Wardha
| Wardha | |
|---|---|
| city | |
  Wardha | |
| Coordinates: 20°45′N 78°33′E / 20.75°N 78.55°ECoordinates: 20°45′N 78°33′E / 20.75°N 78.55°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Maharashtra |
| District | Wardha |
| Elevation | 234 m (768 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Marathi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
Wardha 
pronunciation (help·info) (Marathi: वर्धा) is a city and a municipal council in Wardha district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarters of Wardha district. Wardha gets its name from the Wardha River which flows at the North, West and South boundaries of district. Founded in 1866, the town is now an important centre for the cotton trade. It was an important part of Gandhian Era.
Geography
Wardha is located at 20°45′N 78°36′E / 20.75°N 78.60°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 234 metres (767 feet).
Demographics
Wardha city is administered by a municipal council(category-A). According to census 2011, its population is nearly 105,543.[2] But this figure is number of inhabitants within municipal boundaries. Urbanization has crossed municipal boundaries and neighboring villages viz. sindi(meghe), sawangi(meghe), borgaon(meghe), pipri(meghe),mhasala, nalwadi and chitoda have become part of urban agglomeration having population nearing 1 lacs. Hinganghat is the largest city in the wardha district. But due to lack of higher education and hospitals wardha consider to be district biggest city.
As of 2011 India census,[3] Wardha district had a population of 1,296,157[4] Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Wardha has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 76%. In Wardha, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
History
It was included in the empire of the Mauryas, Sungas, Satavahanas and Vakatakas. Pravarapura, modern Pavnar, was once the capital of the Vakataka dynasty. Vakatakas were contemporary of Imperial Guptas. Prabhavatigupta, the daughter of Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya), was married with Vakataka ruler Rudrasena. The period of Vakatakas was 2nd to 5th century CE. The empire stretched from the Arabian sea in the west to the Bay of Bengal in the east, and from the Narmada river in the north to the Krishna-Godavari delta in south.
Later on, Wardha was ruled by the Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Yadavas, the Delhi Sultanate, the Bahamani Sultanate, Muslim ruler of Berar, Gonds and Marathas. Raja Buland Shaha of Gonds, Raghuji of Bhonsale were the prominent rulers in the Medieval period.
During the 1850s Wardha, (then a part of Nagpur) fell into the hands of British. They included Wardha in the Central Provenance.
Wardha is a sister city for Sevagram, and both were used as major centers for the Indian Independence Movement, especially as headquarters for an annual meet of the Indian National Congress in 1934, and Mahatma Gandhi's Ashram.
The existing Wardha district was part of Nagpur district till 1862. Further it was separated for convenient administrative purposes and Kawatha near Pulgaon was the district headquarters. In 1866, the district head quarter moved at Palakwadi village. The huts in village were destroyed and new city was constructed by English town-planner Sir Bachlor and Crawdok. This new city was given name "Wardha". In Wardha district there is a village called Pavanar where Acharya Vinoba Bhave lived.
Transport
Wardha city is well connected to most of the parts of India by railways. Wardha city has two railway stations i.e. Wardha and Sewagram railway stations. Wardha railway station is an important rail junction on Howrah-Nagpur-Mumbai line. This town is also connected to southern part of country through Sevagram station. After Nagpur, Wardha is only city through which Delhi-Chennai and Mumbai-Kolkata railway routes pass, actually meet together. Traffic on Mumbai-Kolkata route is mainly dealt with at Wardha station and traffic on Delhi-Chennai route is dealt with at Sewagram station (former Wardha East station).
A new line joining Wardha to Nanded via Yavatmal, pusad, deoli etc. is being constructed. A new fifth platform is proposed to deal with increased passenger traffic. Both Delhi-Chennai and Mumbai-Kolkata railway routes are already having heavy traffic and both routes get combined between Sewagram and Nagpur stations. A new third line is under construction between Sewagram and Nagpur stations to cater for heavy traffic. Sewagram station is having five platforms.
