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The History of Gondia in Vidarbha

Writer: thenewsdirtthenewsdirt
Mar 127 min read
The History of Gondia in Vidarbha
The History of Gondia in Vidarbha

Gondia holds a past that stretches back thousands of years. Though often overshadowed by larger cities, its history is rich with evidence of early human settlements, tribal communities, and evolving dynasties.


From megalithic-era tribes to colonial transformations, Gondia has witnessed a remarkable journey shaped by conquests, trade, and cultural shifts.

Even as modern influences reached the region, its roots remained deeply connected to the land, its people, and its traditions.



Tracing the Earliest Settlements


Long before written records, Gondia’s land was home to people who lived off its forests, rivers, and fertile plains.


The discovery of a megalithic settlement at Mali in Tirora taluka provides a rare glimpse into life nearly 3,000 years ago.

Excavations at the site uncovered pottery, tools, weapons, and even a harpoon, indicating that the people who lived here were skilled in crafting everyday objects. These early inhabitants likely relied on hunting, fishing, and primitive agriculture to sustain themselves.


Unlike the structured urban settlements of the Indus Valley, the communities here followed a way of life shaped by the natural landscape.

 

The evidence of human activity is not limited to one site. Caves and rock shelters scattered across the region suggest that early groups sought refuge in these formations.


The Kachargarh caves in Salekasa tehsil are among the most well-known.


Their presence in folklore hints at their significance to past communities, possibly as places of shelter or gathering.


Stone tools found in the broader Vidarbha region further support the idea that humans occupied these lands during the Stone Age. While detailed studies in Gondia are limited, similar findings from nearby areas suggest that early populations in this part of Maharashtra had adapted to the environment, using available resources to craft tools and build a livelihood.

 

Ancient texts also reference the people who once lived in this area. The Ramayana describes lands south of the Godavari River as being occupied by aboriginal tribes, referred to as Rakshasas.

Though mythical, such descriptions suggest that indigenous groups thrived here long before historical records. These early communities, possibly ancestors of present-day tribes, would have lived in scattered settlements, hunting in dense forests and fishing in the rivers that cut through the land.

 

As centuries passed, Gondia became part of larger kingdoms. The Satavahana Empire, which ruled much of central and southern India during the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, influenced Vidarbha, including this region.



The presence of an ancient brick temple at Nagra near Gondia, believed to date back to the Vakataka dynasty around the 5th century CE, indicates that the area was not entirely isolated.

Coins and inscriptions found across Vidarbha, including some belonging to the Paramara king Jagadeva from the 11th century, highlight Gondia’s connection to broader trade networks. Through detailed historical records from this period are scarce, the artefacts and structures left behind suggest a land that was continuously inhabited


The Shifting Powers of the Medieval Period

The Shifting Powers of the Medieval Period in Gondia
The Shifting Powers of the Medieval Period

As new kingdoms rose and fell, Gondia saw a succession of rulers who shaped its political and social structure.


By the 7th century, the area came under the control of the Haihaya Rajput kings of Chhattisgarh, who ruled the region known as Maha Kosala.

Governance during this time was likely decentralised, with local chieftains overseeing administration. By the 12th century, the Panwar Rajputs took control, ruling from Nagardhan near present-day Nagpur. Their influence, however, was short-lived, as the emergence of Gond tribal rulers shifted the balance of power.


The Gond kings carved out their own domain, marking the beginning of an era where Gondwana, land of the Gonds, became a prominent feature of central India. These tribal rulers established independent territories and maintained authority over forested lands.


Their rule continued until the late 17th and early 18th centuries when the expanding Maratha Empire began asserting dominance.



As the Mughal Empire weakened, the Marathas, under the leadership of Parasoji Bhonsle, took control of several territories, including Gondwana.


By 1743, Raghoji Bhonsle I firmly established his rule over the region, integrating it into the broader Maratha administration.


The Bhonsle rulers governed from Nagpur, and under their leadership, Gondia remained an important but largely rural part of their domain.

The influence of Gond zamindars (landowners) persisted in forested regions, but the administrative structure increasingly followed the Maratha framework. By the late 18th century, the kingdom of Nagpur was one of the key Maratha strongholds, standing on the brink of major confrontations with British forces.



The Colonial Era and its Transformations


The 19th century brought significant changes to Gondia, as British rule reshaped the region’s administration, economy, and infrastructure.


The turning point came after the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818 when the British defeated the Marathas and placed the Nagpur kingdom under their influence.


A regency administration was introduced, and local feudal lords, including the rulers of Lanji, oversaw governance in various parts of the region.


The British gradually reorganized territorial boundaries, and by 1821, Bhandara District was formed, with Gondia included within its limits.

