Pen, India
Encyclopedia
Pen is a town and taluka in Raigad district
of India
n state
of Maharashtra
. It is famous for world class Ganesh idols. It is geographical and cultural center of Raigad district
.
.
Due to its vantage location, Pen developed as a port city (present day Antora port was commonly referred as "Pen Port"), with trade links as far as Egypt
. It had a very prosperous marketplace where exchange of goods to and from deccan took place.
The Kolaba District Gazettee gives Pen's history as follows
During the period of shilahar kings, many temples of goddesses were built, including Jagdumba of Vashi. In the period of Chalukyas, grand temples of shiva
, like rameshwar(रामेश्वर), pataneshwar(पाटणेश्वर), goteshwar(गोटेश्वर) and vyaghreshwar(व्याघ्रेश्वर)were constructed
In shivaji era, shayistekhan's raid on deccan led to major fights in Pen Taluka between moghals and marathas. Initially moghal army led by sardar Taherkhan occupied Pen's fort of Mahalmeera and looted surrounding villages, which included desecration of grand temple of goteshwar. Shivaji's army fought back with vengeance. They defeated Kartalabkhan in nearby Umbarkhind and officer Balakhi, near Ratangad. Stronghold of Mahalmeera was also taken back on 27th Feb 1662 and the following day, after a valiant struggle, Pen's Bastion (presently, the site of Tehsil office) was secured by Shivaji's army. In this conquest, Sardar Vaghoji Tupe fought mesmerizing battle against equally skillful moghal officer but at the crucial moment, Tupe delt a decisive blow which killed the officer and ensured Maratha victory. Vaghoji was also critically injured and died soon afterwards. Shivaji Maharaj himself visited Pen on two occasions, on 6 August 1668 and 11 May 1674.
Pen remained part of Maratha empire until its termination on 8 May 1818.
During struggle for Indian independence, Pen was at the forefront of dissent in Raigad district, which included both peaceful and violent means. Armed freedom fighters of Pen had hatched a plot of killing seventeen collectors in Maharashtra simultaneously, which was foiled due to investigations following killing of Jackson in Nashik
. It gained prominence in ancient times due to vantage location on trade routes to Deccan, proximity to both Mumbai
& Pune
and its central position in the Raigad
District. It lies on the bank of Bhogavati creek about 16 km from its mouth.
Pen county has total area of 199.6 sq. miles and area of Pen City is 6.75 sq.miles.
There are total of 171 villages and four administrative divisions in Pen County .
Geographically, Pen County can be divided in two separate areas:
Pen East: It is hilly and sparsely populated area. Most of it is covered by jungle, which is very pristine and beautiful.
Pen West: It is mostly flat and densely populated area surrounded by Dharamtar and other small creeks. Much of it is "Kharland" (hub of Salt production), acclaimed from sea by centuries old seawalls.
Pen City is located at the junction: surrounded by hills on one side and flatland on the other side.
Important villages/town in the county are :
Pen is a town and taluka in Raigad district
of India
n state
of Maharashtra
. It is famous for world class Ganesh idols.Maharashtra Tourism: The Ganesha Idols of Pen It is geographical and cultural center of Raigad district
.
.
Due to its vantage location, Pen developed as a port city (present day Antora port was commonly referred as "Pen Port"), with trade links as far as Egypt
.पेणचे बंदर - पेण शहराचा इतिहास, 2003 edition It had a very prosperous marketplace where exchange of goods to and from deccan took place.
The Kolaba District Gazettee gives Pen's history as follows
During the period of shilahar kings, many temples of goddesses were built, including Jagdumba of Vashi. In the period of Chalukyas, grand temples of shiva
, like rameshwar(रामेश्वर), pataneshwar(पाटणेश्वर), goteshwar(गोटेश्वर) and vyaghreshwar(व्याघ्रेश्वर)were constructed पेणचा वैभवशाली इतिहास.
