Shivajinagar has a very long history, with the 8th-century, Rashtrakuta-era Pataleshwar cave temple being the oldest manmade structure in Pune.[2]
The neighbourhood was earlier a village known as Bhambwade, with the name changing over time to Bhamburde.[3]
During the Maratha and British periods, Bhamburde's Inamdar and Patil (Village chief) came from the Shirole Patil family, members of which also served in the Maratha Army. In the Peshwa era, a handmade paper factory was located in the village.
Later, in the 19th century, Jangali Maharaj, a Sufi saint revered mainly by Hindus, settled down here. A temple with his tomb (samadhi) is located today in Shivajinagar and a major road in the locality is named after him.[4]
The Inamdar and Patil of Bhamburde, Rajaram Naroji Shirole Patil, leased 37 acres of land at the foot of Hanuman Tekdi (hill) for 99 years to the Deccan Education Society in 1885. The society's best-known institution, Fergusson College, was built on this land.[5]
In the early 20th century, Wadarvadi, one of the oldest and biggest slums in Pune today, came up on unused land belonging to the Shirole Patil family close to the Chaturshrungi Temple and at the foot of Hanuman Tekdi, near today's Senapati Bapat Road.[3]: 42 Wadarvadi is inhabited mainly by the formerly nomadic Waddar community.
A statue of Shivaji was installed in the locality in 1928. The Shri Shivaji military preparatory school was later established nearby.
After Indian Independence in 1947, Bhamburde was renamed Shivajinagar after Shivaji. [citation needed]
Geography
A scene on the Riverbank on the Mutha river at Shivajinagar in the 1980s
Shivajinagar is situated on the West bank of the Mutha river with the older parts of Pune on the east side of the river. The area is surrounded on its Western side by the Vetal and Hanuman Hills. The village deity (Gramdaivat) is the temple of Rokdoba (God Hanuman) in Shivajinagar Gaothan. The Gaothan also has a temple of God Shri Ram.
The Mumbai – Pune old national highway begins from Shivajinagar which links Pune to Mumbai.
MSRTC lt operates a bus station that connects Pune to almost all cities in Maharashtra as well in neighboring states. Shivajinagar is well connected to other parts of the city by local PMPML buses.
Shivajinagar has Shivajinagar railway station. Pune to Lonavla suburban trains and few long-distance trains make a stop here at Shivajinagar and Pune railway stations.
Institutions
The area is home to many central, state and local government offices.
These include
The area has a number of renowned educational institutions with a long history such as Fergusson college, Modern College of Arts, Commerce and Science Shivajinagar, College of engineering and agricultural college.
Shivajinagar has many places dedicated to culture, religion, sports, shopping, eating out, and recreation. The area is popular for its many eateries, and cafes, especially with younger generation.
^P.P. JOGLEKAR, SUSHAMA G. DEO, PANDURANG BALAKAWADE, ARATI DESHPANDE-MUKHERJEE, S.N. RAJAGURU and AMOL N. KULKARNI
Bulletin of the Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute
Vol. 66/67 (2006-2007), pp. 211-225
Published by: Vice Chancellor, Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute (Deemed University), Pune
https://www.jstor.org/stable/42931448
Page Count: 15
India
