A look at Latur’s History
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Latur is an old town with Historical and Mythological background. The book “Ratnapur Mahatmya” has a detailed insight of city’s history. The city was known as various names in the past including Satyapur, Shreepur, Ratnapur, Lakshapur etc.
The city has many Monkery and ancient temples. The idol at “Keshavraj Temple” is considered to be self generated. A replica of the idol can be found in National Museum at Delhi. The idol is supposed to be more than 2000 years old. The temple is Hemadpanthi is style which gives an idea about the age of the current temple being more than 500 years old. The Jain Monkery in Latur is more than 700 years old. The SuratShahavali Mosque adjoining is built up by Aurangzeb. The Gramdaivat Siddheshwar has a history of more than 500 years. The temple was renovated in 1910. Some stone inscription at the temple says about the age of the temple.
The city also has historical background, with Satvahanas and Rashtrakutas having ruled over the city. It was also a part of Ashoka’s empire. King Amogha of Rashtrakutas used to proudly call him “Lattlurvasiya” (Citizen of Lattlur).
In 1670 AD, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had visited the city. In Peshva times, “Laturi coin” was part of the currency. Thus Latur played very important role in history at every time span; the Satavahanas, the Sakas, the Chalukyas, the Yadavas of Deogiri, the Delhi Sultans, the Bahamani rulers of South India, AdilShahi, the Mughals and the Princely State of Hyderabad.
Latur has always been famous for business and training. The old business community used to stay In old Latur, towards the north of Khadak Hanuman. Lad was main businessman community in earlier times. Other businessmen communities included Brahmin, Maratha, Yalam, Jains etc. Later Lad community had some trouble with Nizam dynasty so Marwadis were invited from Rajasthan for business. Since then Marwadis are ruling the business community in Latur.
Lokmanya Tilak visited Latur in 1891 and initiated a Ginning factory. Latur got a name of fame in National market with this factory. A Vegetable oil factory was also subsequently started in Latur by Dalda, which was first Vegetable oil factory in Asia.
Barshi Light Railway (BLR) was introduced in 1911 which improved the transportation to Latur. The population was also increasing with the increase in business activities. World War I saw a stiff increase in the cotton rates and Latur Market got a higher place in Global market.
Later with time, the cotton industry saw a decline and Grain market got a rise. Today Latur is well known for the grain market and oil industries.
Latur was earlier part of Gunjoti Tahsil but looking at the glory of Latur, it got the status of Tahsil by Nizam government. Later on 15th August 1982, Latur got the status of District place. Latur was connected to Mumbai and Hyderabad via BroadGauge lines in 2004.
Latur has always been a progressive city and the progress route has never come on a backfoot in entire lifetime of the city. And we wish the progress will never take a back seat.
admin @ January 15, 2010
How well do you know Latur?
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Recently we undertook a test based on knowledge of “Latur City and District” for Rotaract Club of Latur Midtown. Following are the questions we asked in the quiz.
Try if you can answer these questions. Put your answers as comment to this post for the reference of other Laturkar.
Click here for the quiz.
PS: You may receive a surprise prize if you answer all 20 questions correctly.
admin @ September 9, 2009
Election Updates
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With the Assembly election fever catching up, here are few updates on the front.
1) Latur City seat has gone to ShivSena in the distribution amongst BJP & Shiv Sena. Ad Balwant Jadhav and Pappu Kulkarni are the two names being discussed as contestant from the seat.
2) Latur Rural seat will be with BJP. Ramesh Karad is the name being discussed the most for the seat. However, Shivajirao Patil Kavekar is also one name in the talks for the seat.
3) Amit Deshmukh’s name is among the most discussed for Latur City amongst the Congress front. Also the name of Parent Minister Diliprao Deshmukh is making rounds.
4) Satish Kale {Son of Late Babruvanji Kale} is one prominent name the has emerged out for Latur Rural seat from Congress side.
More updates as they appear..
admin @ September 5, 2009
Latur to have artificial rains
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The Maharashtra government is gearing up for a cloud-seeding experiment in Latur and rest Marathwada. The region has recieved only 15% of its usual rainfall till date.
