VandeMataram
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The story of the development of West Indian State of Maharashtra as a Socio-political entity is an interesting episode of India’s ancient history. The state was had always been the centre of trade and commerce and Satara was the port town, which was situated on the north of present day Mumbai. This region seems to have attained prominence as early as 90 A.D., when king Vedishri made Junnar the capital of his kingdom, thirty miles north of Pune. For the 900 years ending in the early fourteenth century, with the overthrow of the Devgiri Yadavs by the northern Muslim powers, no historical information in this region is available. Marathi evolved from Maharashtri and became the language of the people of this area from the 10th century onwards. In the course of time, the term 'Maharashtra' was used to describe this region.
Maharashtra in Ancient times
Even though some Paleolithic remains have been discovered, there is no historical evidence about the state before 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] century BC when the first Buddhist caves were constructed. The name Maharashtra is believed to be originated from Rathi, which means chariot driver. However, it was only in the 7th century the state came to be known as Maharashtra and this found in the account furnished by the Chinese traveler, Huan Tsang.
Maharashtra was under the rule of Mauryan Empire and its expansion towards south led to prosperous trade and the development of Buddhist learning. The first Buddhist cave was first constructed during that period, which stands as a symbol of the era. With the dissolution of Mauryan Empire, Maharashtra came under the rule of the Satavahanas (230BC - 225AD) which was a significant phase in the political, cultural and social history of Maharashtra. The Vakatakas (AD 250 - 525) brought the Vidarbha region under their rule and, during that period, Maharashtra witnessed an overall development in the fields of learning, arts and religion. The best known of the Ajanta caves (caves 16, 17, and 19) belong to the Vakataka period. Chalukyas, who rose to power in Karnata in the 6th century AD with Vatapi (present Badami) as capital, strengthened their power over Maharastra under Pulikesin II (609-642) and conquered nearly the whole of Deccan. By 753 AD, Dandidurga laid foundation for a new dynasty called Rastrakutas, which extended from south Gujarat, Malva and Baghalkhand in the north to Tanjore to the south. The famous Kailash cave temple (Ellora) was built under the patronage of the Rashtrakutas. In 973 Tailia II, a descendent from the early Chalukyas, overthrew the dynasty and continued to rule parts of Maharashtra up to AD 1189, when the Yadavas of Deogiri took over.
Maharashtra during Medieval Time
The medieval history of Maharashtra begins with King RamdevRaya Yadava of the Yadava dynasty. During the 13[SUP]th[/SUP] century, Ala-ud-din Khalji infiltrated the Deccan and defeated the Yadavas whose dominance ended in AD 1310. Muhammad Tughluq (1324-1350), followed Ala-ud-din Khalji's example and extended his Kingdom to Madurai. The fall of the Tughluqs gave rise to Bahamani dynasty in 1347 that lasted for almost 150 years. However, after the downfall of the Bahamani Kingdom in the sixteenth century, its derivatives such as Nizamshahi, Adilshahi, and Qutubshahi established their rule in the Deccan region. With this, Maharashtra got divided and the centre of power was also distributed. But, this did not last for a long time and within 20 years of their rule, each of these individual kingdoms were destroyed by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. In order to strengthen their power and these rulers employed the local people in civil, military and diplomatic services. Maloji Bhosale, grandfather of Shivaji, served the Nizam of Ahmednagar as a Sardar during this period. In the year 1595, he was Bahadur Nizam II honoured as 'Raja' for his courage in a battle with Mughals and gave him the estates of Pune and the fort of Chakan, near Pune. This is the starting point of the Maratha Kingdom in Maharashtra.
Maratha Empire
The foundation of Maratha Kingdom was laid during the 17[SUP]th[/SUP] century, which is an important milestone in the history of Maharashtra. In the medieval period, the Marathas upheld the national cause under the Yadavas of Devagiri. But in the 17th century they were organised into a national state. In 1629, Shivaji's father Shahaji disengaged himself from the service of the Nizamshahi and joined the Adilshahi in Bijapur, which was soon to emerge as the most important power in the region.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Shivaji Bhosle, the founder of the Maratha Kingdom was born in 1627. His mother Jija Bai spruced him by inculcating stirring ideas of heroism, spirituality and chivalry into Shivaji's mind. In the year 1646 he captured the fortress of Torna and since then he attacked, and invaded many forts and territories. With craftiness in planning and prudence, he always outsmarted his rivals. By the 1673, he had authority over most of western part of Maharashtra and 'Raigarh' was declared as his capital. In 1674 Shivaji was crowned king at Rajgarh. When he died on 14th April 1680 at the age of 53, nearly whole of the Deccan was under his rule.