In shivaji era, shayistekhan's raid on deccan led to major fights in Pen Taluka between moghals and marathas. Initially moghal army led by sardar Taherkhan occupied Pen's fort of Mahalmeera and looted surrounding villages, which included desecration of grand temple of goteshwar. Shivaji's army fought back with vengeance. They defeated Kartalabkhan in nearby Umbarkhind and officer Balakhi, near Ratangad. Stronghold of Mahalmeera was also taken back on 27th Feb 1662 and the following day, after a valiant struggle, Pen's Bastion (presently, the site of Tehsil office) was secured by Shivaji's army. In this conquest, Sardar Vaghoji Tupe fought mesmerizing battle against equally skillful moghal officer but at the crucial moment, Tupe delt a decisive blow which killed the officer and ensured Maratha victory. Vaghoji was also critically injured and died soon afterwards. Shivaji Maharaj himself visited Pen on two occasions, on 6 August 1668 and 11 May 1674.http://www.echavdi.com/itihas/GloriousHistoryOfPen.php
Pen remained part of Maratha empire until its termination on 8 May 1818.
During struggle for Indian independence, Pen was at the forefront of dissent in Raigad district, which included both peaceful and violent means. Armed freedom fighters of Pen had hatched a plot of killing seventeen collectors in Maharashtra simultaneously, which was foiled due to investigations following killing of Jackson in Nashik History of independence struggle in Pen Taluka - पेण तालुक्यातील स्वातंत्र संग्रामाचा ईतिहास (लेखक - प. रा. दाते)
.MMRDA It gained prominence in ancient times due to vantage location on trade routes to Deccan, proximity to both Mumbai
& Pune
and its central position in the Raigad
District. It lies on the bank of Bhogavati creek about 16 km from its mouth.
Pen county has total area of 199.6 sq. milesAdministrative Divisions - Raigad Gazettier and area of Pen City is 6.75 sq.miles.Places in Raigad
There are total of 171 villages and four administrative divisions in Pen County .Sub divisions of Raigad district
Geographically, Pen County can be divided in two separate areas:
Pen East: It is hilly and sparsely populated area. Most of it is covered by jungle, which is very pristine and beautiful.
Pen West: It is mostly flat and densely populated area surrounded by Dharamtar and other small creeks. Much of it is "Kharland" (hub of Salt production), acclaimed from sea by centuries old seawalls.
Pen City is located at the junction: surrounded by hills on one side and flatland on the other side.
Important villages/town in the county are :
Pen is a town and taluka in Raigad district
of India
n state
of Maharashtra
. It is famous for world class Ganesh idols.Maharashtra Tourism: The Ganesha Idols of Pen It is geographical and cultural center of Raigad district
.
.
Due to its vantage location, Pen developed as a port city (present day Antora port was commonly referred as "Pen Port"), with trade links as far as Egypt
.पेणचे बंदर - पेण शहराचा इतिहास, 2003 edition It had a very prosperous marketplace where exchange of goods to and from deccan took place.
The Kolaba District Gazettee gives Pen's history as follows
During the period of shilahar kings, many temples of goddesses were built, including Jagdumba of Vashi. In the period of Chalukyas, grand temples of shiva
, like rameshwar(रामेश्वर), pataneshwar(पाटणेश्वर), goteshwar(गोटेश्वर) and vyaghreshwar(व्याघ्रेश्वर)were constructed पेणचा वैभवशाली इतिहास.
In shivaji era, shayistekhan's raid on deccan led to major fights in Pen Taluka between moghals and marathas. Initially moghal army led by sardar Taherkhan occupied Pen's fort of Mahalmeera and looted surrounding villages, which included desecration of grand temple of goteshwar. Shivaji's army fought back with vengeance. They defeated Kartalabkhan in nearby Umbarkhind and officer Balakhi, near Ratangad. Stronghold of Mahalmeera was also taken back on 27th Feb 1662 and the following day, after a valiant struggle, Pen's Bastion (presently, the site of Tehsil office) was secured by Shivaji's army. In this conquest, Sardar Vaghoji Tupe fought mesmerizing battle against equally skillful moghal officer but at the crucial moment, Tupe delt a decisive blow which killed the officer and ensured Maratha victory. Vaghoji was also critically injured and died soon afterwards. Shivaji Maharaj himself visited Pen on two occasions, on 6 August 1668 and 11 May 1674.http://www.echavdi.com/itihas/GloriousHistoryOfPen.php
Pen remained part of Maratha empire until its termination on 8 May 1818.
