The name "Maharashtra" is a combination of Marathi words "Maha" meaning Great, and "Rashtra" meaning Nation. Maharashtra literally means "Great Nation".
Maharashtra is a state located in the western part of peninsular India. It is India's third largest state by area and second largest by population. It is also the richest state in India, contributing to 15% of the country's industrial output and 13.2% of its GDP in year 2005-06.
Maharashtra is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, Gujarat and the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli to the northwest, Madhya Pradesh to the northeast, Chhattisgarh to the east, Karnataka to the south, Andhra Pradesh to the southeast, and Goa to the southwest. The state covers an area of 307,731 km2 (118,816 sq mi) or 9.84% of the total geographical area of India. Mumbai, the capital city of the state, is India's largest city and the financial capital of the nation. Marathi is the official and most widely spoken language.
In the 17th Century, the Marathas rose under the leadership of Chhatrapati Shivaji against the Mughals who were ruling a large part of India. After the third Anglo-Maratha war, the empire ended and most of Maharashtra became part of Bombay state under a British Raj. After Indian independence, Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti demanded unification of all Marathi speaking regions under one state. At that time Braratratn Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was of opinion that linguistic reorganizaion of states should be done with - "One state - One language" principle and not with "One language - One state" principle. He submitted a memorandum to the reorganization commission stating that, " Single Government can not administer such a huge state as United Maharashtra. . The first state reorganization committee created the current Maharashtra state on May 1, 1960 (known as Maharashtra Day). The Marathi-speaking areas of Bombay state, Deccan states and Vidarbha (which was part of Central Provinces and Berar) united ,under the agreement known as Nagpur Pact, to form the current state.
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Maharashtra was inhibited since the Palaeolithic era, as indicated by the archaeological evidences. Maharashtra's early history information is not well known and its recorded history is as old as the 3rd century BC. It was recorded with the use of the Marathi language, a Prakrit corruption of Sanskrit. Later, Maharashtra was included in the Magadha empire, ruled by the Buddhist emperor Ashoka. The port town of Sopara was the hub of ancient India's commerce, having links with Eastern Africa, Mesopotamia, Aden and Cochin. This port town was situated just north of the present day Mumbai. As the Mauryan Empire degraded, Maharashtra was overpowered by the Satavahanas between 230 BC and 225 AD.
The Early History
Vidarbha, the eastern region of Maharashtra was also conquered by the Vakatakas (250 AD-525 AD), who were then the rulers of the state. Art and religion developed and technology flourished, during this period. By the 6th century, Maharashtra came under the reign of the Chalukyas. Later, in 753, Rashtrakutas ruled the region. This empire spread over most of the Indian peninsular. Rashtrakutas were then defeated in 973 by the Chalukayas, who ruled parts of Maharashtra until 1189, when they lost to Yadavas of Deogiri.
The Islamic Influence
When the Muslim emperors entered India, they established their capital in Delhi. Later, they started to expand towards the south of India. The first Muslim emperors who invaded Maharashtra and conquered some parts of the Deccan in the 13th century were Ala-ud-din Khalji and Muhammad bin Tughluq. When the Tughlaq dynasty fell in 1347, the Bahamani Sultanate overpowered the region and ruled it for the next 150 years.
By the 16th century, central Maharashtra was ruled by numerous autonomous Islamic kingdoms that owed commitment to the Mughals. Meanwhile the coastal region was annexed by the Portuguese, who wanted to control the rich spice trade of the region.
The Maratha Empire
Maharashtra was inhibited since the Palaeolithic era, as indicated by the archaeological evidences. Maharashtra's early history information is not well known and its recorded history is as old as the 3rd century BC. It was recorded with the use of the Marathi language, a Prakrit corruption of Sanskrit. Later, Maharashtra was included in the Magadha empire, ruled by the Buddhist emperor Ashoka. The port town of Sopara was the hub of ancient India's commerce, having links with Eastern Africa, Mesopotamia, Aden and Cochin. This port town was situated just north of the present day Mumbai. As the Mauryan Empire degraded, Maharashtra was overpowered by the Satavahanas between 230 BC and 225 AD.
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