Vidarbha (Pronunciation: state of Maharashtra. Forming the eastern part of the state, it comprises Amravati and Nagpur Division divisions. As per the 2011 Census, the region had a population of 23,003,179. The region occupies 31.6% of the total area and is home to 21.3% of the total population of Maharashtra. Situated in central India, it borders the state of Madhya Pradesh to the north, Chhattisgarh to the east, Telangana to the south and Marathwada and Uttar Maharashtra regions of Maharashtra to the west.
According to the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Rukmini, the wife of lord Krishna, was born to Bhishmaka, the king of the Vidarbha kingdom. Vidarbha was part of the Satavahana Empire during 1st to 2nd century CE). The coins and inscriptions from the period of Paramaras king Jagadeva, the son of the Udayaditya (reigned c. 1060–1086) have been found in the northern parts the region. According to the Ain-i-Akbari, the region was part of Berar Subah, in the Middle Ages. In 1680, the region was captured by Sambhaji, the son of Shivaji, who was the founder of Maratha empire. In 1724, Asaf Jah, who later became the Nizam of Hyderabad, declared independence and brought most of the region under his nominal rule. The administration and right of collecting taxes were held by the Marathas. In 1803, following the defeat of the Marathas, the region came under the rule of British East India Company. Later, the British Empire took control of the region from the British East India Company in 1857, and the region was part of Berar Province and Central Provinces. After Indian Independence in 1947, the region remained a part of the Central Provinces and Berar. After the Re-organization of Indian states, majority of the region became part of Bombay State in 1957. After the bifurcation of Bombay State, into Gujarat and Maharashtra, the region became part of Maharashtra.
The GDP of the region is estimated to be 2023-24. The economy of the region is largely dependent on agriculture with oranges and cotton being the major crops. The region also holds considerable mineral resources and forest cover. The region is economically under developed compared to the rest of Maharashtra with considerable poverty and malnutrition. Agriculture is largely dependent on seasonal monsoons and the region receives very less rainfall due to its location in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats. and famines are common with more than 1.4 lakh farmer in the period 1997 to 2006.
The largest and major city in the region is Nagpur and other major towns include Amravati, Akola, Chandrapur and Gondia. Varhadi and Zadi dialects of Marathi language is widely spoken. There have been demands for a separate state of Vidarbha, due to perceived neglect from the Government of Maharashtra. While the demand is supported by major political parties BJP and Congress, it is opposed by Shiv Sena, one of the major regional political parties in the state.
The coins and inscriptions from the period of Paramaras king Jagadeva have been found in the northern parts the region. An inscription discovered at Jainad names Jagadeva as the son of the Paramara king Udayaditya (reigned c. 1060–1086).
Scholar M. H. Krishna argued that the Chalukya king Someshvara I was known by the title "Jagadeva" ("Lord of the world") in the northern part of his kingdom, and it was he who issued these coins. However, all the known Chalukya coins featured Kannada script, while the coins of Jagadeva featured the Nagari script used by the Paramaras.According to the Ain-i-Akbari, the region was part of Berar Subah, known as the Gulshan-e-Berar in the Medieval India. In 1680, the region was captured by Sambhaji, the son of Shivaji who was the founder of Maratha empire. In 1724, following a battle at Buldana, Asaf Jah defeated the Mughal empire governor and declared independence. Most of the region came under the nominal rule of Jah, who later became the Nizam of Hyderabad, though the administration and right of collecting chauth were held by the Marathas. In 1803, following the defeat of the Marathas, the region came under the rule of British East India Company.
Later, the British Empire took control of the region from the British East India Company in 1857.
After Indian Independence in 1947, the region was part of the Bombay State. After the States Reorganisation Act, which re-organized state boundaries, majority of the region became part of Maharashtra.
Akola district | 936,226 | 882,391 | 1,818,617 |
Amravati | 1,482,845 | 1,404,981 | 2,887,826 |
Bhandara | 604,371 | 594,439 | 1,198,810 |
Buldhana | 1,342,152 | 1,245,887 | 2,588,039 |
Chandrapur | 1,120,316 | 1,073,946 | 2,194,262 |
Gadchiroli | 542,813 | 528,982 | 1,071,795 |
Gondia district | 662,524 | 659,807 | 1,322,331 |
Nagpur district | 2,388,558 | 2,264,613 | 4,653,171 |
Wardha district | 665,925 | 630,232 | 1,296,157 |
Washim district | 621,228 | 575,486 | 1,196,714 |
Yavatmal | 1,425,593 | 1,349,864 | 2,775,457 |
The largest city in the region is Nagpur and other major cities include Amravati, Akola, Chandrapur and Gondia.
Hindu festivals like Holi, Diwali and Vijayadashami are celebrated throughout the region.
The Nagpur Central Museum ( 1863) maintains collections from the region. Nagpur District Gazetteer
The economy of the region is largely dependent on agriculture with oranges and cotton being the major crops. Agriculture is largely dependent on seasonal monsoons and the region receives very less rainfall. and famines are common with more than 1.4 lakh farmer suicides in the period 1997 to 2006. Though the federal government has provided relief packages aimed at the region, with corruption rampant in the region. relief package for Vidarbha Columnist and journalist P Sainath opined that the relief packages were destined to fail as corruption in the government meant that little impact happened on the ground.
Nagpur is a major hub for business and healthcare. MIHAN is the major cargo hub in the region, operational out of Nagpur Airport. Nagpur also hosts Information Technology Special Economic Zone (IT SEZ). for information-technology companies. Amravati and Yavatmal are known for cotton production. Chandrapur has a thermal power station, which is one of the biggest in India.
There are other heavy industries and mines in the region.The region has mineral resources with coal and manganese, the major minerals. Iron ore and limestone have also been identified as potential mining resources. "Maharashtra Resources" Chandrapur district contributes 29% of all mineral output of Maharashtra.
The eastern part of Vidarbha consists of Maharashtra's oldest National Park, the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, one of the Project Tiger Reserves. Shegaon is a place of pilgrimage with temples attributed to the Hindu saint Gajanan Maharaj who lived there. Chikhaldara in Amravati district is a hill station and popular tourist destination.
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