Sambhaji, one of the two sons of Shivaji succeeded him, but he was not as efficient as his father Shivaji was and during 1680 to 1707 is known as the period of instability in the history of Maharashtra.
Peshwa Dynasty
Peshwa is a Marathi word which means Prime Minister. After the downfall of the Maratha dynasty, the Peshwa of the last ruler of the Maratha Kingdom, Balaji Vishwanath succeeded the throne of Maharashtra and founded the Peshwa Dynasty in 1712. Balaji was succeeded by his son Bajirao (1721-1740). Historians regard Bajirao the founder of Greater Maharashtra, because it was under his reign that Maharashtra became the centre of Indian politics. During Bajirao's reign, Pune became the capital of Maratha and remained capital until 1818. In the year 1761 during the reign of Bajirao, the Maratha Kingdom suffered a disintegrated defeat in the hands of Ahmad Shah Abdali in the Third Battle of Panipat. The defeat reduced the power of the Maratha kingdom and confined it regionally.
Maharashtra during Independence Struggle
The East India Company of the British started expanding slowly during the 18[SUP]th[/SUP] century. The rule of the Peshwa Dynasty still continued in the state until 1804, when British declared the Deccan a chaotic region and enforced military rule. However, in the year 1819, the British defeated the Peshwas at the war of Kirkee and took over the Maratha Kingdom.
In the first half of the 19th century, the Peshwas with the memories of losing the battle was unable to settle themselves to the rule of the British. There were patchy trivial revolts, however, the historic revolt of 1857, was a massive one, but was compressed by the British. The last quarter of the 19th century and the first of the 20th century was an age of the Renaissance in Maharashtra. During this time, several social reformers named Mahatma Phule, Ranade and Agarkar, research scholars Rajwade and Bhandarkar, politicians Tilak and Gokhale, essayist Chiplunkars, novelist Apte, poet Keshavsut, playwrights Kirloskar, Deval, Gadkari, etc. raised their voices against the British Rule and this strengthened the freedom movement.
Maharashtra was always in the forefront of the freedom movement under the leadership and guidance of Mahatma Gandhi. The Great Indian state of Maharashtra gave birth to several Patriots , National leaders and Soldiers , who selflessly fought for India’s Independence and only because of these kind of Proud Indians & Freedom Fighters , in the year 1947 India became Independent.
Maharashtra in Present Time
After India’s Independence in the year 1947, the western part of Maharashtra and present-day Gujarat were joined as Bombay state. The eastern districts were then part of Hyderabad State, but were later added to Bombay in 1956. The present state was formed in 1960 under the Bombay Reorganization Act. Both the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat were legally given the status of separate states on the basis of linguistic differences. The city of Bombay became the capital of the new state of Maharashtra.
Maharashtra in Ancient times
Even though some Paleolithic remains have been discovered, there is no historical evidence about the state before 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] century BC when the first Buddhist caves were constructed. The name Maharashtra is believed to be originated from Rathi, which means chariot driver. However, it was only in the 7th century the state came to be known as Maharashtra and this found in the account furnished by the Chinese traveler, Huan Tsang.
Maharashtra was under the rule of Mauryan Empire and its expansion towards south led to prosperous trade and the development of Buddhist learning. The first Buddhist cave was first constructed during that period, which stands as a symbol of the era. With the dissolution of Mauryan Empire, Maharashtra came under the rule of the Satavahanas (230BC - 225AD) which was a significant phase in the political, cultural and social history of Maharashtra. The Vakatakas (AD 250 - 525) brought the Vidarbha region under their rule and, during that period, Maharashtra witnessed an overall development in the fields of learning, arts and religion. The best known of the Ajanta caves (caves 16, 17, and 19) belong to the Vakataka period. Chalukyas, who rose to power in Karnata in the 6th century AD with Vatapi (present Badami) as capital, strengthened their power over Maharastra under Pulikesin II (609-642) and conquered nearly the whole of Deccan. By 753 AD, Dandidurga laid foundation for a new dynasty called Rastrakutas, which extended from south Gujarat, Malva and Baghalkhand in the north to Tanjore to the south. The famous Kailash cave temple (Ellora) was built under the patronage of the Rashtrakutas. In 973 Tailia II, a descendent from the early Chalukyas, overthrew the dynasty and continued to rule parts of Maharashtra up to AD 1189, when the Yadavas of Deogiri took over.
