Solapur

Solapur ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a city located in the south-eastern region of Indian state of Maharashtra. Solapur is located on major road and rail routes between Mumbai and Hyderabad, with a branch line to the cities of Bijapur (now known as Vijayapur) and Gadag in the neighbouring state of Karnataka. It is classified as a 2 Tier and B-2 class city by House Rent Allowance (HRA) classification by the Government of India. It is 49th-most-populous city in India and 43rd-largest urban agglomeration.

Solapur has speakers of Marathi Telugu and Kannada. Solapur is the fourth-largest district in Maharashtra in terms of land area, and seventh-largest in terms of population and 43 largest populated district in India The district shares its borders with the indian state of Karnataka.

Solapur district has the highest number of sugar factories (total 33) in India. Solapur leads Maharashtra in production of Indian cigarettes or Beedi. Solapuri Chadars and towels are famous in India and also at a global level, however there has been a significant decline in their exports due to quality reasons. Solapuri chadars are the famous and first product in Maharashtra to get a Geographical Indication tag It has been a leading centre for cotton mills and power looms in Maharashtra. Solapur had the world's second-largest and Asia's largest spinning mill. The National Research Centre on Pomegranate (NRCP) of India is located in Solapur. and also the pomegranate farming is done on a large scale in Solapur District. The Science Centre in Kegaon (Solapur) is the third largest and prominent scientific association in Maharashtra. The Raichur- Solapur Power Transmission line of 765 kV power capacity suffices the power grid accessing need of the southern states of Karanataka and Andhra Pradesh. The first waste-to-energy electricity plant in Maharashtra is situated in Solapur.

The Gramadevata (Chief deity) of the city is Shri Shivyogi Siddheshwar. The "Nandidhwaj" procession on the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti and on account of it an annual fair locally known as Gadda Yatra attracts large crowds and is associated with the marriage of Lord Siddheshwar. In 1992, the Solapur Municipal Corporation extended its area up to 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi) by merging its suburbs.

Solapur district is famous for Solapuri Chaddar (is a cotton bed sheet is a cotton bed sheet), towels etc.

Etymology and history

The Solapur District was ruled by various dynasties such as Andhrabhratyas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Yadavas and Bahamanis. is believed to be derived from the combination of two Sanskrit words: 'Sola (Sanskrit: सोला/सोळा)' meaning "Sixteen" and 'pur (Sanskrit: पूर)' meaning "Village". The present city of Solapur was considered to be spread over sixteen villages viz. Aadilpur, Ahmedpur, Chapaldev, Fatehpur, Jamdarwadi, Kalajapur, Khadarpur, Khandervkiwadi, Muhammadpur, Ranapur, Sandalpur, Shaikpur, Solapur, Sonallagi, Sonapur and Vaidakwadi and all these villages are now merged with Solapur Municipal Corporation. It is evident from the inscriptions of Shivayogi Lord Siddheshwar of the time of the Kalachuristis of Kalyani, that the town was called 'Sonnalage'(ಸೋನ್ನಲಗಿ) which came to be pronounced as 'Sonnalagi'. The town was known as Sonnalagi even up to the times of Yadavas. A Sanskrit inscription dated (Sanskrit:शके १२३८) Śakē 1238, after the downfall of the Yadavas found at Kamati in Mohol shows that the town was known as Sonalipur. One of the inscriptions found in Solapur fort shows that the town was called Sonalpur while another inscription on the well in the fort shows that it was known as Sandalpur. Subsequently, the British rulers pronounced Solapur as Sholapur and hence the name of the district. The present Solapur district was previously part of Ahmednagar, Pune and Satara districts. In 1838 it became the Sub-district of Ahmednagar. It included Barshi, Mohol, Madha, Karmala, Indi, Hippargi and Muddebihal Sub-divisions. In 1864 this Sub-district was abolished. In 1871 this district was reformed joining the Sub-divisions viz. Solapur, Barshi, Mohol, Madha and Karmala and two Subdivisions of Satara district viz. Pandharpur, Sangola and in 1875 Malshiras Sub-division was also attached. After the State reorganisation in 1956 Solapur was included in Bombay State and it became a full-fledged district of Maharashtra State in 1960.

A prominent Kannadiga (ಕನ್ನಡಿಗ)woman and writer Jayadevi Taayi Ligade and some of Lingayat and other Kannadigas had tried for inclusion of Solapur region into Karnataka state (former Mysore state) on grounds of linguistic majority of Kannada speaking people in and around Solapur region. and the demand was again asserted by Chief Minister of Karnataka B. S. Yeddyurappa in 2010.

The Solapur Municipal Council was the first municipal council to hoist the indian national flag on the Municipal Council building in 1930. The municipal corporation building was built by Rao Saheb Mallappa Warad. He was also one of the first ones to bring the farming tractor in India. It was his wish that the building should be used for some public purpose and thus the building was made the municipal council. The building is also called Indra Bhawan which means 'Abode of Indra' (Lord Indra). Mallappa Warad was also one of the ten members of 'Chamber of Merchants' under Queen Victoria.

Taking the spirit of Dandi March from Mahatma Gandhi, the freedom fighters of solapur hoisted the National Flag on 6 April 1930 on the Municipal Council building. This was the first and the unique incidence of such kind throughout the country.

