A home to the Peshwas and the Marathas, a home to the Sultanates, and even a home to the missionaries – A town with a vivid history and colorful people, Ahmednagar stands tall within the pages of Indian History, and this week, on the 28th of May, we celebrate the conception of this breath-taking city, we celebrate the 534th Ahmednagar Foundation Day.
Established in 1490 after the breakup of the Bahmani Sultanate, Ahmednagar was created by the founder of the Nizam Shahi Sultanate, Ahmad Nizam Shah I, who christened the city in his name. Ahmednagar was revered as a part of the Deccan Sultanates, until its conquest by the Mughals, with Shah Jahan taking over the city in 1636, and Aurangzeb spending his later years in the comfort of this tremendous town. In 1759, the Peshwas took glorious control over this town until 1803, when Ahmednagar was besieged by British forces, and was later restored to Marathas under British possession. Around the 1850s, American Missionaries opened the first modern schools in the great Ahmednagar, a landmark achievement which inspired even Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. Throughout the Indian national struggle, Ahmednagar remained a hotspot for revolutionary activity, with the city’s residents doing their part in ensuring freedom for India.
The land of the saints and of the warriors, Ahmednagar remains a supremely important city for Modern India as well. Today, Ahmednagar is a treasure trove of Indian history, of education, of activism, strengthening and harbouring inclusivity within its diasporic population. With landmarks such as the Chand Bibi Palace, Ahmednagar Fort, Ralegan Siddhi, Cavalry Tank Museum and many more, Ahmednagar is a haven for tourists, arriving from all over India and across the globe as well. Of utmost importance to the Ahmednagar landscape also is Snehalaya, with projects set up throughout the city focused on the welfare of this city’s delightful peoples.
With a milieu of outstanding Indians such as Anna Hazare, Popatrao Pawar, Sai Baba, Chand Bibi, and numerous others, Ahmednagar is a microcosm of greatness, of kindness, and of the vibrant tapestry of India. Today, on 28th May 2024, we joyously celebrate the foundation of this city, and remind ourselves of all that Ahmednagar has offered to us, and to the whole wide world.
Comments