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Pune History, India

Pune is the second largest city of Maharashtra and it is located around 160 km from the capital of Maharashtra, Mumbai. Pune was called Poona but lately its name was changed to Pune which means Punya Nagari or ‘City of Virtue’ in Sanskrit. Today IT industry is booming the hill clad area and slowly Pune is turning out to be an important economical spot in India.

Though Pune is heading towards modernization, its history dates back to 8th Century. Copper plates were found on excavation sites within Pune which were dating 758 and 768 thus revealing that humans had settled in Pune by 8th Century. This settlement was Punnaka and it was located right on the land where today Pune is located. Those plates also prove that this land was under the control of Rashtrakutas. The current Pataleshwar temple which was manufactured after cutting a rock is also said to be manufactured in those days.

From the ninth century to the year of 1327 Pune was under the control of Yadava Empire which used to come under Deogiri. Later on, Nizamshahi sultans overtook Pune and soon it was taken over by Mughal Empire by the 17th century. Then, by 1595 Supe of Mughals started to rule the land of Pune.

Rango Bapuji Dhadphale, who was the administrator of Pune in 1625, is said to be the one who actually developed Pune in historical days. Shahji Bhonsle was the one who asked Rango Bapuji Dhadphale to administer Pune. Lal Mahal Palace was also designed and constructed under the vigilance of Rango Bapuji Dhadphale. Construction of Lal Mahal finally got over by 1640. Shivaji later on worked hard to beautify Pune once he was given the name of Chhatrapati somewhere in the year of 1674.

In 1817 the Marathas fought a serious war against the British. This was called the third Anglo - Maratha War. Unfortunately Peshwas lost against the English in the battle of Khadki which was held near the land of Pune. British started a large cantonment area in Pune and Bombay Presidency was designated to be in charge of Pune.

Social reformres in the Indian Independence movement came from Pune itself. Some of the names that stand out were Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, Mahadev Govind Ranade, Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Jyotirao Phule.

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