India without Ajanta and Ellora is unimaginable. For they represent the great cultural heritage of this blessed land. Then the question: Where is Ajanta and Ellora?
Every time I see the countryside in Marathwada, my mind keeps asking this question as to why this region is lagging behind in development after being Political-Cultural hub of Maharashtra, if not India for at least 1500 years?
The only Mahajanpada south of Vindhyas was 'Ashmaka' and it was located between rivers Godavari and Manjara i.e in Marathwada. Ashmaka got its name from the rocky countryside of the region. No wonder more than 2600 years later GaDiMa used the same words to discri be Maharashtra as: "Rakat desha, Kankhar desha, Dagadanchya desha"
The first empire that placed Maharashtra and for that matter whole southern India on world map was: 'Sathvahana' with their capital at Prathistana i.e Modern Paithan in Aurangabad.
After Sathvahans came the 'Vakatakas', basically from Vidarbha region but gradually they spilt in two branches one with its capital at 'Vatsgulma' that is modern Washim, and another with its capital at 'Bhogvardhan' that is today's Bhokardan in Jalna district. Vajatakas were followed by 'Rashtrakutas' under whom Marathwada was focal point of all activities. The greatest specimen of their architecture is 'Kailash Temple', a monolithic temple created with dexterity from top to bottom. This temple is at Ellora, Aurangabad.
Chalukyan princes, basically from North Karnataka came and settled in Marathwada and eventually established a city after her name called 'Champavatinagari' this city is today's Beed. Nanded according to scholars was connected to 'Nanda Dynasty', etymologically deriving its name from Nandas. Later Nanded became the final resting ground of Guru Gobind Singh in 1708 AD and today is the important centre of Sikhism in southern India.
Yadavas with their capital at Deogir later came to be called as Daulatabad, in Aurangabad are credited with creating conditions conducive for cultural activities which today forms the basis Maharashtra. Marathi flourished under them. The capital was shifted from Delhi to Daulatabad by Mohammad Tughlaq during sultanate period.
Mukundaraj-Dnyaneswar-Namdev-Eknath-Ramdas all these saint poets were from Marathwada. The Bhakti movement of Maharashtra had its base in Marathwada. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj belonged to Bhosale of Ellora in Marathwada.
Politically from Ashmaka to Sathvahna to Vakataka to Chalukya to Rashtrakutas to Yadavas all worked in Marathwada with most of them having their capitals in the region.Culturally it was the epicenter and is to seen in various caves like: Ajanta, Ellora, Dharashiv, Pitalkhora. Fresco and mural paintings of Ajanta and especially of Avalokiteswar Padampani is finest to be seen anywhere in the world. The World famous monolithic Kailash Temple is standing tall boasting cultural richness of India. Three are thousands of beautiful 'Hemadpanthi' temples in Marthwada, named after Hemadri Pant, the councilor of Yadavas. Economically, various urban centers like Prathistan-Tager(today's Ter in Osmanabad)-Bhogvardhan were there. 'Dakshinapath' the famous trade route of Ancient India passed through region. We also have evidences of trade with Roman Empire.
Now when one looks at relative backwardness of the region, heart is filled with pain and anguish. Caste system is more rigid here compared to say in Pune where I've spent last 6 years. Feudal ethos as remnant of Nizam state are still not liquidated. People have their loyalties to caste and persons not to Nation and Values/principles. Politics is person centric and not people centric. Scientific temper is non-existent. Climate is adverse and industrialization is absent. With erratic rains life here is becoming oppressive to peasants. Social reform movement of 19th century has not permeated deeply in masses here. Jambhekar-Lokhitwadi-Shankarshet- Agarkar-Rande-Tilak-Gokhale-Phule-Shahu-Ambedkar-Karve-Savarkar mainly worked in Western Maharashtra. During this time Marathwada was ruled by Nizam this is where I guess, it lagged behind. Kasim Rizvi committed unspeakable atrocities on people through 'Razakars'.It was on 17th September 1948, that is more than a year after independence Marathwada was integrated to Indian Union.
I'm writing about the glorious past at a time when present is bleak. And we are oblivious of both.. Let's work towards making our future glorious..!! A new movement in political-economic-social-cultural life of Marathwada is long overdue..!!!
