AMRAVATI

Udumbaravati was the encient name of today's Amravati. It was due to the presence of ample number of Audumber trees in the region. The name was further abbrevated as Umbravati, Umravati & Amravati. The city grown up rapidly at the end of 18 th century due to the growth in businesses. It was one of the richest town of the area.

Amravati city is situated 340 m above from the sea level. Pohara & Chirodi hills are in the east of the city. Maltekdi is one of the hills which is inside the city. The hight of Maltekdi is around 60 m & the statue of great maratha kind, Shri Shivaji Maharaj is placed on the top of the hill. There are two lakes in the eastern part of the city, namely, Chhatri Talao & Wadali Talao. The city is located in the East Maharashtra on the altitude of 20^o56' north & 77^o 47' east. It is the main centre of west Vidarbha. It is on the Mumbai-Calcutta high way.

Shri Janardan Swami lived in Amravati nearly 375 years ago. He came from a nearby place Nandgaon Peth. Today the famous Shri Ambadevi Temple complex is situated at the heart of Amravati city. But during his days it was thick forest around this place. He was devotee of Goddess Ekvira.He instituted Shri Ekvira devi temple near Shri Amba devi temple. He served whole his life for goddess Shri Ekvira devi. More information is not available about this personality, but he contributed quite a lot looking at the difficult period when he worked.He took samadhi inside the Shri Ekvira devi Temple premises.

Shri Sant Gadge Maharaj was born on 23rd March 1876 at Shendgaon in Amravati district. When he saw the sorrow in the life of poor he decided to devote his life for the common man. He traveled across the length and breadth of India. He saw poverty and faith of common man in religion , so he built many Dharmashala ( place to live during pilgrimage), so that people can avail the facility.He built banks of rivers(ghat) at pilgrimage. The construction work was done through small donation from common man.It is unbelievable that he was illiterate and yet he possessed a great vision.He always stressed the need of education. He enlightened the masses through devotionals called "kirtana" and stresses the policies such as : not to take unnecessary loans, not to believe in superstitions, not get addicted by habits like liquor. He dedicated his life for fight against social evils. He took his last breath on 20th December 1956 on his way to Amravati, on the banks of river pedhi near Valgaon.

Rashtrasant (Saint of nation) Shri Tukadoji Maharaj was born on Friday the 30th April 1930 at Yaoli near Amravati. His name was Manik Banduji Bramhabhatt. In his childhood he lived at Yaoli, Warkhed & Chandur Bazar. In his early days he came in contact with religious personalities due to which he also believed in god. Later through his speeches, Bhajans & Kirtana he stressed the need for ban on - killing animals for meat,untouchability and castism.. His writings and speeches were full of nationalism, National integrity, independence, equality & brotherhood . After coming in contact with Mahatma Gandhi he became active participant of national struggle for independence. He was jailed during 1942 August revolution , due to his aggressive role in the freedom struggle.

After Independence he started enlightening people on social issues. His message to the masses was " We got independence now we need a smooth running equality based state rule. First President of independent India Dr. Rajendra Prasad called him Rashtrasant on an occasion due to his great contribution to Indian independence and fight against social evils. He was a gifted poet & prolific writer. His ideas about rural upliftment were published in 1955 is called as "Gram geeta". He went to Japan for inaugurating World Religion Conference". During aggression by China and Pakistan he motivated the brave soldiers on front by enchanting bhajanas for them on border. His health deteriorated due to overwork and doctors detected it as Cancer. He passed away on 11th October 1968. His Samadhi and Dhyan Mandir are located at Gurukunj Mozri on Amravati - Nagpur highway.

Veer Wamanrao Joshi, a great son of Amravati born on 18th March 1881. The history of freedom struggle of Amravati is incomplete without his mention. Earlier he was a hard core revolutionist. He formed a youth organization for arms action. He trained youth members with five arm and ammunition.He formed laboratories and libraries for this purpose

Afterwards he become follower of Gandhiji and started following the principle of nonviolence. In the struggle for freedom he was jailed for long ten years. He was popular by his name "Dada " Which means Brother . Along with being a great revolutionist he was also very popular due to his nationalist Plays. He educated the masses in Maharashtra through his plays like Rakshasi Mahatvakangsha (" Devil's Ambitions") and Randundubhi(" The bugle"). He was associated with world famous Hanuman Vyayam Prasarak Mandal (H.V.P.M.) till his last moments. He passed away on 3rd June 1956.