During struggle for Indian independence, Pen was at the forefront of dissent in Raigad district, which included both peaceful and violent means. Armed freedom fighters of Pen had hatched a plot of killing seventeen collectors in Maharashtra simultaneously, which was foiled due to investigations following killing of Jackson in Nashik History of independence struggle in Pen Taluka - पेण तालुक्यातील स्वातंत्र संग्रामाचा ईतिहास (लेखक - प. रा. दाते)
.MMRDA It gained prominence in ancient times due to vantage location on trade routes to Deccan, proximity to both Mumbai
& Pune
and its central position in the Raigad
District. It lies on the bank of Bhogavati creek about 16 km from its mouth.
Pen county has total area of 199.6 sq. milesAdministrative Divisions - Raigad Gazettier and area of Pen City is 6.75 sq.miles.Places in Raigad
There are total of 171 villages and four administrative divisions in Pen County .Sub divisions of Raigad district
Geographically, Pen County can be divided in two separate areas:
Pen East: It is hilly and sparsely populated area. Most of it is covered by jungle, which is very pristine and beautiful.
Pen West: It is mostly flat and densely populated area surrounded by Dharamtar and other small creeks. Much of it is "Kharland" (hub of Salt production), acclaimed from sea by centuries old seawalls.
Pen City is located at the junction: surrounded by hills on one side and flatland on the other side.
Important villages/town in the county are :
, Pen city had a population of 30,203. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Pen has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 76%. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Agri community dwells in flatlands of Pen West, while maratha community is dominant in Pen east. Hinterlands of Pen South-East are sparsely populated by tribal Katkari and Thakurs.
Traditionally, Pen city was populated by Brahmins and merchant's community as it was center of culture, education and trade. But now, city of Pen has become a beautiful amalgam of diverse castes and religions, co-existing peacefully, side by side.Communities of Pen - पेण शहराचा इतिहास Pen has a small Jewish community, the Bene Israel
. The community has a synagogue
the Beth-Ha-Elohim.
Population of Pen county is 1,76,681 as per 2001 census.http://raigad.nic.in/htmldocs/demography.htm
People in the Pen city are employed in various sectors such as trade/business, education, banking, industries, services, papad making (women's' co-operatives) and most importantly, idol making!
Most villagers are dependent for livelihood on Paddy farming in monsoon. Various vegetables are also grown as by-products, especially in eastern part of the county.Agriculture - Kolaba District Gazetteer Revised Edition 1964
Industrial belt in western part of the county is causing a major problem of pollution in surrounding rural areas, creating health problems and reducing crop yields. Reliance Industries
was promoting a Maha Mumbai Special Economic Zone, located around the town. A study conducted by Citizen's Research Collective on SEZ has called the Maha Mumbai Special Eeconomic Zone a Special Exploitation Zone
Land owners resisted the purchase of their land for the purpose and following a historic referendum on the issue, SEZ was cancelled.
Land prices are soaring and economy is growing rapidly but there are some serious concerns about uneven and unjust development.
Raigad district
Raigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. It is famous for world class Ganesh idols. It is geographical and cultural center of Raigad district
Raigad district
Raigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
.
History
Name of Pen is derived from the term "Pene", which means 'A place to rest'. Although no one is certain about the origin of Pen, historians think it probably dates back to the times of BuddhaBuddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
.
Due to its vantage location, Pen developed as a port city (present day Antora port was commonly referred as "Pen Port"), with trade links as far as Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. It had a very prosperous marketplace where exchange of goods to and from deccan took place.
