Pune
BACKGROUND
& HISTORY
Pune
was one of the many small insignificant villages on the foothills
of the western ghats. As one moves east from the hills, the
hills gradually reduce in height and the plateau of the Deccan
with its famed black soil begins. Several small rivers pass
by to ultimately form the large peninsular rivers. Near the
confluence of two rivers, the Mula and Mutha, the village of
Pune developed into an army camp in the middle ages. Even in
very ancient times people used to regularly traverse the western
ghats ( hill ranges) between the plateau and the sea coast.
Even
today stone age implements are found scattered on the ground
around Pune. Besides, the area around Pune is dotted with excavated
caves and shrines dating back to pre buddhist times. The world
famous Junnar buddhist caves are close by. It appears the ancient
trade route passed through, or at any rate near Pune.
Shivneri,
the birthplace of Shivaji is also nearby, as are several forts
of the time. The references to medieval Pune increase during
the Bijapur sultan dynasty. With the rise of the Marathas, and
consolidation of power after the fading away the Mughals, Pune
came into prominence. By the time the Maratha confederacy controlled
most of north India (18th century), Pune was the seat of the
prime ministers called Peshwa. Pune bears the stamp of that
period. Later intrigues heralded the coming of the British who
grasped the significance of "Poona" and stationed a sizable
military establishment there. Modern Pune is still linked with
the army culture and the typical 'cantonment'. Light engineering
industry like automobiles have expanded all around Pune in satellite
townships like Pimpri-Chinchwad which have become de facto suburbs
today although they are big municipalities in their own right.
Old
Pune is divided into "Peths" or wards named after days of the
week like Somwar peth, Mangalwar Peth etc and the oldest of
these wards dating to the 10th century is called Kasba peth
when the Bijapur Sultans had a small encampment. . The peshwas
built their palaces like Shaniwar Wada, which is in good preservation.
Mughal Aurangzeb occupied Pune several times but never seemed
to hang on the place for long. By the time the British turned
up, new social forces got the better of the pandits and mughals
as well. The Pune cantonment is one of India's largest military
bases even today.
Until
recently Pune was under the shadow of the nearby giant city
of Mumbai. Now many people and firms are shifting to Pune from
there. But over all, the qualities of Pune are still not known
to prospective employees at large. ( Let it remain so wish most
old Pune residents). Apart from light engineering, IT is making
a mark here. Corporate offices are found in Karve Road, Tilak
Road, Mumbai-Poona Road, Ferguson College Road, Jangli Maharaj
Road, Camp, and MG Road area. Further away, technology parks
and campuses are also springing up rapidly.
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