During the Indian independence movement, the people of Solapur enjoyed full freedom on 9–11 May 1930. However, this resulted in the executions of Mallappa Dhanshetti, Abdul Rasool Qurban Hussein, Jagannath Bhagwan Shinde and Shrikisan Laxminarayan Sarada, who were hanged on 12 January 1931, in the prison at Pune. This resulted in the city becoming recognised as "The City of Hutatmas" literally "The City of Martyrs"., As per mahajan commission Reports Solapur should be part of Karnataka,But Maharashtra Government rejected the Reports.

Toponomy

The Inscriptions of chief deity of Solapur Shivyogi Shri.Siddheshwar of the time of the Kalachuri (Basavakalyan) suggest that the town was called "Sonnalage" which came to be pronounced as "Sonnalagi". A Sanskrit inscription dated Shake 1238, after the downfall of the Yadavas found at Kamati in Mohol shows that the town was known as Sonalipur. One of the inscriptions found in Solapur fort shows that the town was called Sonalpur It was the main commercial hub of the Devagiri Yadavas and an important trading city. The town was known as Sonnalagi even up to the times of the Yadavas of Devagiri.

Culture

Solapur is a city with multi-linguistic and multi-cultural features. Solapur has a mixture of Marathi Telugu and Kannada speakers. The festival of Makar Sankranti is one of the largest festivals celebrated Kannada peoples(Lingaayata) in Solapur. Mostly the Lingaayat(ಲಿಂಗಾಯತ) people celebrate it. The Nandidhwaj rally and their marriage is the important part of the festival. The Nandidhwaj rally goes through the 68 temples of Lord shiv which are situated in different parts of the city. Gadda yatra is another important part of this festival. It is like a fair which is organised on hom Maidan. Along with Makar Sankranti people also celebrates Gudipadwa, Diwali,Ganesh Chaturthi and some more. People also celebrate National festivals. Navratri is another big festival in Solapur. It is celebrated at Rupabhawani temple located at Tuljapur road. People visit temples to worship Goddess Rupabhawani for nine days in Navratri.

Geography and climate

Civic administration

The civic administration of the city is managed by the Solapur Municipal Corporation, which was established on the Maharashtra Day of 1 May 1964 in the building constructed by Mallappa Warad in 1930. The corporation oversees the engineering works, health, sanitation, water supply, administration and taxation in the city. It is headed by a mayor who is assisted by municipal commissioner and elected representatives. The city is divided into 135 wards and 6 zones. The corporation members also known as corporators are elected by the citizens of Solapur every five years. The corporators in turn elect the mayor. Its activities include developing new layouts and roads, town-planning and land-acquisition.

Beedi Industry

Beedi industry is the second important industry in Solapur district. Beedi is basically a kind of local cigarette, where tobacco is wrapped in a tendu leaf and tied at the end with a coloured thread. The work of beedi rolling falls under the category of cottage industry. Typically women are employed in these industries and they work from home. The largest beedi-producing industry in the state of Maharashtra is in the district of Solapur. There are 115 units of 29 various beedi factories.

Environment

Solapur is one of the most-polluted cities in Maharashtra due to the effluent chemicals produced as the waste products from the textile industries in its region. As many vehicles in the city utilise diesel fuel, it also generates tremendous smog emitted by sugar factories and heavy textiles industries in the city's suburb. Various efforts are being made by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to reduce air pollution and its environmental effects. The city has launched a GO-GREEN scheme by planting trees in the city and developing greenery with the help of various eco-friendly people in the city.

Transport

Rail

Solapur railway station is the main railway hub within the city. The Solapur Railway Division is an important division connecting South India to Western & North west India. Trains from Ahmedabad, Jaipur, New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune etc., ply to Southern states (Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala) via Solapur.

It is served daily by

1. 12115/Siddheshwar SF Express
2. 12157/Hutatma Express
3. 22133/Solapur - Yesvantpur SF Express
4. Solapur Nagpur,
5. Solapur Jaipur Superfast express and
6. Solapur Goa Express.

Hotgi Junction and Kurduvadi Junction are two junction railway stations present in the Solapur district.

Road

Solapur internal city transport is managed by SMT (Solapur Municipal Transport), SMC and other private cabs. Solapur is well connected by road with major cities of Maharashtra as well as the adjoining State Capital of Hyderabad and important cities in Karnataka by four National Highways – NH 9 highway connecting Pune with Vijaywada via Hyderabad, NH-13 connecting Solapur to Mangalore, Karnataka and NH-211 connecting Solapur to Dhule. Ratnagiri-Nagpur National highway NH-204 passes through city, connecting Solapur to other important cities in Maharashtra like Nagpur, Sangli, Kolhapur and Nanded. Recently sanctioned National Highways- (Solapur - Kalaburagi) and Ratnagiri-Solapur-Yavatmal-Nanded-Nagpur. (Solapur-Bijapur) Road section in NH-13 is proposed to be improved by its four laning. The Solapur-Aurangabad national highway is also proposed for its four laning to reduce the time and cost in travelling from Solapur to Aurangabad.

Air

Solapur Airport (IATA code: SSE) is located to the south of Solapur city. There are no scheduled flights operating out of Solapur Airport. The Government of Maharashtra has planned to upgrade the airport.

Utility services

The electrical supply to the city is managed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited and water is supplied from the Ujjani Dam on the Bhima River.