The Kolaba District Gazettee gives Pen's history as follows
During the period of shilahar kings, many temples of goddesses were built, including Jagdumba of Vashi. In the period of Chalukyas, grand temples of shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, like rameshwar(रामेश्वर), pataneshwar(पाटणेश्वर), goteshwar(गोटेश्वर) and vyaghreshwar(व्याघ्रेश्वर)were constructed
In shivaji era, shayistekhan's raid on deccan led to major fights in Pen Taluka between moghals and marathas. Initially moghal army led by sardar Taherkhan occupied Pen's fort of Mahalmeera and looted surrounding villages, which included desecration of grand temple of goteshwar. Shivaji's army fought back with vengeance. They defeated Kartalabkhan in nearby Umbarkhind and officer Balakhi, near Ratangad. Stronghold of Mahalmeera was also taken back on 27th Feb 1662 and the following day, after a valiant struggle, Pen's Bastion (presently, the site of Tehsil office) was secured by Shivaji's army. In this conquest, Sardar Vaghoji Tupe fought mesmerizing battle against equally skillful moghal officer but at the crucial moment, Tupe delt a decisive blow which killed the officer and ensured Maratha victory. Vaghoji was also critically injured and died soon afterwards. Shivaji Maharaj himself visited Pen on two occasions, on 6 August 1668 and 11 May 1674.
Pen remained part of Maratha empire until its termination on 8 May 1818.
During struggle for Indian independence, Pen was at the forefront of dissent in Raigad district, which included both peaceful and violent means. Armed freedom fighters of Pen had hatched a plot of killing seventeen collectors in Maharashtra simultaneously, which was foiled due to investigations following killing of Jackson in Nashik
Geography
Pen town is located at 18°40'.N, 73°05' E, on the outskirts of Mumbai Metropolitan RegionMumbai Metropolitan Region
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region /Mumbai Metropolitan Area is the metropolitan area consisting of the metropolis of Mumbai and its satellite towns. Developing over a period of about 20 years, it consists of seven municipal corporations and fifteen smaller municipal councils...
. It gained prominence in ancient times due to vantage location on trade routes to Deccan, proximity to both Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
& Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
and its central position in the Raigad
Raigad
Raigad is a hill fortress situated in the modern day Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. The Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj made the fort his capital in 1674 when he was crowned King of a Maratha Kingdom which later developed into the Maratha Empire eventually covering majority of modern day...
District. It lies on the bank of Bhogavati creek about 16 km from its mouth.
Pen county has total area of 199.6 sq. miles and area of Pen City is 6.75 sq.miles.
There are total of 171 villages and four administrative divisions in Pen County .
Geographically, Pen County can be divided in two separate areas:
Pen East: It is hilly and sparsely populated area. Most of it is covered by jungle, which is very pristine and beautiful.
Pen West: It is mostly flat and densely populated area surrounded by Dharamtar and other small creeks. Much of it is "Kharland" (hub of Salt production), acclaimed from sea by centuries old seawalls.
Pen City is located at the junction: surrounded by hills on one side and flatland on the other side.
Important villages/town in the county are :
- Vadkhal - Major junction on Mumbai-Goa Highway.
- Gagode - Birthplace of Bharatratn Vinoba BhaveVinoba BhaveVinoba Bhave , born Vinayak Narahari Bhave often called Acharya , was an Indian advocate of nonviolence and human rights. He is best known for the Bhoodan Andolan...
. - Vashi - It is hub of rice and salt production. It has a very famous Jagdumba Mata Devi Mandir, Kuldaivat of 18 villages and a site of huge "Jatra" annually.
- Varsai- Large village in Pen East
- Sanksai- It has a very ancient fort and former capital of Pen area.
- Pabal - Village in a pristine valley
- Dadar - It has a very peculear geography, an island village surrounded by creeks from all sides.
- Mahalmeera - site of an ancient temple of Shiva
- Dharamtar-Major Port,
- Kharoshi - Village is famous for KELAMBADEVI MANDIR - a famous temple in Navi Mumbai and Raigad,
Pen is a town and taluka in Raigad district
Raigad district
Raigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. It is famous for world class Ganesh idols.Maharashtra Tourism: The Ganesha Idols of Pen It is geographical and cultural center of Raigad district
Raigad district
Raigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
.
History
Name of Pen is derived from the term "Pene", which means 'A place to rest'. Although no one is certain about the origin of Pen, historians think it probably dates back to the times of BuddhaBuddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
.
Due to its vantage location, Pen developed as a port city (present day Antora port was commonly referred as "Pen Port"), with trade links as far as Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.पेणचे बंदर - पेण शहराचा इतिहास, 2003 edition It had a very prosperous marketplace where exchange of goods to and from deccan took place.
