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Ahmednagar district

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Ahmednagar district (Marathi pronunciation: [əɦ(ə)məd̪nəɡəɾ]), officially Ahilyanagar district,[1] is the largest district of Maharashtra state in western India. The historical city of Ahmednagar is the headquarters of the district. Ahmednagar and Sangamner are the largest cities in the district. It was the seat of the Ahmednagar Sultanate of late medieval period (1496–1636 CE). This district is known for the towns of Shirdi associated with Sai Baba, Meherabad associated with Meher Baba, Shani Shinganapur with Shanidev, and Devgad with Lord Dattatreya. Ahmednagar district is part of Nashik Division. The district is bordered by Aurangabad district to the northeast, Nashik district to the northwest, Thane and Pune districts to the southwest, Solapur district to the south and Beed district to the southeast.

Ahmednagar district
District
Ahilyanagar district
Clockwise from top-left: Tomb of Salabat Khan II, tomb of Meher Baba, Arthur Lake at Bhandardara, Kalabhairav Pinnacle at Harishchandragad, Amruteshwar Temple at Ratangad
Location in Maharashtra
Location in Maharashtra
Country India
StateMaharashtra
DivisionNashik
HeadquartersAhmednagar
TehsilsAkole, Jamkhed, Karjat, Kopargaon, Nagar, Nevasa, Parner, Pathardi, Rahata, Rahuri, Sangamner, Shevgaon, Shrigonda, Shrirampur
Government
 • BodyAhmednagar Zilla Parishad
 • Guardian MinisterRadhakrishna Vikhe Patil
(Cabinet Minister Mah)
 • President Zilla Parishad
  • President
    Vacant
  • Vice President
    Vacant
 • District Collector
  • Siddharam Salimath (IAS)
 • CEO Zilla Parishad
  • Ashish Yerekar (IAS)
 • MPs
Area
 • Total
17,048 km2 (6,582 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
4,543,159
 • Density270/km2 (690/sq mi)
 • Urban
17.67%
Demographics
 • Literacy80.22%
 • Sex ratio934
Time zoneUTC 05:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationMH-16 MH-17 and MH-51
Major highwaysNH-50, NH-222 SH-10
Average annual precipitation501 mm
Websiteahmednagar.nic.in

History

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Although Ahmednagar district was created as early as 1818, modern history of Ahmednagar may be said to have commenced from 1869, the year when parts of Nashik and Solapur, which till then had comprised Nagar, were separated and the present Nagar district was formed. Ahmednagar District was created after the defeat of the Maratha Empire in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818, when most of the Peshwa's domains were annexed to British India. The district remained part of the Central division of Bombay Presidency until India's independence in 1947, when it became part of Bombay State, and in 1960 the new state of Maharashtra. The district along with its namesake city were renamed to Ahilyanagar in 2023 by the government of Eknath Shinde, in honour of Ahilyabai Holkar, the Rani of Indore; the move faced some criticism.[2][3]

Economy

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In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Ahmednagar one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[4] It is one of the twelve districts in Maharashtra currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[4]

The district has the maximum number of sugar factories in the state. The first cooperative sugar factory in Asia was established at Pravanagar. A role model of water conservation work can be seen at Ralegaon Siddhi, which is also called the Ideal Village.

Tourism

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Newase where Dnyaneshwari was written, Shri Saibaba's Shirdi, one of Ashtavinayaks at Siddhatek, the famous Kanifnath temple, attract devotees. The Palace of Chand Bibi, the Bhandardara dam, Harishchandragad Fort, the Maldhok (Indian Bustard) sanctuary and the Rehkuri sanctuary are some of the places of tourist attraction.

Divisions

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Ahmednagar district consists of fourteen talukas. These talukas are

Ahmednagar district has twelve Vidhan Sabha constituencies, six in each of the two parliamentary constituencies.

For the Shirdi Parliamentary Constituency (SC)
For the Ahmednagar Parliamentary Constituency

The Ahmednagar district is under proposal to be divided and a separate Sangamner district and it can be carved out of existing Ahmednagar district with the inclusion of the northern parts of Ahmednagar district which include Rahata, Rahuri, Shrirampur, Sangamner, Akole, Kopargaon, and Nevasa talukas in the proposed district. Sangamner is geographically at centre for ease of administration and well connected by Roads. Sangamner having its separate Vana Vibhag, Bandhakam Vibhag Office, District Court etc.