On outskirts of city there are two more railway stations, i.e. Warud station (former Sewagram station) and Chitoda junction, which deal with local passenger traffic. Chitoda junction is situated on southbound lines from Wardha and Sewagram stations. Warud station is halt station near doctor colony at Sewagram.
Wardha city is equally well connected by roads to other cities of maharashtra. A newly declared National Highway No.361(Nagpur-Wardha-Yavatmal-Nanded-Latur-Tuljapur) pass through this city. Also Nagpur-Aurangabad-Mumbai Express Highway pass through it.
The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport at Nagpur is the nearest airport with scheduled air services.
Religion and culture
Population of Wardha city constitutes Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists with little percentage of Christians, Jains and Sikhs. Main spoken languages are Marathi and Hindi. Other languages viz. Marwari,Gujarati, Sindhi and Punjabi are spoken by people of respective communities. There are many temples, mosques, viharas, gurudwaras, jain temples and churches of which Laxminarayan temple (Bachchhraj road), Lingi Mandir (Mahadeo Mandir)near Dr. Raosaheb Gade Bhavan, Vitthal mandir (hawaldwarpura), Ganesh Mandir (Main Road), Gajanan Maharaj Mandir, Sai mandir (M.G. Road), Digambar and Shwetambar Jain temples (mahadeopura),Jama Masjid (Itwara), Shanti Stupa (Gopuri), Gurudwara (Samtanagar) are important.
Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, the conference on Marathi Literature were held once in Wardha city. It was presided by President of the Conference Purushottam Shivram Rege in 1969.
Wardha was one of the pre-planned cities of British India. The town-planners were Sir Crowdock and Bachelor. In memory of Sir Crowdock, his name was given to district's biggest school and an important road was named after Sir Bachelor in British perios. The Crowdock school was renamed as Mahatma Gandhi. Still old name was in vogue till a decade ago. District Hospital had name King George and it was renamed later on. But the stone carved with old name was at main gate for more than century. It was hidden by new name board of District Hospital. There are many buildings of British period in city which include Z.P. old building, Central Jail, Church at Bajajwadi, cemetery etc.
Education
Wardha city is famous for a number of educations institutions. Some of the notable institutes are Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (MGIMS) at Sewagram, Bapurao Deshmukh College of Engineering(BDCE) (http://www.bdce.edu.in) at Sewagram,Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (along with Dental college, Physiotherapy college, Nurses training college) at Sawangi, Ayurvedic medical college at Salod, Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti at Wardha,Priyadarshini Mahila Mahavidyalaya,Wardha and Janakidevi Bajaj College of Science at Wardha. There are six engineering colleges in Wardha, namely Bapurao Deshmukh, Sureshrao Deshmukh, Om, Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Datta Meghe and Agnihotri.There are more than 50 colleges in Wardha city. The Institute Of Pharmaceuticals Education and Research is a reputed pharmacy college in Wardha.
Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences is one of the top rated institutes of India. It is an autonomous university and conducts its own admission test. Students all over India dream of getting admission here. Another jewel of Wardha is Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya which is World's only international Hindi University. Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya (Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University) is established by the Parliament of India and run directly by the Government of India. Its chancellor is President of India. It has students all over world.
New English High School, Wardha is one of the oldest school with a very big playground. This school has given many scholars from Wardha to the society. This is a State Board School. Alphonsa High School,Agragami High School,Bharat Dnyan Mandiram convent,Bhavan's Lloyds Vidya Niketan and Gandhi City Public School and School Of Scholars, are the reputed[citation needed] English-medium CBSE schools in Wardha. Kasturba Vidya Mandir is one of the oldest school run by Kusturba Society.
SAHU's Complete Commerce Coaching Institute is famous for Commerce education. Where all subjects of commerce are taught under one roof.
Important places
Magan Sangrahalaya (museum)
This museum was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1938. It is situated in Maganwadi near the village's Centre of Science. The purpose of construction of this museum is to spread awareness about research and development of rural industries, agriculture, dairy, various types of charkhas, khadi, hadicrafts by rural artisans, methods to promote Swadeshi movement, etc.