The Kolaba District Gazettee gives Pen's history as follows
During the period of shilahar kings, many temples of goddesses were built, including Jagdumba of Vashi. In the period of Chalukyas, grand temples of shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, like rameshwar(रामेश्वर), pataneshwar(पाटणेश्वर), goteshwar(गोटेश्वर) and vyaghreshwar(व्याघ्रेश्वर)were constructed पेणचा वैभवशाली इतिहास.
In shivaji era, shayistekhan's raid on deccan led to major fights in Pen Taluka between moghals and marathas. Initially moghal army led by sardar Taherkhan occupied Pen's fort of Mahalmeera and looted surrounding villages, which included desecration of grand temple of goteshwar. Shivaji's army fought back with vengeance. They defeated Kartalabkhan in nearby Umbarkhind and officer Balakhi, near Ratangad. Stronghold of Mahalmeera was also taken back on 27th Feb 1662 and the following day, after a valiant struggle, Pen's Bastion (presently, the site of Tehsil office) was secured by Shivaji's army. In this conquest, Sardar Vaghoji Tupe fought mesmerizing battle against equally skillful moghal officer but at the crucial moment, Tupe delt a decisive blow which killed the officer and ensured Maratha victory. Vaghoji was also critically injured and died soon afterwards. Shivaji Maharaj himself visited Pen on two occasions, on 6 August 1668 and 11 May 1674.http://www.echavdi.com/itihas/GloriousHistoryOfPen.php
Pen remained part of Maratha empire until its termination on 8 May 1818.
During struggle for Indian independence, Pen was at the forefront of dissent in Raigad district, which included both peaceful and violent means. Armed freedom fighters of Pen had hatched a plot of killing seventeen collectors in Maharashtra simultaneously, which was foiled due to investigations following killing of Jackson in Nashik History of independence struggle in Pen Taluka - पेण तालुक्यातील स्वातंत्र संग्रामाचा ईतिहास (लेखक - प. रा. दाते)
Geography
Pen town is located at 18°40'.N, 73°05' E, on the outskirts of Mumbai Metropolitan RegionMumbai Metropolitan Region
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region /Mumbai Metropolitan Area is the metropolitan area consisting of the metropolis of Mumbai and its satellite towns. Developing over a period of about 20 years, it consists of seven municipal corporations and fifteen smaller municipal councils...
.MMRDA It gained prominence in ancient times due to vantage location on trade routes to Deccan, proximity to both Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
& Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
and its central position in the Raigad
Raigad
Raigad is a hill fortress situated in the modern day Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. The Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj made the fort his capital in 1674 when he was crowned King of a Maratha Kingdom which later developed into the Maratha Empire eventually covering majority of modern day...
District. It lies on the bank of Bhogavati creek about 16 km from its mouth.
Pen county has total area of 199.6 sq. milesAdministrative Divisions - Raigad Gazettier and area of Pen City is 6.75 sq.miles.Places in Raigad
There are total of 171 villages and four administrative divisions in Pen County .Sub divisions of Raigad district
Geographically, Pen County can be divided in two separate areas:
Pen East: It is hilly and sparsely populated area. Most of it is covered by jungle, which is very pristine and beautiful.
Pen West: It is mostly flat and densely populated area surrounded by Dharamtar and other small creeks. Much of it is "Kharland" (hub of Salt production), acclaimed from sea by centuries old seawalls.
Pen City is located at the junction: surrounded by hills on one side and flatland on the other side.
Important villages/town in the county are :
- Vadkhal - Major junction on Mumbai-Goa Highway.
- Gagode - Birthplace of Bharatratn Vinoba BhaveVinoba BhaveVinoba Bhave , born Vinayak Narahari Bhave often called Acharya , was an Indian advocate of nonviolence and human rights. He is best known for the Bhoodan Andolan...
.Bhave - Vashi - It is hub of rice and salt production. It has a very famous Jagdumba Mata Devi Mandir, Kuldaivat of 18 villages and a site of huge "Jatra" annually.
- Varsai- Large village in Pen East
- Sanksai- It has a very ancient fort and former capital of Pen area.Sankshi Fort
- Pabal - Village in a pristine valley
- Dadar - It has a very peculear geography, an island village surrounded by creeks from all sides.
