15th August.
The nearby attractions here are the temple of Ganesha
(Tekdi Ganapati) at the back of the hillock, ancient temples of Lord Shiva and
Vishnu, squash court, indoor swimming pool and the mausoleum of Nawab Kadar Ali
(the great grandson of Tipu Sultan) near the eastern boundary wall of the fort.
Zero Mile : 
Zero Mile
Zero Mile
in Nagpur Nagpur lies precisely at the center of the country with the Zero Mile
Marker indicating the geographical center of India. The Zero Mile Stone was
erected by the British who used this point to measure all the distances. The
Zero Mile Stone consists of four horses and a pillar made up of sandstone. It
is located on the south east of Vidhan Bhavan, Nagpur.
The English rulers considered Nagpur as the centre of
India and hence identified this point and constructed the Zero Mile Stone.
Being at the center of the country, they also had a plan to make Nagpur the
second capital city.
Marbat Festival : 
Marbat Procession
Marbat Festival held especially in the Nagpur city,
is an important festival in this region which is celebrated to protect the city
from evil spirits. During the festival, people of Nagpur venerate their God to
save them from the evil spirits and they make statues of evil forces. These
statues are taken to a vast ground as a procession, from all the areas of the
city. They are burnt together on a belief that the city would be free from all
types of evils. People purchase and wear new attires and ornaments on that day
and women prepare delicious delicacies and distribute to everyone. Various
cultural activities such as dance, drama etc are also organized during the
festival.
Pankaj Mandape
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