Shri Rangnath Mudholkar was a famous lawyer of Varhad region( now Amravati Division). He advocated the need of vocational training for upliftment of poor citizens. He was the founder of Victoria Berar Technical School now Government I.T.I. is situated at this place. He was the first non government member to become the president of , then Amravati Municipal Corporation.He was honored with the Chairmanship of Congress Convention in 1912. He was Judicial Commissioner in Nagpur during 1920. He was instrumental in starting the King Edward College ( Now V.M.V.). The credit of 1897 congress convention at Amravati mainly goes to him. He was general secretary of National Industrial Council for ten years. He passed away on 14th January 1921.

During pre independence days there were two categories of lawyers the vernacular practitioner and English practitioner . Sir Moropant Joshi was first English practitioner after passing the examination in 1884. His house was situated in side the walled city at Bhajibazar. The name of the building was Rajibai Dharmashala. After words he build a bungalow at Camp Road and went on to live there. He was a man with modern thoughts.The creates of bringing a cycle and motor vehicle goes to his. Earlier horse driven Tanga was the main ride and transportation facility. The Congress Convention in the year 1897 at Amravati was held in the free space near his bungalow. He was a active congressman after 1885. He was the member of the delegation to London in 1890 , to take part in the negotiation about the Indian Independence.He was the lawyer by profession and started his carrier at nagpur in 1916. He continued his Law practice till 1920. He was a clever politician as well and became home minister of the Central Province and the honor to become an Indian minister 1925. He was awarded the degree of "Sir" by the British Government. He was also involved in social activities and strongly opposed the Evils such as teen age marriages & atrocities on widows. The Child Marriage Prohibition Act of government of India could be passed only after submission of the Joshi Commission Report headed by Sir Moropant Joshi.

Shri Dadasaheb Khaparde was born in 1854 on Shri Ganesh Chaturthi Day. Due to his social Service he became popular by name Dadasaheb. He became lawyer in 1884. He was government pleader till 1889. Then he started his own law practice . He was influenced by the thoughts of Lokmanya Tilak . He was very generous to donate his law practice earnings for social activities. He chaired the Amravati Municipal Corporation. He contributed a lot in the development of Amravati. Due to his faith and attachment with Lokmanya Tilak he went to London to defend Lokmanya Tilak's case during freedom movement. He was a good lawyer, good politician, great social worker and a nationalist playwrite. Due to his contribution in diverse fields he was famous as undisputed King of Varhad (Now Amravati Division). This great son of the soil passed away on 1st July 1938.

Shri Ramraoji Deshmukh belonged to Daryapur, a taluka place near Amravati. He went to Britain in 1911 for higher education. He returned back in 1916. In 1917 he became president of then Belgaon Provincial Council. Then he worked with Lokmanya Tilak . In 1920 he was inducted in the law board of Varhad. He was elevated as minister in central province and Berar ministry. He was a member of the delegation for round table conference at Britain in 1933. His stints as Devan of various states were very successful. After independence he worked as Indian High Commissioner in various countries and had very successful career.

Dr. Bhausaheb Deshmukh was born in the year 1898. He was born in a farmer's family at Papal in Amravati district. He had done his schoolings at Papal and then in Amravati. The higher education was obtained at Edinburg and Oxford universities. He had done his law doctorate in Briton. The subject of his research was " The dawn of religion and it's growth". He returned back in Amravati and started law practice. He was elected as a member of provincial law board in 1930 and went on to become Minister of Education, Agriculture and Co operative Departments. He was the member of the committee for the development of Indian Constitution after independence. He was elected member of Parliament in 1952, 1957 and 1962. He was Union Minister of Agriculture from 1952 to 1962. His other important contributions were opening wells to the so called Untouchables and opening of Shri Ambadevi Temple to this same communities in 1928. He also started Shraddhanand hostel for poor students. He was the founder of famous Shri Shivaji Education Society. Today this society runs several educational institutes which include Medical College, Engineering college and other educational institutes and hostels. In order to improve the condition of farmers he formed "Bharat Krushak Samaj" and to advocate it's policies he started a newspaper namely "Maharashtra Kesari". this great of the soil passed away in 1965.

Dr. Shivajirao Patwardhan was born in 1892 . He was a Homeopath . He took part in the struggle for Indian independence. He arranged a vidarbha youth conference in 1928 in Amrarvati. He was secretary of Vidarbha Provincial Congress committee. Though he was doctor by profession, he took great interest in social work. In 1930 he was jailed for taking part in "salt movement" at Dahihanda. He was associated with Mahatma Gandhi , Vinoba Bhave and Netaji Shubhashchandra Bose. After Independence he devoted his whole life for Leprosy patients. In 1950 he started "Jagdamba Leprosy Mission" . Now this place is famous with the name Tapovan. He struggled for many wrong beliefs regarding Leprosy and was successful in fevour of the Leprosy patients. Due to this great service to the society in general and Leprosy patients in particular, he was awarded with the civilian honor of " Padma Shri " by Government of India. He passed away in 1986.