Barshi
Template:Infobox Indian jurisdiction Barshi is a town and a Municipal Council in Solapur district in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is famous for its toor dal (lentil) and other agriculture products. The town is traditionally considered as a gateway to the neighboring region "Marathwada". Barshi is one of two temples dedicated to Vishnu as Lord Bhagvant; the other is at Varanasi. Barshi has considerable number of shiv temples. Some of them are Uttareshwar temple, Bhogeshwari temple,Baleshwar temple
Barshi had three cotton textile mills, although only one survives. The three were Rajan Mill, Lokmanya Mill and Barshi Textile Mill (called BTM - Old Name JaiShankar Mills Ltd.). The last one is now managed by NTC- previously managed by Rao Bahadhur Ganpatrao Zadbuke alias Kakasaheb(Grand Father of Anand Zadbuke). Barshi is also known for its wholesale trading market, called "Krishi Utapanna Bazar Samiti (adhat bazzar)". Farmer and cattle owners come to Barshi from all over to sell raw commodities, crops, vegetables, fruits, animals, and animal products to wholesale buyers, who then sell to big city traders. It is emerging as a regional education centre with reputed educational institutes.
Nargis Dutt Memorial Cancer Hospital, initiated by film actor Sunil Dutt along with Utrayshwar Kathale(Grand father of Anand Zadbuke), is situated in Barshi. It has state-of-the-art facilities and is funded privately (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) as well as by the government managed by the Sarumangle Utrayshwar Kathale Trust. This hospital is also linked with the Tata Memorial Hospital for Cancer Research, Parel-Mumbai. Dr. B.M Nene took the responsibility as the head of hospital since founded. Utrayshwar Kathale & Balasaheb Kathale donated 50 acres of land for the hospital.
The great spiritual guru of Kundalini Shakti, the late Vamanrao Gulawani Maharaj, lived in Barsi for almost 12 years while he worked as a young school teacher in a local high school.
Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census[1], Barshi had a population of 104,786. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Barshi has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 56% of the males and 44% of females literate. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
About Bhagvant Temple
Barshi is famous for the BHAGVANT MANDIR.
Bhagvant temple is dedicated to Shri Vishnu. The uniqueness of this temple is that, this is the onlyone temple of Shri Vishnu all over India having Shri Vishnu’s name as BHAGAVANT.
The temple is build in Hemadpanthi style in the year 1245 A.D. There are four entries to the temple from all the four directions, but the main entry is east-facing.
There is one GARUDKHAMB in front of Garbhagraha. The idol of main deity Shri Bhagvant is in black stone having SHANKH, CHAKRA andGADA is in the hands and picture of devotee king Ambrish below the right hand. Shri Laxmi is on the back of Bhagvant idol. Shivlinga is there on the forehead and marks of Footsteps of Bhrigu Rishi on the chest of the deity.
There are old records showing the grants released by Shri Nanasaheb Peshve in the year 1760, by East India Company in 1823 and by British Government in 1784.
The temple management is looked after by a Panch Committee. Badves carry out the work of daily rituals of the temple. The daily ritualsinclude Kakada Arti, Nitya Puja, Mahapuja in the morning, Dhuparti in the evening and Shejarti in the night.
Large no. of devotees visit during the Chaitri, Maghi, Aashadi & kartiki (Hindu Months) Ekadashi.
During the Aashadi & Kartiki Ekadashi a large procession is taken out covering the town with Bhagvant riding on Garuda. A CHABINA is taken out on every full moon day.
Educational Institutes
The city is well known in the region for its state of the art educational institutions and nearby districts and tehsils depends upon these educational facilities. Major Pre Schools - 1 Shishuvihar Barshi.
