Maharashtra and its unending legacy.
We are celebrating Maharashtra day today, the state we know geographically came into existence today in 1960 but the history and the legacy of maharashtra is not just geographic it's contributions to the various aspects of this nation and it's culture are profound. A brief take on them today
It's links to Ramayana : Rama is said to have spent some time of his vanavas in Panchavati (today's Nashik) so it has had the honour to host most revered of the hindu gods....
The bhakti movement : The period of 11th to 16th century saw a great intellectual and philosophical churn in india leading to the rise of many saints across India. Maharashtra had its golden period during which saints from all societal background preached here starting from Dnyaneshwar , Chokha Mela , Namdev, Tukaram , Savta mali, Ramdas , Mukta bai and Jana bai to name a few who contributed not just to Maharashtra's intellectual corpus but helped re imagine Sanatan Dharma. Namdev's contribution is even recognised in the Sikh philosophy where he contributed 60 shlokas popularly known as Namdev saasthi. This was the period which gave rise to the popular tradition were warkaris walk to Pandharpur for Ashadhi Ekadashi known as Pandharichi wari.
The Maratha Empire: Chatrapati Shivaji maharaj needs no introduction from anyone ... He almost single handedly created the HINDAVI SWARAJ and fought against the mighty Aurangzeb and started the decline of the mughal rule in india. But even after his death Aurangzeb was stationed in Maharashtra for 27 years to finish the Marathas but could not do it. After Aurangzeb's death the almost finished Marathas rose like Phoenix with veterans like Bajirao, Holkar's and Scindhia's to control the biggest Empire by indigenous rulers after Chandragupta Maurya. The Maratha empire lasted for about 100 years and away from the popular belief it was from Marathas that the British annexed Indian power not the Mughals...
Cultural contribution of Maraths: At the zenith of their rule they rebuilt lot of Hindu temples destroyed in the Mughal era ... Large parts of the Kashi, Ayodhya, Mathura corridor and the Ganga ghats as we see it today were rebuilt mostly by Queen Ahilya bai holkar.
Reform and freedom movement: A Lot of progressive movement in India in the 19th and 20th century is attributed to Bengal which is true but Maharashtra contributed equally to this movement. Likes of Gokhale, Ranade, Phule, Shahu contributed greatly to the reform movement challenging the orthodoxy.
Armed freedom struggle: The 1st call for freedom (swarajya) was given by lokmanya Tilak, the ganpati festival as we know it today was also started by him to aid the freedom movement. A lot of freedom fighters chaphekar brothers etc gave there life on his call.
Hindutva: The redefining philosophy still relevant and dominant in modern politics also came from this land which was defined by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the great freedom fighter and the person who pioneered the revolutionary movement in the freedom movement. Also the RSS was formed by dr. Hedgewar inspired from his thoughts which has taken a mamoth shape today.
Constitution and the dalit movement : As the contribution to freedom struggle was immense, the dalit movement and the rights movement and movement for equality was also pioneered by the Babasaheb Ambedkar in Maharashtra and also headed the drafting committee of Constitution which is the bedrock of the modern Indian state.
Business and economics: Maharashtra is the most developed state in India in various parameters and we boast of the wealthiest people in the entire India. Ambani's, Tata's, Birla's, Kotak's and others could find the atmosphere to become the business houses as we se it today.
Literary and music and cricket : from Lata Mangeshkar, P L deshpande, Bhimsen Joshi, Asha Bhosale, Kishore amonkar Sachin Tendulkar, Wadekar , Gavaskar, right upto Rohit Sharma , the 1st movie of india by dadasaheb phalke and many others to name a few have made a unparalleled contribution to art, music, culture and sports in India.
So culturally, economically, philosophically , politically and in many other fields Maharashtra has always pioneered the national movements and national change. In the last few years we have not produced a giant worthy of that stature. Hopefully in the coming years Maharashtra can give this nation a PM which can be worthy of its legacy....Jai Maharashtra...!
It's links to Ramayana : Rama is said to have spent some time of his vanavas in Panchavati (today's Nashik) so it has had the honour to host most revered of the hindu gods....
The bhakti movement : The period of 11th to 16th century saw a great intellectual and philosophical churn in india leading to the rise of many saints across India. Maharashtra had its golden period during which saints from all societal background preached here starting from Dnyaneshwar , Chokha Mela , Namdev, Tukaram , Savta mali, Ramdas , Mukta bai and Jana bai to name a few who contributed not just to Maharashtra's intellectual corpus but helped re imagine Sanatan Dharma. Namdev's contribution is even recognised in the Sikh philosophy where he contributed 60 shlokas popularly known as Namdev saasthi. This was the period which gave rise to the popular tradition were warkaris walk to Pandharpur for Ashadhi Ekadashi known as Pandharichi wari.
The Maratha Empire: Chatrapati Shivaji maharaj needs no introduction from anyone ... He almost single handedly created the HINDAVI SWARAJ and fought against the mighty Aurangzeb and started the decline of the mughal rule in india. But even after his death Aurangzeb was stationed in Maharashtra for 27 years to finish the Marathas but could not do it. After Aurangzeb's death the almost finished Marathas rose like Phoenix with veterans like Bajirao, Holkar's and Scindhia's to control the biggest Empire by indigenous rulers after Chandragupta Maurya. The Maratha empire lasted for about 100 years and away from the popular belief it was from Marathas that the British annexed Indian power not the Mughals...
Cultural contribution of Maraths: At the zenith of their rule they rebuilt lot of Hindu temples destroyed in the Mughal era ... Large parts of the Kashi, Ayodhya, Mathura corridor and the Ganga ghats as we see it today were rebuilt mostly by Queen Ahilya bai holkar.
Reform and freedom movement: A Lot of progressive movement in India in the 19th and 20th century is attributed to Bengal which is true but Maharashtra contributed equally to this movement. Likes of Gokhale, Ranade, Phule, Shahu contributed greatly to the reform movement challenging the orthodoxy.
Armed freedom struggle: The 1st call for freedom (swarajya) was given by lokmanya Tilak, the ganpati festival as we know it today was also started by him to aid the freedom movement. A lot of freedom fighters chaphekar brothers etc gave there life on his call.
Hindutva: The redefining philosophy still relevant and dominant in modern politics also came from this land which was defined by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the great freedom fighter and the person who pioneered the revolutionary movement in the freedom movement. Also the RSS was formed by dr. Hedgewar inspired from his thoughts which has taken a mamoth shape today.
Constitution and the dalit movement : As the contribution to freedom struggle was immense, the dalit movement and the rights movement and movement for equality was also pioneered by the Babasaheb Ambedkar in Maharashtra and also headed the drafting committee of Constitution which is the bedrock of the modern Indian state.
Business and economics: Maharashtra is the most developed state in India in various parameters and we boast of the wealthiest people in the entire India. Ambani's, Tata's, Birla's, Kotak's and others could find the atmosphere to become the business houses as we se it today.
Literary and music and cricket : from Lata Mangeshkar, P L deshpande, Bhimsen Joshi, Asha Bhosale, Kishore amonkar Sachin Tendulkar, Wadekar , Gavaskar, right upto Rohit Sharma , the 1st movie of india by dadasaheb phalke and many others to name a few have made a unparalleled contribution to art, music, culture and sports in India.
So culturally, economically, philosophically , politically and in many other fields Maharashtra has always pioneered the national movements and national change. In the last few years we have not produced a giant worthy of that stature. Hopefully in the coming years Maharashtra can give this nation a PM which can be worthy of its legacy....Jai Maharashtra...!
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