Amravati - History

History

The ancient name of Amravati is "Udumbravati", in prakrut, "Umbravati". The variant 'Amravati' is the presently accepted name. It is said that Amravati is named for its ancient Ambadevi temple. A mention of Amravati can be found on a stone inscription on the base of the marble statue of God Adinath (Jain God) Rhishabhnath. The statues date back to the year 1097. Govind Maha Prabhu visited Amravati in the 13th century, when Wardha was under the rule of Deogiri's Hindu King (Yadava dynasty). In 14th century, there was drought and famine in Amravati, so people abandoned Amravati and left for Gujrat and Malwa. Though some locals returned after several years, this resulted in a scanty population. In 16th century, Magar Aurangpura (today, 'Sabanpura') was alloted for a Jama Masjid by Mughal Aurangzeb. This indicates the existence of a Muslim population. In 1722, Chhattrapati Shahu presented Amravati and Badnera to Shri Ranoji Bhosle; eventually Amravati was known as Bhosle ki Amravati. The city was reconstructed and developed by Ranoji Bhosle after the treaty of Devgaon and Anjangaon Surji and victory over Gavilgad (Fort of Chikhaldara). The British general and author Wellesly camped in Amravati, the place is still known as the 'camp', by Amravati people. Amravati city was founded towards the end of the 18th century. The Union state of Nijam and Bosale ruled Amravati. They appointed a revenue officer but neglected defense. The Gavilgad fort was conquered by the British on 15 December 1803. Under to the Deogaon treaty, Warhad was presented as a token of the friendship to the Nijam.

Warhad was ruled by the Nijams thereafter. Around 1805, the Pendharies attacked Amravati city.

The Sahukars (bankers and merchants) of Amravati saved Amravati by presenting seven lakh rupees to Chittu Pendhari. The Nijam ruled for a more than half century. From 1859 to 1871, many government buildings were constructed by the British. The Railway Station was constructed in 1859; the Commissioner Bungalow in 1860, the Small Causes Court in 1886, (today, the S.D.O. OFFICE), the Tahsil Office & the Main Post Office were built in 1871. The Central Jail, Collector's Office, the Rest House and Cotton Market were also built. During 1896, Shri Dadasaheb Khaparde, Shri Ranganath Pant Mudhodker, Sir Moropant Joshi, Shri Pralhad Pant Jog were prominent men in Amravati. The 13th Congress Conference was held at Amravati on 27–29 Dec' 1897 due to their efforts. The Municipal A.V. High School was inaugurated at the hands of Shri Subhas Chandra Bose. Amravati housed the head office of 'Savinay Awagya Andolan '(The Civil Disobedience Movement). On 26 April 1930, water was taken from 'Dahihanda' for the famous 'Namak Satyagrah', Dr. Soman brought sea water from Mumbai for the occasion. About ten thousand people prepared salt under the leadership of Shri Vir Vamanrao Joshi.

Udumbaravati is the ancient name of Amravati. It was due to the presence of a large number of Audumber trees in the region. Umbravati, Umravati& Amravati are derivatives of Udumbaravati. The city grew rapidly at the end of the 18th century due to growth in businesses.

In 1853, the present day territory of Amravati district, as a part of the Berar Province was assigned to the British East India Company, following a treaty with the Nizam of Hyderabad. After the Company took over the administration of the province, it was divided into two districts. The present day territory of the district became part of North Berar district, with headquarters at Buldana. Later, the province was reconstituted and the territory of the present district became part of East Berar district, with headquarters at Amraoti. In 1864, Yavatmal District (initially known as Southeast Berar district and later Wun district) was separated. In 1867, Ellichpur District was separated but in August, 1905, when the whole province was reorganized into six districts, it was again merged into the district. In 1903, it became part of the newly constituted province of Central Provinces and Berar. In 1956, Amravati district became part of Bombay State and after its bifurcation in 1960, it became part of Maharashtra state.