Ralegaon Siddhi is a village in the district that is considered a model of environmental conservation.[8]

Demographics

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Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901821,946—    
1911927,795 1.22%
1921720,709−2.49%
1931971,296 3.03%
19411,125,402 1.48%
19511,413,446 2.31%
19611,779,246 2.33%
19712,273,223 2.48%
19812,712,491 1.78%
19913,372,935 2.20%
20014,040,642 1.82%
20114,543,159 1.18%
source:[9]

In the 2011 census Ahmednagar district recorded a population of 4,543,159,[10] roughly equal to the nation of Costa Rica[11] or the US state of Louisiana.[12] This gave it a ranking of 33rd among the districts of India (out of a total of 640).[10] The district had a population density of 266 inhabitants per square kilometre (690/sq mi).[10] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 12.43%.[10] Ahmadnagar had a sex ratio of 934 females for every 1000 males,[10] and a literacy rate of 80.22%. 20.09% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 12.63% and 8.63% of the population respectively.[10]

Religions in Ahmednagar district (2011)[13]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 90.40%
Islam
 
 7.06%
Jainism
 
 0.85%
Buddhism
 
 0.75%
Christianity
 
 0.50%
Other or not stated
 
 0.54%

In the 2011 census, the vast majority of the population in Ahmednagar was Hindu, but there was a significant population of Muslims. Jains and Buddhists are small minorities.[13]

Languages of Ahmednagar district (2011)[14]

  Marathi (88.89%)
  Hindi (4.74%)
  Urdu (2.74%)
  Others (3.63%)

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 88.89% of the population in the district spoke Marathi, 4.74% Hindi and 2.74% Urdu as their first language. Other languages include Telugu and its dialect Waddar, as well as Marwari.[14]

Culture

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Islam arrived in Ahmednagar during the Tughlaq dynasty. There are many Muslim monuments like salabat khan's Tomb known as chandbibi, Faria Baug, Ground Fort and many dargas (mosques), and they are found in main town and cities.

During the British era Ahmednagar was part of Bombay presidency. Christian missionaries, particularly from the United States of America, arrived in early 19th century when the British parliament allowed proselytizing in areas under the control of the East India Company. In Ahmednagar Christians are a result of the American Marathi mission and the mission of the Church of England's Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.The first Protestant Christian mission in the district was opened in 1831.The Hume Memorial Congregational Church in Ahmednagar city was built in 1833 by WIDER CHURCH MINISTRIES OF USA later known as American Marathi Mission. Christianity has been Ahmednagar's third-largest religion, found all over the district except in the south-west.It is called as Jerusalem of Maharashtra.[15] Every village has one or more resident families as Christian and every village has its own church for worship.[16] Ahmednagar's Christians are called Marathi Christians and a majority of them are Protestants.[17]

Officer

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Members of Parliament

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Guardian Minister

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Guardian Minister Ahmednagar
 
Emblem of India
since 27 September 2022
StyleThe Honourable
AppointerChief Minister of Maharashtra
Term length5 years / No time limit
Websiteahmednagar.gov.in/en/

list of Guardian Minister

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Name Term of office
Hasan Mushrif 9 January 2020 - 14 August 2022
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil 27 September 2020 - Incumbent

District Magistrate/Collector

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District Magistrate / Collector Ahmednagar
 
Emblem of India
Incumbent
Dr. Rajendra Bhosale (IAS)
since 2020
AppointerGovernment of Maharashtra
Term lengthNo time limit
Websiteahmednagar.gov.in/en/

list of District Magistrate / Collector

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Name Term of office
Siddharm Salimath(IAS) 2020 - Incumbent