Major Primary Schools - 1. Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya Barshi 2. Navin Marathi Vidyalaya Barshi 3. Jijamata Primary School Barshi 4. Mahatma Phule Primary School Barshi 5. MIT's Smt. Prayag Karad Vishwashanti English Medium Primary School,Barshi
Major High Schools - 1 Sulakhe High School Barshi 2 Barshi Technical High School, Barshi 3 New Highschool Barshi 4 Maharashtra Vidyalaya, Barshi 5 Silver Jubilee High School, Barshi
Junior and Senior Colleges - 1 Shree Shivaji Mahavidyalaya (Shri Shivaji Sikshan Prasarak Manadal - founded by Karmaveer Mamasaheb Jagdale) 2 Shriman Bhausaheb Zadbuke College, 3 B.P. Sulakhe Commerce College
These institutions serves the higher educational needs of the town as well as surrounding region.
Barshi is a one of the best leading center in the field of IT.
There are about 35 Computer Institutes like Suyash Computers, Promtech Computers, Samarth computers keeping city up to date. There are also various institutions providing competitive professional education such as BA, B.Com, BSC, BCA, BCS, B.P.Ed, M.P.Ed, M.Sc, Agri, Engg, Diploma, ATD, Pharmacy, ITI, etc.
Recently renowned educationalist Dr. Vishwanath Karad announced his plans to establish state of the art Medical institution in the city. ( at the place of old textile mill - Lokmanya Mills)
Technical Education: S.S.S.P.M Polytechnic, Barshi provides Diploma courses in the stream of Industrial Electronics, Civil and Computer sciences. This is one of the very few institute offering diploma course in Industrial Electronics department. At the place of KIIT which becomes now School of Nursing which gives diploma in nursing.
Transport
Barshi was the original terminus of the 30 gauge Barsi Light Railway, constructed by British engineer Everard Calthrop. The Barsi Light Railway opened in 1897, and was extended on a number of occasions until it reached a total length of 202 miles (337 km) in 1927.[2] The example of the Barsi Light Railway is regarded as having revolutionised the narrow gauge railway system of Indian subcontinent.[3] The railway continued to operate as a narrow gauge railway until conversion to broad gauge began in the late 1990s as part of Indian Railways conversion program for all metre and narrow gauge lines.[4]
The conversion of the narrow gauge track of the Barshi Light Railway to broad gauge was partly completed in 2007. The converted track from Latur to Osmanabad opened in September 2007. The converted track from Osmanabad to Kurduvadi is alson now operational from 19 October 2008. To start with Indian railways has started Mumbai-Latur railway. Subsequently some more trains will get added to the route. This route will connect Barshi to Parbhani, Solapur, Pune and Mumbai, and to the national rail grid.
Barshi town is connected to Ahmednagar, Beed, Osmanabad and Latur towns by road. Osamanbad - Barshi - Kurduvadi new railway line are opened in Sunday 19 oct 2008 First Railway up 1006 Latur-Mumbai Mail express & down 1005 Mumbai Latur Barsi Town Mumbai express arrivel timing is 11.38 PM & departure 11.40 PM . Barsi Town Latur express arrivel timing is 4.38 AM depart timing 4.40 AM
Epilogue about Narrow Gauge
The Narrow Gauge Track from Kurduwadi to Barshi used to pass through streets of Barshi Town. The Track was in parallel and touching the State Highway between Barshi and Kurduwadi. On conversion to Broad gauge the entire alignment is changed and is 3 to 4 kilometres away from old narrow gauge alignment and stations in between have been built at different location. After gauge conversion Barshi Station is located at different location due to change of alignment and railway line does not cross Barshi City and the station is located 6-kilometres away from Town. The new Barshi railway Station construction is also delight to watch as it done keeping the nature contour and using it to maximum advantage
References
- ^ Template:GR
- ^ Hughes, Hugh 1994 Indian Locomotives Pt. 3, Narrow Gauge 1863-1940. Continental Railway Circle.
- ^ Bhandari, R R. "Steam in History". The IRFCA Server. Indian Railways Fan Club. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ Marshall, Lawrence C., 2001 Indian Narrow Gauge Steam Remembered Plateway Press, East Harling
STD Code of Barshi town is 02184 Following well known villages come under BArshi DistrictNari[Kari] [Pangri]
External links
- Satellite View of Barshi Town Railway Station
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
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