First in Amravati – who & what

• The first Public (Sarvajanik) Ganesh Festival was celebrated under the leadership of Shri Dadasaheb Khaparde in 1900 at Indrabhavan Theatre.
• The first Commissioner of Amravati was T.H.Bullok.
• The first march (Morcha) was arranged under the leadership of Shri Dada Jog.
• The first Police Station was established in the year 1877, it was inside the walled city then and place was near the Laxmi – Narayan Temple.
• The first person to get re-married was Shri Bhaskar Thatte, at the hands of Shri Balasaheb Bedekar.
• The first Circus visited Amravati in the year 1905–06. It was camped at Neharu Ground.
• The first person to be jailed for singing Vande Mataram was Shri. Jairam Patil, in the year 1907.
• Shri Jainarayan Vyas, in the year 1925, started the first Ice Factory at Ramvilas Garden.
• The Amravati – Narkhed Railway was sanctioned for at Shimla on 12 May 1928 and commissioned on 29 Oct 2012 after 84 years. 09307 Indore-Yashwantpur Holiday Special was the first train to run on it.
• The first woman to face a political arrest was Mrs. Parvatibai Patwardhan in 1930.
• Shri Hambarde arranged the first wrestling championship. The famous Gama Pahelwan had come to take part. Hordes of people had come to watch him. But his opponent Ganga Singh Pahelwan did not turn up.
• Electric Supply to Amravati was started by the Amravati Electric Company. The Company was formed in 1928. This company first started the streetlights.
• The Varhad Untouchable's Convention was held in 1927 at Saban Pura, Amravati. Its Chairperson was Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
• The Amravati Zilla Parishad was constituted on 1 May 1962.
• The 62nd Marathi Sahitya Sammelan was held at Amravati for the first time in the year 1989. It was on dates 21,22,23 January 1989. It was chaired by Shri. K.J.Purohit (Shantaram). The venue was H.V.P. M. Amravati Campus. It was sponsored by H.V.P.M.Amravati and the City Library.
• The first people to represent an Indian delegation to Britain were Shri Ranganath pant Mudholkar & Shri Moropant Joshi. Moropant Joshi was 29 years of age at the time.
• The first trust in Amravati was founded from the donation of Pralhadpant Jog, a famous Lawyer. The chairperson was Shri Dadasaheb Khaparde. The property of Jog trust was located at today’s Joshi Hall, New High School and city Library it was named as Jog Square after him.
• Indrabhavan Theatre was the first theater in Amravati. Initially used to stage plays and folk art form, it was later converted to a cinema hall.
• Gandhi chowk was named so for the first time, on 9 October 1920 on the occasion of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's Birthday.
• Sir Moropant Vishvanath Joshi, a resident of Amravati, was the first Indian to have held the post of a Minister in the British Government. He was the Home minister from 1920 to 1925.
• The first multiplex in Amravati is E orbit Multiplex

Miscellanea

• Shri Hanuman Vyayam Prasarak Mandal is a well known sports institute of Amravati.
• The Vidarbha Sahitya Sangha was founded in Amravati on 14 January 1923.
• Amravati is the only city in Maharashtra of which history from 11th Century is available.
• The first Finance Minister of independent India Shri Chintamanrao alias C. D. Deshmukh was an Amravatian.
• A member of Hanuman Vyayam Prasarak Mandal, Shri Rajesh Muralidhar Mahatme (25 years) was the first person to enter the "Limca book of records” for his feat of cycling for 24 hours without a pause.

Other historical facts

Amravati, in Sanskrit, literally means ‘abode of immortals’. Amravati was the capital of Berar, which was part of present-day Vidharbha. Berar was part of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka's empire. In 1833, Berar was handed over to the British East India Company. It was divided into two districts, South Berar or Balaghat and North Berar. In 1956, due to the reorganization of the states, Amravati was transferred from Madhya Pradesh to Bombay state. Later in 1960, with the creation of Maharashtra, Amravati became one of its districts.

Indian independence freedom fighters such as Rao Bahadur Raghunath Narasinha Mudholkar, Dadasaheb Khaparde, Moropant Vishvanath Joshi came from the city.

In 1897, the Indian National Congress assembled at Amraoti. It was headed by Chettur Sankaran Nair . In an address he referred to the high-handedness of foreign administration, called for reforms and asked for self-government for India with Dominion Status.

Freedom fighter Bhagat Singh hid for 3 days in Amravati during his underground stint. He is known to have frequently visited the Hanuman Akhada (Gym) in this time.