Notable people

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  • C Ramchandra - Music Director and Playback singer.
  • Meher Baba - spiritualist, has Ashram's in Meherabad & Meherazad, Ahmednagar
  • Balasaheb Bharde (1912–2006), Former Minister, former speaker of the State Legislative Assembly and Padma Bhushan recipient.
  • Anna Hazare - social activist
  • Indian guru shri Gaur Gopal Das an internationally renowned motivational speaker and a well-known monk of ISKCON organization, was born in Vambori village.
  • Zaheer Khan, Indian Cricketer born at Shrirampur City on 7 October 1978, who has been a Key member of the Indian cricket team since 2000. He also played for Worcestershire in County Cricket and plays for Mumbai in Indian domestic cricket. He is currently the second-most successful Indian pace bowler in Test match cricket, behind Kapil Dev.
  • B. J. Khatal-Patil Ex. Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra, a senior Maharashtra leader and a veteran Congressman.
  • Indurikar Maharaj - comedian kirtankar, and social educator[18]
  • Dagdu Maruti Pawar (1935–1996), a Marathi author and poet known for his contributions to Dalit literature.[19] He was born in Dhamangaon, Akole taluka.
  • Ajinkya Rahane, Indian cricketer born at Ashvi village, Sangmner on 6 June 1988.
  • Bhausaheb Thorat (12 Jan 1924-14 Mar 2010), a leader of farmers and Indian National Congress legislator. He was well known in the cooperative movement, founder of the Sangamner Cooperative Sugar Mill, and former president of the Sangamner taluka and State Cooperative Bank. He is recognized for his work in Sangamner taluka and Akole taluka. Concerned about global warming, Bhausaheb Thorat has led a campaign to plant 45 million trees every year. In the epic Ramayana, the sage Agastya turned the arid Dandakaranya into a green heaven through a massive drive of tree planting. A book, The Man Who Planted Trees, an allegorical tale by French author Jean Giono, also inspired Bhausaheb Thorat. For this, he started the Dandakaranya Abhiyaan in June 2006 at Sangamner.[20]
  • Balasaheb Vikhe Patil - member of parliament and a former minister, Padma Bhushan recipient
  • Vithalrao Vikhe Patil - Indian industrialist, the founder of the first sugar factory in the cooperative sector in India at Loni, in Maharashtra and the founder of a group of industries and institutions composed of Institute of Business Management and Rural Development,[21] Padmashri Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation's Medical College and Hospital[22] and Padmashri Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited,[23] operating under Padmashree Dr. Vithalrao Foundation. The Government of India honoured him in 1961, with the award of Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award for his services to the nation.[24]

Villages

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References

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  1. ^ https://ahmednagar.nic.in/en/about-district/
  2. ^ "Why Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra was renamed Ahilyanagar". India Today. 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  3. ^ "Maharashtra cabinet approves renaming of Ahmednagar to Ahilyanagar". The Times of India. 2024-03-13. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  4. ^ a b Ministry of Panchayati Raj (September 8, 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  5. ^ "Tahsil Information". Ahmednagar District. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Map of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies within Ahmednagar District". Archived from the original on 2013-05-12. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  7. ^ "Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008" (PDF). The Election Commission of India. pp. 269–270, 278. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2010-10-05. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  8. ^ "A model Indian village- Ralegaon Siddhi". Archived from the original on 11 October 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-30.
  9. ^ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  10. ^ a b c d e f "District Census Hand Book – Ahmednagar" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  11. ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-10-01. Costa Rica 4,576,562 July 2011 est
  12. ^ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2010-12-25. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Louisiana 4,533,372
  13. ^ a b "Population by Religion - Maharashtra". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  14. ^ a b "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Maharashtra". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  15. ^ "A History of the Church of England in India, by Eyre Chatterton (1924)". Anglicanhistory.org. Archived from the original on 2007-11-23. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  16. ^ "The Gazetteers Department - AHMADNAGAR". Ahmednagar.nic.in. Archived from the original on 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  17. ^ "The Gazetteers Department - AHMADNAGAR". Ahmednagar.nic.in. Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  18. ^ Gaikwad, Anand (10 January 2019). "इंदुरीकर महाराजांचा वाढदिवस पंकजा मुंडे, थोरात, जानकरांनी केला 'एन्जाॅय'". Sarkar Nama (in Marathi). Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  19. ^ Anna Kurian (2006). Texts and Their Worlds I: Literatures of India - An Introduction. Lincoln, Neb: Foundation Books. ISBN 81-7596-300-X.
  20. ^ * Rev. D. S. Salvi- A missionary who was involved in Farmers development work, through his charitable organization, FEADER India. He built the road connection Rahuri to Taharbad and Taharabad to Rahuri Factory so that the farmers and the shepherd community could be connected to the markets in Rahuri and Factory. /billiontreecampaign/CampaignNews/Dandakaranya.asp Ulhas Latkar, "Dandakaranya Movement in India: Millions of trees planted", United Nations Environment Program. Archived 2009-04-22 at the National and University Library of Iceland
  21. ^ "IBMRD". IBMRD. 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-04-23. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  22. ^ "VIMS". VIMS. 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-05-02. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  23. ^ "NIIR". NIIR. 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  24. ^ "Padma Shri" (PDF). Padma Shri. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-10-15. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
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19°05′53″N 74°43′57″E / 19.09806°N 74.73250°E / 19.09806; 74.73250

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