C H A P T E R IV PERSONALITY OF NASHIK DISTRICT 4.1 Introduction : 140 4.2 Historical Background 140 ( Peshwa’s Period - Historical Background - B ritish Period - Administrative Division) 4.3 Geographical Profile 142 ( Location - Boundaries - Size - Clim ate - Temperature - Soil- Irrigation - Drainage - Forest - Taluka ) 4.4 Population 147 ( Size and Growth of Population - Population Density - Urban Population - Rural Population - Sex Ratio - Literacy - M ortality Rate - Religionwise Classification - Occupational Pattern - Landholding ) 4.5 Cropping Pattern 159 4.6 Electricity 162 4.7 Communication 162 4.8 Transport 163 4.9 Industrial Development and Financial Institutions 164 4.10 Co-operative 166 4.11 Education 166 4.12 Public Health 167 4.13 Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Institutions 168 139 C H A P T E R IV PERSONALITY OF NASHIK DISTRICT 4.1 Introduction : This chapter throws light on physical factors like location, boundaries and areas, historical background, territorial changes, physiography, drainage, climate, soil types, irrigation, population, livestock, agricultural credit and finance, electricity, transport and communication in Nashik District are considered. It is essential to discuss the abovecited factors from the viewpoint of agricultural development because agricultural development is the key of agrobased industries. The development of agrobased industries depends upon the developm ent of agricultural factor. 4.2 Historical Background : Prabhu Ramchandra along with wife Seeta and brother Laxman spent major time of ‘Vanavasa’ (Exile period) in Nashik, hence Nashik is also called as ‘Rambhumi’. According to mythology, Laxm an cut the nose (‘Na s i k a ’ in Sanskrit) of 'Shurpanakha’ (who insisted to marry Laxman) the sister of ‘Ravana’ hence the cit>' got the name ‘N ashik’. According to some experts the city of N ashik is situated on the nine sm all hills ‘Shikhars’ hence the city is called as Nashik. (Nava-Shikhara)' It is also believed that Brahmadev had meditated in ‘Padmasana’ in the city hence the city was also called ‘Padm a-Aasan’ for some time. It is also believed that Lord Vishnu had defeated three demons and thus the city had also the name of ‘Tri- K a n t a k ’ . It is said that Agastya the first Aryan to cross Vindhya Mountains and live on the banks of Godavari river. He presented Ram with bow and two 140 quivers to fight the ‘Rakshasas’. He also advised him to stay at Panchavati, so called because of the five great banyan trees grew there. Panchavati was then at the fringe of the Dandakaranya forest, from where Ravana abducted Seeta. The name has been maintained through out the centuries, although the name has been changed occasionally like Padmanagar, Trikantak, Jansthan, Gulshanabad and so on. The great writers like Kalidas, Bhavbhuti, Valmiki Rishi, Patanjali and others had made a mention of Nashik in their literature. Akbar also mentioned Nashik in his autobiography ‘Aaine Akbari’. Once every 12 years the historic ‘Kumbhmela’ is held at Nashik. 4.2.1 Peshwa’s Period : The Moguls were fascinated by the beauty of the city and renamed it as ‘Gulshanabad’ meaning the city of gardens.^ Fresh beautiful flowers were sent to Aurangazeb from ‘Gulshanabad’ i.e. Nashik. During the Peshwas period the place was finally renamed as Nashik. Raghobadada and his wife Anandibai settled down at ‘Anandawalli’ in Nashik. The British fell in love with the beauty of the city and developed it in various fields. The Golf course developed by the British was one of the largest in Asia.^ 4.2.2 British Period : The present territory of Nashik District was formerly partly distributed in Khandesh and Ahmednagar Districts. In 1837-38 some part of Ahmednagar District consisting of Sinnar, Chandor, Dindori, Nashik, Igatpuri and Peth were merged into a sub-collectorate under Ahmednagar. The sub-collectorate of Nashik was abolished in 1956 and its talukas incorporated in Ahmednagar District. In 1869 Nashik was made a fullfledged district with 13 talukas. Anant Kanhere shot Collector Jackson in Vijayanand Theatre on 21®‘ Dec., 1909 in Nashik. The people involved in the murder of Jackson, Anant 141 Kanhere, Krishnaji Karve and Vinayak Deshpande were sentenced to death. W e have to salute them who struggled for the freedom of our Nation from British rule and gave up their lives. 