Maharashtra during Medieval Time
The medieval history of Maharashtra begins with King RamdevRaya Yadava of the Yadava dynasty. During the 13[SUP]th[/SUP] century, Ala-ud-din Khalji infiltrated the Deccan and defeated the Yadavas whose dominance ended in AD 1310. Muhammad Tughluq (1324-1350), followed Ala-ud-din Khalji's example and extended his Kingdom to Madurai. The fall of the Tughluqs gave rise to Bahamani dynasty in 1347 that lasted for almost 150 years. However, after the downfall of the Bahamani Kingdom in the sixteenth century, its derivatives such as Nizamshahi, Adilshahi, and Qutubshahi established their rule in the Deccan region. With this, Maharashtra got divided and the centre of power was also distributed. But, this did not last for a long time and within 20 years of their rule, each of these individual kingdoms were destroyed by the Mughal Emperor Akbar. In order to strengthen their power and these rulers employed the local people in civil, military and diplomatic services. Maloji Bhosale, grandfather of Shivaji, served the Nizam of Ahmednagar as a Sardar during this period. In the year 1595, he was Bahadur Nizam II honoured as 'Raja' for his courage in a battle with Mughals and gave him the estates of Pune and the fort of Chakan, near Pune. This is the starting point of the Maratha Kingdom in Maharashtra.
Maratha Empire
The foundation of Maratha Kingdom was laid during the 17[SUP]th[/SUP] century, which is an important milestone in the history of Maharashtra. In the medieval period, the Marathas upheld the national cause under the Yadavas of Devagiri. But in the 17th century they were organised into a national state. In 1629, Shivaji's father Shahaji disengaged himself from the service of the Nizamshahi and joined the Adilshahi in Bijapur, which was soon to emerge as the most important power in the region.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Shivaji Bhosle, the founder of the Maratha Kingdom was born in 1627. His mother Jija Bai spruced him by inculcating stirring ideas of heroism, spirituality and chivalry into Shivaji's mind. In the year 1646 he captured the fortress of Torna and since then he attacked, and invaded many forts and territories. With craftiness in planning and prudence, he always outsmarted his rivals. By the 1673, he had authority over most of western part of Maharashtra and 'Raigarh' was declared as his capital. In 1674 Shivaji was crowned king at Rajgarh. When he died on 14th April 1680 at the age of 53, nearly whole of the Deccan was under his rule.
Sambhaji, one of the two sons of Shivaji succeeded him, but he was not as efficient as his father Shivaji was and during 1680 to 1707 is known as the period of instability in the history of Maharashtra.
Peshwa Dynasty
Peshwa is a Marathi word which means Prime Minister. After the downfall of the Maratha dynasty, the Peshwa of the last ruler of the Maratha Kingdom, Balaji Vishwanath succeeded the throne of Maharashtra and founded the Peshwa Dynasty in 1712. Balaji was succeeded by his son Bajirao (1721-1740). Historians regard Bajirao the founder of Greater Maharashtra, because it was under his reign that Maharashtra became the centre of Indian politics. During Bajirao's reign, Pune became the capital of Maratha and remained capital until 1818. In the year 1761 during the reign of Bajirao, the Maratha Kingdom suffered a disintegrated defeat in the hands of Ahmad Shah Abdali in the Third Battle of Panipat. The defeat reduced the power of the Maratha kingdom and confined it regionally.
Maharashtra during Independence Struggle
The East India Company of the British started expanding slowly during the 18[SUP]th[/SUP] century. The rule of the Peshwa Dynasty still continued in the state until 1804, when British declared the Deccan a chaotic region and enforced military rule. However, in the year 1819, the British defeated the Peshwas at the war of Kirkee and took over the Maratha Kingdom.
In the first half of the 19th century, the Peshwas with the memories of losing the battle was unable to settle themselves to the rule of the British. There were patchy trivial revolts, however, the historic revolt of 1857, was a massive one, but was compressed by the British. The last quarter of the 19th century and the first of the 20th century was an age of the Renaissance in Maharashtra. During this time, several social reformers named Mahatma Phule, Ranade and Agarkar, research scholars Rajwade and Bhandarkar, politicians Tilak and Gokhale, essayist Chiplunkars, novelist Apte, poet Keshavsut, playwrights Kirloskar, Deval, Gadkari, etc. raised their voices against the British Rule and this strengthened the freedom movement.
Maharashtra was always in the forefront of the freedom movement under the leadership and guidance of Mahatma Gandhi. The Great Indian state of Maharashtra gave birth to several Patriots , National leaders and Soldiers , who selflessly fought for India’s Independence and only because of these kind of Proud Indians & Freedom Fighters , in the year 1947 India became Independent.
Maharashtra in Present Time
After India’s Independence in the year 1947, the western part of Maharashtra and present-day Gujarat were joined as Bombay state. The eastern districts were then part of Hyderabad State, but were later added to Bombay in 1956. The present state was formed in 1960 under the Bombay Reorganization Act. Both the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat were legally given the status of separate states on the basis of linguistic differences. The city of Bombay became the capital of the new state of Maharashtra.
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