- Mahalmeera - site of an ancient temple of Shiva
- Dharamtar-Major Port,
- Kharoshi - Village is famous for KELAMBADEVI MANDIR - a famous temple in Navi Mumbai and Raigad,
Pen is a town and taluka in Raigad district
Raigad district
Raigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. It is famous for world class Ganesh idols.Maharashtra Tourism: The Ganesha Idols of Pen It is geographical and cultural center of Raigad district
Raigad district
Raigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
.
History
Name of Pen is derived from the term "Pene", which means 'A place to rest'. Although no one is certain about the origin of Pen, historians think it probably dates back to the times of BuddhaBuddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
.
Due to its vantage location, Pen developed as a port city (present day Antora port was commonly referred as "Pen Port"), with trade links as far as Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.पेणचे बंदर - पेण शहराचा इतिहास, 2003 edition It had a very prosperous marketplace where exchange of goods to and from deccan took place.
The Kolaba District Gazettee gives Pen's history as follows
During the period of shilahar kings, many temples of goddesses were built, including Jagdumba of Vashi. In the period of Chalukyas, grand temples of shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, like rameshwar(रामेश्वर), pataneshwar(पाटणेश्वर), goteshwar(गोटेश्वर) and vyaghreshwar(व्याघ्रेश्वर)were constructed पेणचा वैभवशाली इतिहास.
In shivaji era, shayistekhan's raid on deccan led to major fights in Pen Taluka between moghals and marathas. Initially moghal army led by sardar Taherkhan occupied Pen's fort of Mahalmeera and looted surrounding villages, which included desecration of grand temple of goteshwar. Shivaji's army fought back with vengeance. They defeated Kartalabkhan in nearby Umbarkhind and officer Balakhi, near Ratangad. Stronghold of Mahalmeera was also taken back on 27th Feb 1662 and the following day, after a valiant struggle, Pen's Bastion (presently, the site of Tehsil office) was secured by Shivaji's army. In this conquest, Sardar Vaghoji Tupe fought mesmerizing battle against equally skillful moghal officer but at the crucial moment, Tupe delt a decisive blow which killed the officer and ensured Maratha victory. Vaghoji was also critically injured and died soon afterwards. Shivaji Maharaj himself visited Pen on two occasions, on 6 August 1668 and 11 May 1674.http://www.echavdi.com/itihas/GloriousHistoryOfPen.php
Pen remained part of Maratha empire until its termination on 8 May 1818.
During struggle for Indian independence, Pen was at the forefront of dissent in Raigad district, which included both peaceful and violent means. Armed freedom fighters of Pen had hatched a plot of killing seventeen collectors in Maharashtra simultaneously, which was foiled due to investigations following killing of Jackson in Nashik History of independence struggle in Pen Taluka - पेण तालुक्यातील स्वातंत्र संग्रामाचा ईतिहास (लेखक - प. रा. दाते)
Geography
Pen town is located at 18°40'.N, 73°05' E, on the outskirts of Mumbai Metropolitan RegionMumbai Metropolitan Region
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region /Mumbai Metropolitan Area is the metropolitan area consisting of the metropolis of Mumbai and its satellite towns. Developing over a period of about 20 years, it consists of seven municipal corporations and fifteen smaller municipal councils...
.MMRDA It gained prominence in ancient times due to vantage location on trade routes to Deccan, proximity to both Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
& Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
and its central position in the Raigad
Raigad
Raigad is a hill fortress situated in the modern day Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. The Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj made the fort his capital in 1674 when he was crowned King of a Maratha Kingdom which later developed into the Maratha Empire eventually covering majority of modern day...
District. It lies on the bank of Bhogavati creek about 16 km from its mouth.
Pen county has total area of 199.6 sq. milesAdministrative Divisions - Raigad Gazettier and area of Pen City is 6.75 sq.miles.Places in Raigad
There are total of 171 villages and four administrative divisions in Pen County .Sub divisions of Raigad district
Geographically, Pen County can be divided in two separate areas:
Pen East: It is hilly and sparsely populated area. Most of it is covered by jungle, which is very pristine and beautiful.
Pen West: It is mostly flat and densely populated area surrounded by Dharamtar and other small creeks. Much of it is "Kharland" (hub of Salt production), acclaimed from sea by centuries old seawalls.
