The word Maharashtra at once conjures up images of great economic enterprise, bubbling cultural, traditional and ethnic richness and diversity; a history from ancient times through the medieval centuries of upheaval and change right into the modern era of the 19th and 20th centuries; a panoramic sweep of tumultuous events and times that shaped to a great extent the future of the whole of India. The geography, climate and physical features affords its people a wide swathe of multiple choices of experience and livelihood options – industry, manufacture, agriculture and goods and services are some key elements that make Maharashtra one of the richest states in the country. Nature has blessed the state with sweeping vistas of beauty from the narrow strip of the Konkan Coast, the towering Western Ghats and further inland the beauty and largesse of its immense historical attractions and its wide spread of arts, culture and traditions leaving visitors spellbound and enthralled by the spectacle. Given its strategic location occupying a huge part of peninsular India, it commanded the rich trade and caravan routes of ancient times that usually ran north or northeastwards generating great wealth for rulers of the earlier centuries. It is little wonder then that the region changed hands time and again littering it with the detritus of history, as ruling and occupation dispensations came, stayed or were ousted, leaving behind reminders of their wealth and patronage in the form of forts, palaces, religious structures, arts, crafts and sculpture as symbols of their world view that dictated the times and life of their kingdoms and people whom they controlled and governed. Those various ruling powers also encouraged and patronised wonderful communities of skilled artisans and craftsman, who left behind an enduring legacy of fine workmanship, some of which still survives and also some which is trying to be revived before it is lost to us forever.
Geography
The state’s rugged landscape from the blustery coast washed by the Arabian Sea in the west to the steeply rising and towering Western Ghats that run north-south before they begin to slope into peninsular India with spurs that cut into the Deccan plateau covers an area of approximately 3,00,000 sq km, making it the third-largest state in the country. To the southeast of the state the riverine courses of two major rivers, the Godavari and Krishna, and their tributaries support fertile lands downstream. Further east the state spreads almost a 1,000 km inland into the Vidarbha region, which is very rich in mineral resources and also contains a clutch of national parks and nature reserves rich in forest wealth that translate into an enormous biodiverse region of flora and fauna of immense value. This enormous luxurious ecosystem is considered the hope and strength of the greatest of all big cats, the tiger! The preservation of this central Indian treasure from human depredation is intimately linked to saving not only the tiger but also various important strands that link the whole eco-system of the animal kingdom to this great cat. The plateau, being in the rain shadow area tends to be dry and dusty but prolonged efforts to spread irrigation systems have brought some relief. The narrow strip of the Konkon coastline is the tourist paradise that stretches up to the state of Goa, while further inland is the sugar belt of the state.
History
Maharashtra in its current avatar came into being in 1956 when the states re-organisation took place across India on two broad fronts of ethnicity and language. To its northwest is Gujarat and its northern limit is the sprawling state of Madhya Pradesh. As its border bends southwards, the state of Chattishgarh completes its eastern fringe. Due south and then turning west again are the two states of Telangana and Karnataka. Its southwestern tip is completed by the tiny state of Goa.
However, there is no doubt that the state, even before India became an independent nation, played a huge part in our national consciousness. The Indian National Union, at its meeting in 1885 in Mumbai, established the Indian National Congress; six decades later this organisation went on to achieve independence. Key figures in the Congress hierarchy were from Maharashtra; and in fact, Mahatma Gandhi operated out of Mani Bhawan in Mumbai for a decade and a half at the start of his campaign for freedom from the British.
But the seeds for the freedom struggle were sown at the very start of the 20th century. Two prominent names immediately come to mind: Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856–1920) and Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1886–1915). The former’s famous clarion call, “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it” was a great slogan and rallying call for the latter day stalwarts of the freedom movement to use effectively. An educationist, social reformer, historian, freedom fighter, much before his time, he founded the ‘Home Rule League’ with Swaraj as its aim. His political policy was more aggressive bordering on the revolutionary, as a result of which the British charged him with sedition and had him jailed. He was also instrumental in making the Ganesh Festival into a public rallying spectacle with political overtones, and the way of getting around the British order prohibiting the public assembly of Indians.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a contemporary of Tilak, was equally dedicated to the cause of Indian freedom. He was highly educated, a stout social reformer, historian and freedom fighter. Although his approach was less aggressive, it did not dilute the intensity of his dedication. In fact, Gokhale was instrumental in getting Gandhi back to India from South Africa to lead the movement for independence.