Initially, Lanji served as the administrative centre, but by 1820–21, the district headquarters moved to Bhandara town.



A major shift occurred in 1853 when the last ruler of the Nagpur Bhonsle dynasty died without an heir. The British annexed the Nagpur and Berar territories, making them part of British India. Gondia, now fully under colonial rule, became part of the Central Provinces, later renamed the Central Provinces and Berar.


The new administration brought a structured governance system, replacing the older feudal framework with British laws, taxation, and revenue collection.


The late 19th century marked the beginning of Gondia’s transformation into an important trade centre.

The arrival of the Bengal Nagpur Railway was a key development that linked the town to major commercial routes. The Nagpur–Rajnandgaon railway line, part of the larger Mumbai–Kolkata corridor, began operating in 1880, passing through the region.


With this, transportation of goods became faster and more efficient. Further railway expansion followed, with the construction of the Gondia–Nainpur narrow-gauge line in 1903 and the Gondia–Nagbhir line in 1908. These connections strengthened Gondia’s role in the movement of agricultural produce, timber, and forest goods.


Economic activity increased as the town became a hub for rice milling.

The fertile plains around Gondia supported large-scale paddy cultivation, and with improved transport links, rice could now be processed and transported to distant markets. Timber and forest products such as lac and gum also became significant commodities. The British encouraged the large-scale extraction of these resources, integrating Gondia into the larger economic network of colonial India.


Although economic growth brought trade opportunities, it also led to the exploitation of natural resources. Large tracts of forest were cleared to meet the demands of the colonial administration.



The shift from a subsistence-based economy to a market-driven system changed the way people lived and worked. Many locals found employment in rice mills and railway construction, while others continued traditional occupations like farming and forest produce collection.

Alongside economic changes, political awareness grew in the region. The early years of British rule saw local resistance. In 1818, Chimanaji Patel of Kamptha led an armed struggle against the British, reflecting opposition to foreign control.


As the independence movement gained momentum in the 20th century, Gondia became part of the larger nationalist struggle. Inspired by leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave, people from the town participated in protests, marches, and acts of civil disobedience.


The Quit India Movement of 1942 saw active involvement from students and activists in the Gondia-Bhandara area.


By the time India gained independence in 1947, Gondia had grown into a recognised trade town, shaped by decades of British influence.

The railway network remained a lifeline, supporting economic activity even as the colonial administration came to an end.


The region had seen both development and exploitation, with industries like rice milling firmly established while traditional ways of life underwent significant change.


Post-Independence Developments

Post-Independence Developments in Gondia
Post-Independence Developments in Gondia

Following India’s independence in 1947, Gondia remained a part of Madhya Pradesh until the linguistic reorganisation of states in 1956, when it was transferred to Bombay State.


With the creation of Maharashtra in 1960, Gondia officially became a part of the state.

Throughout this period, it remained an administrative subdivision within the Bhandara district, gaining recognition as an important tahsil. It was not until 1999 that Gondia became a separate district.


Agriculture remained the backbone of the region’s economy, with rice as the dominant crop. The town became widely known as the “Rice City” due to the large number of rice mills established by the 1970s and 1980s.


Other crops such as jowar, wheat, and pulses were cultivated, but rice continued to be the mainstay. Despite the growth of rice processing industries, large-scale industrialisation did not take place, and the region was considered economically underdeveloped.


Many locals relied on seasonal migration for employment, particularly in agriculture and small-scale industries.

Infrastructure developments post-independence included improvements in road and rail connectivity. The Mumbai–Nagpur–Kolkata broad-gauge railway continued to play a crucial role in transport. Additionally, a national highway passed through Gondia, strengthening its accessibility.



Government initiatives focused on rural development, with irrigation projects supporting agriculture, rural electrification expanding gradually, and primary education becoming more widespread. By the 1980s, literacy rates had improved, and healthcare services had expanded, though challenges remained.


The Gond tribe continued to practice traditional customs, including folk dances such as Dandari and religious festivals dedicated to deities like Kali Kankali.


The annual pilgrimage to the Kachargarh caves, initiated in 1986, became a significant event for the Gond community. Meanwhile, the Marathi-speaking majority observed festivals like Diwali and Holi, while linguistic diversity remained evident with influences from Hindi, Chhattisgarhi, and tribal languages.


Urbanisation in Gondia town brought a mix of communities together, including Marathi speakers from western Vidarbha, traders, and migrants seeking work in rice mills.

By the 1980s, Gondia had grown into an important municipal town, connected to both Maharashtra and central India. Educational institutions and social organisations flourished, contributing to the town’s development.


Through each period of change, Gondia retained its distinct character. From ancient settlements to its role in trade and agriculture, the region adapted to shifting influences while maintaining its cultural identity.


References




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