Pen City is located at the junction: surrounded by hills on one side and flatland on the other side.
Important villages/town in the county are :
- Vadkhal - Major junction on Mumbai-Goa Highway.
- Gagode - Birthplace of Bharatratn Vinoba BhaveVinoba BhaveVinoba Bhave , born Vinayak Narahari Bhave often called Acharya , was an Indian advocate of nonviolence and human rights. He is best known for the Bhoodan Andolan...
.Bhave - Vashi - It is hub of rice and salt production. It has a very famous Jagdumba Mata Devi Mandir, Kuldaivat of 18 villages and a site of huge "Jatra" annually.
- Varsai- Large village in Pen East
- Sanksai- It has a very ancient fort and former capital of Pen area.Sankshi Fort
- Pabal - Village in a pristine valley
- Dadar - It has a very peculear geography, an island village surrounded by creeks from all sides.
- Mahalmeera - site of an ancient temple of Shiva
- Dharamtar-Major Port,
- Kharoshi - Village is famous for KELAMBADEVI MANDIR - a famous temple in Navi Mumbai and Raigad, http://www.onefivenine.com/india/villages/Raigad/Pen/Kharoshi, http://wikimapia.org/628743/Kelamba-Devi-mandir-at-Kharoshi, http://www.orkut.com/CommMsgs?tid=5252674934970794190&cmm=27399204&hl=en-GB,http://www.epernicus.com/php2.
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Pen city had a population of 30,203. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Pen has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 76%. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Agri community dwells in flatlands of Pen West, while maratha community is dominant in Pen east. Hinterlands of Pen South-East are sparsely populated by tribal Katkari and Thakurs.
Traditionally, Pen city was populated by Brahmins and merchant's community as it was center of culture, education and trade. But now, city of Pen has become a beautiful amalgam of diverse castes and religions, co-existing peacefully, side by side.Communities of Pen - पेण शहराचा इतिहास Pen has a small Jewish community, the Bene Israel
Bene Israel
The Bene Israel are a group of Jews who migrated in the 19th century from villages in the Konkan area to the nearby Indian cities, primarily Mumbai, but also to Pune, and Ahmedabad. Prior to these waves of emigrations and to this day, the Bene Israel formed the largest sector of the subcontinent's...
. The community has a synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
the Beth-Ha-Elohim.
Population of Pen county is 1,76,681 as per 2001 census.http://raigad.nic.in/htmldocs/demography.htm
Development and Economy
Most villagers are dependent for livelihood on Paddy farming in monsoon. Various vegetables are also grown as by-products, especially in eastern part of the county.Agriculture - Kolaba District Gazetteer Revised Edition 1964
Industrial belt in western part of the county is causing a major problem of pollution in surrounding rural areas, creating health problems and reducing crop yields. Reliance Industries
Reliance Industries
Reliance Industries Limited is an Indian conglomerate company headquartered at Mumbai, India. The company operates through three business segments: petrochemicals, refining, and oil and gas, other segment of the company includes textile, retail business, special economic zone development and...
was promoting a Maha Mumbai Special Economic Zone, located around the town. A study conducted by Citizen's Research Collective on SEZ has called the Maha Mumbai Special Eeconomic Zone a Special Exploitation Zone
Land owners resisted the purchase of their land for the purpose and following a historic referendum on the issue, SEZ was cancelled.
Land prices are soaring and economy is growing rapidly but there are some serious concerns about uneven and unjust development.
- Ganesh Idols Pen is very famous for its Ganesh Idols which are used widely for the "Ganesh Festival". Many of Ganesh Idols in Mumbai are brought from Pen. There are multiple lanes [termed as "Ali"] which consist only of such Idol Making craftsmen. Going through these lanes one can see the whole process of developing Ganesh Idols. Number of Ganesh Idols are now even exported to the Marathi population in US.http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=../MaharashtraTourism/ArtsCrafts/GaneshaIdolsPen.html
- Papad Business Women in Pen are occupied in the domestic business of preparing pohe (flattened rice)and papad.