Culture
Maharashtra has wonderful traditions of arts, crafts and religious celebrations and none stand out more strikingly than the Ganesh Festival, dedicated to the Hindu god, Ganesha, who is a fount of all good things and a solver of all problems.
Other festivals that are celebrated here with much vigor along with the rest of the country include Dussera, Holi, Diwali, Navaratri and Eid. While the state’s population may be predominantly Hindu, people embrace and celebrate other religious festivals with equal enthusiasm. In tune with this atmosphere of festivities, which embraces all communities, the state has now linked some of these religious festivals to its rich cultural and artistic legacy at various places and renowned exponents of classical music and dance come together to perform and showcase their skill and talent.
Waves of settlers over the centuries have generated a rich tapestry of the arts that have flourished; be it in the famous cave paintings and sculptures of Ajanta and Ellora or the Warli genre of paintings and handicraft, which are unique. Warli paintings originated with the tribal people of Thane. The tribal women use rice paste and straw to decorate their hut walls during festive occasions. These are simple and generally the colour is white on brown surface with a touch of yellow and red.
Bidriware most famously came out of Aurangabad and is an intricate mix of overlaid and inlaid work on metal surfaces of pure silver. Weaving styles, too, are typified by the region they come from such as Kolhapur, Paithan, Pune, etc. Paithani sari weaving goes back nearly 2,000 years and some saris take as much as six months to make.
These apart, different regions of this huge state are identified by the crafts that have evolved over time and identify with the area.
Festivals necessarily demand a robust and delicious cuisine and the gastronomic delights on offer in Maharashtra are an amazing blend of outside influences merged with the flavours of local foods. There is varied fare across the state dedicated both by what is taken off the land and the tastes and flavours that out-of-region settlers brought to the table to enhance the variety of foods. Given its size, the food habits and spices differ quite remarkably but the bottom line is that the cuisine is generally spicy, robust and flavourful.
Maharashtra Today
From the middle ages, this general area now known as Maharashtra witnessed great volumes of commerce, trade and people to people exchange thereby bringing wealth, prosperity and diversity. This in turn ensured education, arts, crafts and architecture were encouraged and patronised generously. The arrival of the British, who established their first real holding in India at Mumbai and the amalgamation of all the inlands linking up Mumbai led to accelerated development. The Western part is an intense concentration of manufacturing and the major captains of Indian industry operate from this metropolis of Mumbai. It is the financial and trading hub of the country with excellent connectivity by sea, air, road and rail to the whole country and also foreign countries.
Maharashtra was also fortunate to attract a large slice of traders and astute business minds from Gujarat and parts of Rajasthan who brought a great business sense of commerce and trade, and the arrival of the Parsi community ensured the state never lagged behind in the industrial and manufacturing stakes, raising it to the apex position in the country.
The hinterland is less developed but extremely rich in raw materials, coal, iron ore and forest wealth. It is a major source of power for a large area and in fact the Vidarbha region produces a large portion of the power of the state because of its huge coal reserves. Inland, an agrarian way of life holds sway and strenuous efforts have been made to improve farm output through irrigation. This region also has a rich history of the Gond tribal people whose lands also hold the richest forest tracks, which are a haven of biodiversity thriving with wildlife and generating a booming tourist influx whose knock-on effect is good for the environment when kept within the contours of disciplined activity. It also draws the tribal people into the booming tourist trade by giving them a livelihood and also actively participating in the preservation of their land and tribal way of life.
The geographical position and huge size of the state subjected it to great influences from outside forces over millennia. Change by itself is a wonderful catalyst on all aspects of life and human society is no exception. The influences came from across the western sea through trade and the caravans and from the north and northwest the steady stream of military campaigns that saw dynasties come and go, but importantly, each one leaving its footprint firmly embossed in different facets of religion, culture, architecture, arts and crafts and governance. The state has gained immensely from its varied influences and its major cities with their high population concentrations have been inundated by waves of people coming from different parts of the country to settle, work and make a better life for themselves, all making these human concentrations a polyglot mix of language, tradition, culture and costume – an eclectic potpourri of vibrant throbbing life and living.