Gitai Mandir
This temple is situated in Gopuri near Vishwa Shanti Stupa. This is a unique temple in India which has no deity and roof. It has just walls made of granite slabs on which 18 chapters of Gitai (Shrimad-bhagwad-gita in marathi) are inscribed. The wall enclosed a little beautiful park. This temple was inaugurated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 1980. Beside are two exhibitions about life of Acharya Vinoba Bhave and Jamnalal Bajaj.
Vishwa Shanti Stupa
Vishwa Shanti Stupa was a dream of Fujii guruji as called by Gandhi. It is beside Gitai Mandir. It is a large stupa of white color. Statues of Buddha are mounted on stupa in four directions. It also has a small Japanese Buddhist temple with a large park.There is a temple near the stupa where prayers are done for universal peace.
Sewagram Ashram
Old name of village Sewagram was shegaon. After leaving Sabarmati ashram, Mahatma Gandhi stayed a few days in Wardha City at Bunglow of Jamanalal Bajaj. Thereafter, this ashram was built by him for Gandhi at outskirts of Wardha. Gandhi arrived here in 1936 and stayed till his death in 1948. It is a group of huts used by Gandhi, his wife Kasturba and other disciples. The premise is very calming. All the things used by Gandhi and others are preserved here including his spectacles, telephone, notebook, tables, mats, etc.
Paramdham Ashram
This ashram was established by Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 1934 at Pawnar on bank of river Dham with spiritual purpose. He also establish Brahma Vidya mandir in it. He started Bhoodan Movement from here. Also starting point of "Bharat Chhodo Andolan" was this ashram. Pawnar is an ancient city dating back to Mahabharata. During Bhonsle reign Pawnar was vidarbha's most important military station. During excavation for construction of ashram, many sculptures and idols were found which are kept at ashram and open to visitors.
Rashtrbhasha Prachar Samiti
Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti is devoted institute for spreading Hindi all over world. It has branches all over world, but its headquarters is at Wardha.
Kelzar Ganpati temple
The Kelzar Ganpati Temple is situated about 26 km form Wardha on the Nagpur road. This temple is situated on a hill & surrounded by the scenic beauty of forests & hills. The temple is historical place and its history goes back to "Vashishtha Purana". The temple is situated near the Bor National Tiger Reserve & Bird sanctuary.
The place is also mentioned in "Mahabharata" as Ekchakranagari. According to myth,Pandavas lived here during agyatvas. Bhima killed Bakasura at this place and threw down this hill. An ancient cave where Bakasura is still at foot of the hill and his famous well is also nearby. This well has sculptured stones on inner wall and stairs. Remains of old fort are also seen here. Finding sculptures during digging for any purpose is common. Sculptures relating to hinduism, jainism and buddhism has found. But ASI is not paying attention to this. Many sculptures have ruined due to proper lack of care. Some sculptures can be seen in above temple, nearby hillock, gram panchayar office and buddha vihar.
Industries
Very silently Wardha is becoming second industrial hub of Vidarbha area. This is due to its geographical location and very well rail and road connectivity. A decade ago, it was industrially backward. But last decade witnessed many companies descending here. Some of them are Uttam Galva metallics ltd., Uttam value steels ltd (Previously Lloyds Steel Industries ltd), Indraprastha power plant, Lanco power plant(Mandwa), mahalaxmi steel plant, Gammon industries, Powergrid's largest station.
Prominent people
- Baba Amte: - India's Social and moral leader (born December 24, 1914 ) at Hinganghat
- [5] Dr. Govind Sadashivrao Gade : - The only medical surgeon of his times in Wardha. Got the title Raosaheb from the then government.
References
- ↑ Wardha District at a Glance. Wardha.nic.in. Retrieved on 2013-05-04.
- ↑ Wardha City Population Census 2011 | Maharashtra. Census2011.co.in. Retrieved on 2013-05-04.
- ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ↑ Wardha District Population Census 2011, Maharashtra literacy sex ratio and density. Census2011.co.in. Retrieved on 2013-05-04.
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._A._Gade
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