State additional chief secretary, relief and rehabilitation, M Rameshkumar explained the government had to proceed on cloud-seeding plans right now if it wanted the experiment to succeed. “We have to do it now when climate conditions are favourable,” he said. A seven-member team of central government officials recently visited Latur along with other districts like Nanded, Sangli, Solapur, Yavatmal and Chandrapur to take stock of the drought situation.
Though the region houses the constituencies of Congress stalwarts former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh (Latur) and chief minister Ashok Chavan (Mudkhed); senior state government officials have discounted any role of politics in the decision.
We wish the experiment to succeed.
admin @ September 5, 2009
Latur to have 1600MW power project
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The heavy industries Minister Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh recently announced a 1600 MW power project for Latur. The 9000 Cr investment project will be a joint venture between the two governement companies “BHEL” and “MahaGenCo”.
This will be second biggest power project in Marathwada after Parli.
The minister also announced a foreign investment project for Latur to be coming soon. Way to Go Mantriji..
admin @ July 27, 2009
Amit Deshmukh is Congress candidate from Latur City
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With Mr Jaywantrao Awale announcing that Amit Deshmukh is congres candidate for Laur City Assembly Constituency, the super legacy of Mr Vilasraoji Deshmukh and the development flow of the city is sure to continue to flow in Latur.
Best Wishes to Mr Deshmukh from Laturkar Team.
admin @ July 27, 2009
Photography Exhibition
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Exhibition of photographs of 333 forts in Maharashtra has been arranged by ShivSena and Umang Foundation. The exhitibiton will be inaugurated on 23rd July, 2 PM at Municipality Hall.
The photographs are clicked by Shramik Gojamgunde.
admin @ July 22, 2009
Impact: Latur school ordered to take back HIV+ kids
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The Maharashtra government has ordered a probe into the school boycott of HIV positive students in Latur district. The District Collector has warned school authorities to take back the students or face the consequences.
On Friday, LaturKar had reported how the education of some HIV positive children in Latur is being jeopardised. Not only are they HIV infected but they have also been victims of discrimination. Their school – Zilla Parishad School Hosegaon – is allegedly asking them to withdraw themselves from the rolls because other students and their parents are not willing to come in contact with them.
School Education Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has asked Latur Collector Eknath Dawale to submit his report regarding the school in Hasegaon village within two days.
After a meeting in the district collectorate, Patil told PTI,” This is a social issue and we are going to discuss it in the village. We have ordered the district collector to submit the report within two days.”
Ten students of an ashram, Sevalaya, which houses the orphans, HIV positive and AIDS affected children, are studying in the school. The ashram is managed by Amhi Sevak, an NGO.
admin @ July 11, 2009
HIV+ kids shunned, shunted from Latur school
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In a shameful event for Latur and a pointer to the social stigma that is still attached to AIDS, eight HIV positive students of district council school at Hasegaon village in Latur district of Maharashtra were expelled from school due to the strong opposition from other students and their parents.
The students were expelled after 140 of the total 230 students’ boycotted classes as they fear that they may contract the disease from the positive children.
In fact, for the past few days, this school has been flooded with requests by parents for transfer certificates (TC).
Yesterday, district education officer D Joshi, his deputy S Sonawane, and other officials visited the village and had discussions with Sewalaya director Ravi Bapatley, but nothing positive was achieved.
The education officer said, “We are trying our best to clear the doubts and misconceptions about the disease, but the adamant wards and parents are in no mood to listen to us.”
“We even had doctor for the counselling who clarified to the parents that their children were safe even if they came in contact with the HIV positive kids,” he added.
The headmaster of the school Dharmraj Sathe had yesterday said, “We will give admission to as many Aids-affected children as we can because we know AIDS does not spread by dining or playing together.
But now it’s apparent that he had to bow to the pressure from other children and their parents.
The HIV positive children are staying in an ashram in Hasegaon village run by an non-governmental organisation Ahmi Sevak for orphans and HIV-positive children.
Eight students from this ashram, Sewalaya, were studying in the zilla parishad (district council) school. Since the past few days there were rumours in the village that if anybody dines or plays with the HIV/AIDS patients, they will also contract the infection.
admin @ July 10, 2009
The new look of Balaji Temple
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The Balaji temple in Latur is getting a makeover. Let’s hope it gets ready ASAP..
New look of Balaji Temple
admin @ June 8, 2009