Vi Profile of the Industrial Economy of Solapur
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CHAPTER - VI PROFILE OF THE INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY OF SOLAPUR giAPTER ~ VI PROFILE OF THE INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY OF SOLAPUR 6.1 INTRODUCTION; The chapter is composed of the geographical setting and the growth and development of industries in Solapur city. The major focus is on the textile industry and spinning mills, providing yam Vo the handloom and powerloom industry in Solapur. However, an attempt has also been made to cover the other industries like, agrobased, leather, chemical and chemical based, engineering industries etc. Further, the analysis of the contribution of the industries to the growth of the economy of the Solapur city has also been made. The City of Solapur next to Mumbai, is one of the major textile towns in the Western part of Maharashtra. It is geographically located on the borderline of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It is connected with all major industrial towns and business centres in India through the well developed railway network. Recently air scrvice in the form of Vayudoot has been started in Solapur which has also given boost to its industrialisation. Solapur is famous for textile products. However, it is the "Jacquard Chaddar" an unique product, manufactured on a large scale in Solapur has taken its name on the international map. It is therefore worthwhile to study the industrial economy of Solapur city in the context o f its cultural heritage and religious and socio-economic background. 100 years ago Solapur city from Maharashtra was popular as the "Manchester" of the east in the world. ITie city of a million people once ranked fourth "most-industralised" town in the countiy.* 1. Siddhartha, D. Kashyap ; Times News Network; The Times of India, Mumbai, February 1, 2003. P. 11 168 The best proof of this thing is that, 100 years ago for creating efficient workers in Bombay region. British Govt, had started two technical schools One at Bombay Elphinston Technical School and Second at Solapur - Northcote Technical School. ^ This thing shows tliat Solapur was popular as the Industrial City in India. 6.1.1 SOLAPUR DISTRICT - A PROFILE : The areas which now form Solapur District were earlier parts of the three districts namely Ahmednagar, Pune and Satara. Today it comprises 11 talukas, 10 towns and 1142 villages. It is situated entirely in Bhima, Nira, Sina and Man river basins in Southern Maharashtra, It has an area of 15021 Sq.Kms. and a population of over 38 lacs. It ranks 4th in terms of area and the 7th largest in terms of population among the 30 districts of Maharashtra.^ 6.2 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION : It is located in the latitude 17o.40" N and longitude 75o.56' 38" E^. It lies 1800 feet above the sea level. The establishment of Railway Station is in 1859 conformed its strategic location between Pune and Hyderabad. Solapur has a Railway station on the South-East branch of the Central Railway 263 Kilometers South-Eiast of Poona, 455 Kilometers South-East of Bombay and 335 Kilometers North-West of Hyderabad. According to the Imperial Gazetteer, 1908 ; "On account of absence of any high ground in the neighbourhood, Solapur is on all sides exposed to the winds. The Geographical climate, except during March, April and May months is agreeable and healthy too."* Solapur is located in the Centre of a large piain on the watershed of 'Adila' a feeder of the 'SINA' river. The nearest hill called 'Dawal-Malik' is eight miles to east of the city. It is considerably not during the months of April and May. 2. Jaykumar Padl ; A president North Industries Assodation - "Development of Solapur City", P.I. 3. Prof M.G. Bhasin, (1998); "An Introduction to Solapur", P.20 4. Hunter W.W. :"The Imperial Gazetteer of India", Vol. XII, Second Edi. 1887, P.420. 169 The temperature exceeds 43°C. Though it very hot during the day, the nights arc fairly cool and favourable. The adjoining of districts of Solapur are Sangli to its South-west, Satara to it's West, Pune to it's North west, Ahmednagar to it's North. Beed and Osmanabad to its east and the Bijapur district in Karnataka state to its south. The district had total area of 15021 square Kilometers. 200 km. east-west and 150 kms. north-south. According to census 2001 the population of Solapur district is 3855383.^ Solapur has 11 talukas 1) Solapur North, 2) Solapur South, 3) Barshi, 4) Akkalkot, 5) Mohol, 6) Mangalwedha, 7) Pandharpur, 8) Sangola, 9) Malshiras, 10) Karmala, 11) Madha. Table No. : 6.1 Tabic Showing Particulars of Solapur Location inO 'N to 18°30'Nand 74°42'Eto 76°15'E Altitude 455 Mtrs. above sea level Highest Temp. 45.6°C (May) Lowest Temp. 14.8°C (December) Average rainfall In September Population 871961 (2001 Census) Decannial Growth Rate 24.84% Literacy 56.39% Cultivators 58.73% Agri. Labourers 31.56% Total Rail 423.87 Kms. Total Road 10635 Kms. Airstrip 1 Sources of Water Supply Takli 80%, Hipparga20% Source : Prof M .G. Bhasin 'An Introduction to Solapur 2001, P.20. 