- Salt Production Due to unique geological features of Western part of Pen County (Vashi Subdivision), Pen has been for centuries hub of salt making industrty dominated by AgriAgriAgri may refer to:* As shorthand or prefix referring to agriculture* Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development * Azerbaijan–Georgia–Romania Interconnector * Ağrı, a city in eastern Turkey* the Agri in southern Italy...
community.Small and Medium industries- Kolaba Gazettier
Education
From historic times, city of Pen was center of education and culture in konkan region. In fact, Lokmanya Tilak used to call it "कोकणचे पुणे"(PunePunePune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
of KonkanKonkanThe Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
) due to progressive mindset of Penkars and their love of knowledge.Page 11, कर्मयोगी रामभाऊ मंडलिक, Second Edition.
There were at least two school of vedas(वेदशाळा) in Datar Ali area of Pen city, one of them in Sahasrabuddhe family. Pundits from all over MaharashtraMaharashtraMaharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
used to come to Pen to make copies of rare ancient books(पोथी).Page 34, पेण शहराचा इतिहास, 2003 edition Sages of Pen were so superior intellectually, that they defeated sages who accompanied shankarachrya of Kashi, in debates on Religious studies during his 1883 visit.पेण तालुक्यातील स्वातंत्र संग्रामाचा ईतिहास (लेखक - प. रा. दाते)
English language instructions came to Pen in the late 19th century in the form of primary English classes started by Christian missionaries. This school moved to AlibagAlibagAlibag or Alibaug or Alibagh is a coastal town and a municipal council in Raigad District in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India. It is also the headquarters of the Raigad district. The town and its surrounding villages are the historic hinterland of Bene Israeli Jews...
with the shifting of the district headquarters there. The Pen Municipal council started five classes, and subsequently Vinayak Narayan Manohar started the remaining two classes, naming them Pen Candidate Classes. Plague caused this school to be closed. This English-Marathi school was later revived in the first decade of the 20th century. Balkrishna Shankar Karandikar started an industrial training school around this time; the Kokan Vidyalaya, which was later closed as a result of his arrest for involvement in Jackson's shooting at Nasik in 1909. On 10 April 1910 the Pen Education society was formed, Pen Private High School was started, in Shankar Khanderao Phanse's bungalowBungalowA bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
(now the Maternity Hospital), from where it shifted in October 1912, to its present premises at the foot of Peer Dongri.
Pen has a grand public library: The Mahatma Gandhi Vachanalay.
Transportation
Road: Pen is located approximately 80 km from Mumbai
MumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. It can be reached from PanvelPanvelPanvel is city and a municipal council in Raigad district in the state of Maharashtra. Panvel is also known as the gateway of Konkan region. It adjoins Navi Mumbai, and is just after the Thane district border. Panvel is located on the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway about 21 kilometres from...
(30 km away) by the Mumbai-Goa Highway ( NH-17 )or from Mumbai-Pune ExpresswayMumbai-Pune ExpresswayThe Mumbai Pune Expressway , officially the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway is India's first six-lane concrete, high-speed, access controlled tolled expressway. It spans a distance of connecting Mumbai, the administrative capital of Maharashtra and the financial capital of India, with Pune, an...
by Khopoli-Pen State Highway (25 km away from KhopoliKhopoliKhopoli is an industrial town in the Khalapur taluka of Raigad district, in the Indian state of Maharashtra, at the base of the Sahyadri mountains. Patalganga River which is the tailrace channel of Tata Hydroelectric Power station flows through Khopoli....
).
Railways: Pen station lies on Konkan RailwayKonkan RailwayThe Konkan Railway is a railway line which runs along the Konkan coast of India. It was constructed and is operated by the Konkan Railway Corporation...
. Most long distance trains do not stop at Pen, however a local train service running from Diva to Ratnagiri can be used to reach Pen.
Further reading
- पेण तालुक्यातील स्वातंत्र संग्रामाचा ईतिहास (लेखक - प. रा. दाते)
- कर्मयोगी रामभाऊ मंडलिक (लेखक - मा. के. सहस्रबुद्धे)
- पेण शहराचा इतिहास (Published by Pen Municipal Council)
- Salt Production Due to unique geological features of Western part of Pen County (Vashi Subdivision), Pen has been for centuries hub of salt making industrty dominated by Agri