4.2.3 Administrative Division : Nashik became Revenue Division in Feb. 1981 comprising of four districts (Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon and Ahmednagar), before that Nashik District was in Bombay region. For administrative convenience the district has been divided into three sub-divisions. Sub-divisionwise coverage of Talukas are given in the Table No. 4.1. Table No.4.1 Administrative Sub-divisions in Nashik District Sr.No. Sub-division Talukas 1. Nashik 2. Dindori 3. Igatpuri 1. Nashik 4. Tryambakeshwar 5. Kalwan 6. Peth 7. Surgana 1. Niphad 2. Sinnar 2. Niphad 3. Chandvad 4. Yeola 1. Malegaon 2. Nandgaon 3. Malegaon 3. Satana 4. Deola 4.3 Geographical Profile : Nashik District lies in the northwest part of the Maharashtra State. It is the third largest district in Maharashtra occupying 5.04 per cent of total area of the State; Nashik is at a height of 565 metres above sea level. Since 1869 the district was having 13 Talukas; from 26'*’ June 1999 two more talukas (Deola and Tryambak) are added in the list with total 15 talukas. At present 142 Nashik is one of the most important cities of Northern Maharashtra. It is situated at a distance of 200 km. from Mumbai (Bombay) as well as Pune. The river Godavari flows through the city. The temples and ghats on the banks of Godavari have made Nashik one of the holiest places for Hindus all over the world. With the exception of a few villages in the west, the whole district is situated on a tableland from 1300 to 2000 feet above sea level. The average length of the district in north-south is 120 kms. and east-west is 200 kms. Nashik is having collectorate of revenue department since 1982. Total area of the district is 15530 sq.kms., which comprises of rural area 15113 sq.kms. and urban 417 sq.kms. 4.3.1 Location : The district lies in the northern region of Maharashtra State between 19.16 and 20.52 north latitudes and 73.16 and 74.56 east longitudes. It is rhomboidal in shape with longer diagonal of about 170 kms. from southwest to northeast. 4.3.2 Boundaries : The Nashik District is bounded in the northwest by the Dang District of Gujrat State, on the north by Dhule District, Jalgaon on the east, Aurangabad on the south and Thane District on the west; the second highest peak of the state ‘Salher’ (1967 meters) is in Baglan Taluka forms the northwestern boundary of the district. 4.3.3 Size : The district has 15 talukas with total area of 15530 sq.kms. With total population (as per 2001 census), 49.87 lakhs, it ranks 3'^‘^ in terms of area and 4^'' in terms of population in all the 30 districts of the state. It is situated on both sides of the sacred Godavari river. The headquarter of the Dist. is Nashik 1 4 3 city. The District is having 2 Corporations, 8 Municipalities, 1 Cantonment Board, 1389 Grampanchayats having 11968 members and 13 Agriculture bazaar committees. 4.3.4 Climate ; The climate of district is warm in summer and slightly humid in rainy season. Igatpuri, Peth, Tryambakeshwar and Surgana Talukas in the western part of the district receive more rainfall. The rainfall decreases as we move towards the east. Winter is severe in the eastern parts of the district; Igatpuri, Saptshringi and Tryambakeshwar are cool even in summer. A year may be divided into four seasons : a) The cool season from December to February. b) Hot season from March to May. c) The southwest monsoon season is from June to September. d) Post-monsoon season in October and November. The average rainfall for the whole district is 1035 mm. The rainfall is recorded at 15 stations and the record is available for more than last 80 years. The average rainfall in the western ghat area Peth receives 2851.6 mm. while south ghat area Igatpuri receives 3341.6 mm. The amount of rainfall decreases towards east and Satana (Baglan Taluka) Taluka average is less than 500 mm. of rainfall. The main rainy season starts from middle of June and lasts up to the end of September, about 88 per cent of the total annual rainfall is received during this season. 4.3.5 Temperature : The temperature of the Nashik District begins to increase from the middle of February. M ay is the hottest month with mean daily maximum temperature at 40.6°C at Malegaon and 37.4°C at Nashik. The highest maximum temperature recorded at Malegaon as 46.7*^C in 1929 while at Nashik 42.4*^C in 1960. The 144 lowest minimum temperature recorded at Malegaon was 0.1‘’C in 1929 and at Nashik 0.6°C in 1945. The normal minimum average temperature in the coldest month of December is 8-9'^C whereas at Malegaon it is 6.6*^C. 4.3.6 Soil : The district is having four types of soil which are Black (kali), Red (7a/),Red and Black (koral), and light brown (Barad). Black soil is found mostly in the near bed of river such as Girana and Mosam. These soils are mostly fertile and are suitable for agriculture. The soils in the Godavari, Kadva and upper parts of the Girana and Mosam villages are quite deep and fertile. The soil in the rest of the district is undulating and susceptible to erosion.