Amalner

Amalner, India

Amalner, India
—  city  —
Amalner, India Location of Amalner, India in Maharashtra and India
Coordinates	21°03′N 75°03′E
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District(s)	Jalgaon
Population	91,456 (2001)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 700 metres (2,300 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 425401

Amalner, India (Marathi: अमळनेर) is a city and a municipal council in Jalgaon district in the state of Maharashtra, India, situated on the bank of the Bori River. Amalner is birthplace of Wipro which used to produce vanaspati ghee from sunflower seeds. That's why it has sunflower on its logo. Amalner is a tehsil in Jalgaon district. Prominent villages under Amalner's administration include Shirsale, Nagaon BK, Eklahare, Pimpali, Dahiwad, Amalgaon, Gandhali, Mehergaon, Javkhede, Vavade, Patonde and Mangrul.

History

Amalner has historical importance in the fields of education, industrialization and independence movements. It is host to one of the oldest philosophical centres in India, the Pratap Tatwadnyan Mandir, formerly the Indian Institute of Philosophy^{[citation needed]}. Many non-Indians attend here for its commitment to education and discipline^{[citation needed]}. It gives some of the highest results from the Jalgaon district.^{[citation needed]}

The northern part of Amalner is called Pratapnagar, after Srimant Pratap Shethji. The institutes named after him are Pratap College and Pratap Highschool.

Pandurang Sadashiv Sane, popularly known as Sane Guruji, was one of the famous teachers of Pratap Highschool, who fought for the independence of India. He was a teacher, a poet and a writer. He wrote many books including Shyamchi Aai and Bhartiya Sanskriti.

Nyayacharya Shriram Shankar Upasani was also from Amalner. He was a great Sanskrit teacher and eminent scholar in Amalner.

On the industrial front, Azim Premji's father had started its first dalda factory at Amalner, which is now known as a mother plant of the giant WIPRO Company. Almaner city is still densely populated with Wipro shareholders.

On the religious front, Amalner is regarded as Pandharpur of Khandesh. Centuries ago, Saint Muktai stay in the district has made it a holy place. The great Shri Sant Sakharam Maharaj is from Amalner. There is a myth that Shri Sakharam Maharaj travels to Pandharpur every year with a procession called Palakhi. This procession takes place in the month of Ashadh (Indian Calendar). The honour of first procession (dindi) to visit Lord Vitthal in Pandharpur goes to Amalner. In every Vaishakh month there is a huge fun-fair in the Bori river, the biggest in the region. At that time there is a Rath-Yatra at Vaishakh Ekadashi as well as Palakhi at pornima in that month. As a mark of Solidarity among communities, the first mogari (wooden log used as breaks for stopping Rath) is always put by Muslims and before Rath reaches its destination, Rath stops at a Mosque for Aarati and Dohe. Amalner is second PANDHARPUR, in Maharashtra. Two times visit to Amalner is equally beneficial as one visit to Pandharpur^{[citation needed]}.

There are three main historic places of reference in the Eastern Khandesh region, now known as Jalgaon district. The oldest one, situated at the confluence of river Tapti and river Poorna, is known as Muktainagar. The famous Marathi poetess Saint Muktabai, sister of Saint Dnyaneshwar, lived here, to explain Bhaktimarga to yogi ascetic Changdev Maharaj. The other two are Amalner Fort and Shendurni. Saint Shree Sakharam Maharaj of Amalner was a devotee of Lord Vithal. In his commemoration, the Ashadhi Ekadashi celebrations take place at Amalner parallel to the celebrations at the magnificent temple of Lord Viththal in Pandharpur. Amalner, Shendurni and Pimprala (Jalgaon) are known as Prati-Pandharpur meaning as holy as Pandharpur. Mandal is a village of amalner taluka, situated on the bank of Panzara river. It is located around 20 km from Amalner. It is famous for the Jain Temple of "Lord Chandraprabhu" who was 8th Thirthankar of Jain's & temple of "Kshetrapal Maharaj". It is believed that temple will fulfill all wishes if we visit on the day of Amavsya. It is the biggest village of Amalner taluka. Patonada is a village in Amalner taluka and Jalgaon district in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is located around 18 kilometres from Amalner. Patonda is home to Shri Datta Vidya Mandeer Pantonda & Junior College. Another emerging place, Ratnapimpri, 11 km from Amalner and 7 km from Parola tahsil. It is situated on the bank of Gopi river where famous Shivdham temple is located. And, 2 km away from it, Tapovan is situated where farmers are experimenting organic farming. This place is emerging as a tourist and religious place for devotees. It is calm and peaceful, because away from the city business. The myth is, at Ratnapimpri, people used to find out pearls (Ratnna). Therefore, it is known as 'Ratnapimpri'.

There are only two temples of Mangalgrah in India and worldwide, one at Calcutta and one at Amalner. The premises are so well developed nowadays that they are becoming a picnic spot. Another famous temple is "shri akkalkao swami samarth kendra". It is believed that this temple fulfills all wishes. Thousands of people visit this temple every day. It has power of the great Swami Maharaj.^{[citation needed]}

The history of Name of Amalner is interesting and important as information. In 11th century Rishi Ambarishi pray to god Varun (God of Wind). God Varun then build the temple of God Shiv that temple called Varuneshwar is famous in the area. Amabarishi then named that village Amalnir which means the village with pure water or where there is no mal(impurity)in water is Amalnir, it get changed to Amalner.

Geography

Amalner is located at 18°56′N 75°20′E / 18.93°N 75.33°E / 18.93; 75.33[1]. It has an average elevation of 700 metres (2296 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Amalner had a population of 91,456. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Amalner has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 57% of the males and 43% of females literate. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Industries

Amalner has seen its up and downs in the industrial field. This little town had two famous factories, a cotton mill and first ever plant of Wipro and a number of other small scale units. It was a strong market particularly in the edible oil and cotton segment. The first oil mill setup by Wipro, was later acquired by Kalra family from Sargodha (Pak) and renamed it as Amalner Oil and General Mills (AOGM). Amalner also had a number of other striving oil mills in the past and even today this small town has at least 4 oil expellers all in closed condition. Amalner also had at least 20 cotton mills in the past all closed now. In last ten years WIPRO has expanded vastly all over India and abroad but not in Amalner. Amalner, being a small town, owns around 1% of Wipro shares.

Pratap Shethji started Pratap Mill in Amalner, producing clothes, as response to "स्वदेशी चळवळ" initiated by Bal Tilak. This mill was later taken over by state government before closing operations towards end of the previous century. This mill had larger employee base and turnover than Wipro till about 8th decade.

Amalner boasts a glorious past of industrial revolution. Once in the history this town was led in politics by the Late Shri Sane Guruji. Many of the cotton mills in Amalner were run by Bhandarkar's. गोल्ड बँक ओआरजि युके

Education

Amalner has seen ups and downs in the educational field, just as in the industrial field.

Pratap Shethji founded a well known School and College in Amalner, both named after him, Pratap Highschool and Pratap College respectively. Shri Sane Guruji served in Pratap Highschool as teacher.

Pratap College once had the largest library in Maharashtra and hosted thousands of books.

He also founded "तत्वद्न्यान मंदिर" (Philosophy hall) in 1966 hosting books on the subject of Philosophy. Earlier in India, the studies of philosophy were based on western philosophy books only. This hall gave an opportunity to bring traditional books based on Dharmashastra under one roof.

At present Khandesh Education Society manages the day to day operations of these institutes along with G. S. Highschool, D. R. Kanyashala and English Medium school.