5. District Census Book, Solapur. 170 6.3 THE CLIMATE AND SEASON : Climatically Solapur district comes under scarcity zone. Rainfall is uncertain as well as irratic in distribution (rainfall in September is more assured) The chief rainy months are from June to September. 50 years average show 41 days and 677 mm. of rainfall. The district Gazetteer observes, "The rock on which the city is built is a hard "MURUM" almost approaching trap cxccpt to the north and east where there is some rich cotton soil. The rock in these places is near the surface and barely covered by soil. The soils are derived from the Deccan Trap which is the predominant rock. Soils are o f three types Black, Gray and Red.^ In the rainy days the surroundings of the town is green and pleasant, at other times the encirled city environment looks bare and uninteresting except some patches of land watered from the 'EKRUK' canal to the north and west of the town. Its great castle is handsome and well placed on the rising western bank of the Lord Siddheshwar lake. Exccpt tlie castle the town has little o f architectural interest.^ 6.4 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND: Solapur city has a rich historical background and it has its own cultural and socio-economic structure. Since the city is located on the border of Karnataka, Andhra it has a mixed culture in terms of linguistic and religion. The ancient history of Solapur before the 10th Century is shrouded in darkness. Solapur, as a small village, passed through a number of regimes like tliose of Satavaliana, early Rashtrakutas, Chalukayas, Imperial Rashtrakutas etc. which ruled in Maharashtra since 90 B.C. It was under the later Chaiukyas and the Yadavas in the 11th and o 12th centuries that Solapur began to flourish as a religious centre. The persons responsible making Solapur a religious centre were "Revansidha" and "Sidharam". It is found that the Yadavas left several vestiges o f their 6. Prof M.G. Bhasin, (1998): "An Introduction to Solapur", P.20 7. Cambell, James M., Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency', Vol.XX, Solapur, 1884, P.487. 8. Marshal John. Annual Reoort of the Director General of Archaeloev of India. 1919. P.28. 171 rule in Solapur district among which are a few Hemadampanti temples including a temple in the fort of Solapur. An inscription at Sangur (Havery Taluka, Dharwar Dist.) of Yadav Mahadevaraya, shaka 1186 mentions that "The Mahapradhana Devaraja visited Sonnalagi Nagar which had been Ibrmerly the residence of the Sant Siddharam. It seems that the temple of "Mallikarjuna" and the Siddheshwar lake were built many years before the fort was built.’ The Solapur city was never under the control of one single ruler for long time and lived under the possession of military conquest. The rulers of Ahmednagar, Bijapur, Kalyani, Gulbarga, Moghals, Nizam, Maratha and the English all established control over the city very often. And therefore, there was no planned and all round growth of the city. It was only in 1869 under the British imperial Rule, the city was made the district head quarters and since then it is making steady progress. Solapur city was also under the rule of Shatkami alias 'Andhramruttya' having capital at "Paithan" from 808.C to 300A.C. Solapur was under the rule o f following rulers. From 300 to 760 Chalukya " 760 to 973 Rashtrakut " 974 to 1184 Navodit Chalukaya " 1184 to 1318 Yadavas of Devagiri 1318 to 1357 Daulatabad Subhedar " 1357 to 1375 Bahamanis (Gulberga) 1375 to 1497 Nizam Shahi 1497 to 1562 Bidar 9. Panchamukhi R.S. : "Sangur Inscription of Yashar Mahadevaraya, Shake 1186" Epigraphic and Record of Archaelogical Survey of India, Part 5th, Vol. 1936, P. 189. 172 In 1599 - Moghals established their control. In 1623 - Malikambar (Ahmednagar) recaptured. In 1636 - The control was restores to Bijapur In 1688 - Moghals recaptured. In 1723 - Nizams reestablished in control. In 1758 - The Maratha rule was established. From 1818 - The British rule was established. 6.4.1 POLITICAL EVENT : At\er 1920, Gandhiji initiated his salt-Satyagraha movement. In 1930, Solapur come to prominently mark on the political map of India. There were severe disturbances in the town. In response to the call of non- co-operation and Satyagraha given Mahatma Gandhi, the mill labourers began to organise in Solapur and also went on strike. Shri Kurban Husain and Shri Jagannath Shinde were the secretaries of the "Youth League". They organised mill workers and actively participated in civil disobidiencc movement. When the news of Gandhi's arrest reached Solapur, processions strikes of workers were organised.