Ramayana Period

No one knows when the city of Nashik came into existence. It is stated to have been present even in the stone age. Lord Ramchandra along with wife Sita and brother Laxman settled down in Nashik for the major time of their "Vanwasa". According to the mythology, Laxman cut the nose ("Nasika" in Sanskrita) of "Shurpanakha" and hence the city got the name 'Nashik'. Long ago, Brahmadeva had meditated in "Padmasana" here, so the city was also called "Padma-Aasana" for some time. It is also believed that, Lord Vishnu had defeated the three demons and thus city also had the name "Tri-Kantak" (Tri = Three).

During Peshwa's period

In the recent past, the Moguls were fascinated by the beauty of the city and renamed it as "Gulshanabad" meaning the city of gardens. Beautiful fresh flowers were sent to Aurangazeb from Gulshanabad i.e. Nashik. But it was during the rule of the Peshwas, when the place was finally renamed as Nashik. During the Peshwas period, Raghobadada and his wife Anandibai settled down at 'Anandwalli' in Nashik. There re some remains of Anandibai's fort. There is also a temple called 'Navasha Ganapati' built by Anandibai. It was during the British rule in April 1818, when Nashik once again regained its importance. The British fell in love with the beauty of the city and developed it in various fields. The Golf course, developed by the British, was one of the largest in Asia. Nashik is surrounded by nine hills, namely: Durga, Ganesh, Chitraghanta, Pandav, DingerAli, Mhasarul, Jogwada, Pathanpura and Konkani. This beautiful city with hills surrounding it has lakes, adding to its beauty.

Rise & Growth Of National Movement

In 1869 the region came to enjoy unbroken peace. In 1869 Nashik was made a full-fledged district with its present talukas. With the return of peace Nashik flourished into prosperity. Reasons, political, religious, as well as commercial led to its rapid development. With the construction of the railway, going from Bombay to north-east, from very near the city, religious minded devotees came to be attracted to The town in ever increasing numbers where they made their purchases of various artistic & useful articles. This made Nashik a great trade centre where artisans skilled in manufacturing utensils & smiths excelling in workmanship in silver & gold crowded to ply their trade. Already Nashik was a highly flourishing town even under later Maratha rule & some time during that period the sow car families like barves, Vaishampayans & Gadres of the locality started their financial activity. Under Maratha rule they advanced sums to finance military campaigns of feudal Sardars & in their later times their Pedhi�s gradually began to finance the flourishing trade in metalware & fabrics as well as grapes & onions. By the middle of 19th century the British Rule was firmly established & the public life of Nashik began to pulsating with activities suited to the times. In 1840 was established a � Native Library Nashik� . In 1861 an Anglo-vernacular school was started & 1864, The town came to have a municipality of its own.
During these days there lived in Nashik a saintly person, known as Dev Mamaledar. His name was Yeshvant Mahadev Bhosekar. He began his career as an humble clerk in the revenue department & gradually rose to the position of Mamaledar. He always had a feeling for the poor & the suffering. During the period of his service as a Mamlatdar in Baglan Taluka which has its head quarter at Satana , A severe famine affected the area & Bhosekar generously helped the people to alleviate their sufferings. He always led a virtuous life & spent his spare moments in devout religious practices. In course of time he became so famous that princes & people began to respect him as a saint & called him Yeshvantrav Maharaj. Upon his death in 1887 people raised a small beautiful temple for his Samadhi on the bank of the river where his last funeral rites were performed. The paved floor around came to be known as Yeshvant Patangana which has now become a great centre of public assemblage & activity.

Some of the major events in the history of Nashik are :

· 1840 : Sarvajanik Vachanalaya established. (Public Library)

· 1854 : Sharanpur Colony formed.


· 1861 : Deolali Cantonment formed.


· 1862 : Nashik Road railway station was built.


· 1864 : Nashik Municipality formed.


· 1869 : Nashik district formed.


· 1894 : Saint Andrew Church built.


· 1894 : Construction work for Victoria Bridge started.


· 1910 : Police Training School established.


· 1922 : Distillery started at Nashik Road.


· 1927 : Security Press formed at Nashik Road.


· 1941 : Artillery Center migrated to Nashik Road from Quetta in Pakistan.

Nashik's struggle for freedom

In 1869 the region came to enjoy unbroken peace. In 1869 Nashik was made a full-fledged district with its present talukas. With the return of peace Nashik flourished into prosperity. Reasons, political, religious, as well as commercial led to its rapid development. With the construction of the railway, going from Bombay to north-east, from very near the city, religious minded devotees came to be attracted to The town in ever increasing numbers where they made their purchases of various artistic & useful articles. This made Nashik a great trade centre where artisans skilled in manufacturing utensils & smiths excelling in workmanship in silver & gold crowded to ply their trade. Already Nashik was a highly flourishing town even under later Maratha rule & some time during that period the sow car families like barves, Vaishampayans & Gadres of the locality started their financial activity. Under Maratha rule they advanced sums to finance military campaigns of feudal Sardars & in their later times their Pedhi's gradually began to finance the flourishing trade in metalware & fabrics as well as grapes & onions. By the middle of 19th century the British Rule was firmly established & the public life of Nashik began to pulsating with activities suited to the times. In 1840 was established a ' Native Library Nashik' . In 1861 an Anglo-vernacular school was started & 1864, The town came to have a municipality of its own.

21st December 1909. Anant Kanhere shot the collector Jackson in Vijayanand theater. The murder of Jackson challenged the British Rule. The people involved in the incidence, Anant LaxmanKanhere, Krishnaji Gopal Karve and Vinayak Ramchandra Deshpande were sentenced to death. It wasduring this time that 'Abhinav Bharat ' was formed. The young Nashikites were influenced by the speech of Lokmanya Tilak given on the 26th of August 1906. Veer Savarkar successfully organised underground movement against the rulers.

A few examples would suffice. Shri Khare, a pleader in Nashik , was accused to havesaid the following a few days before the murder of Mr.Jackson : "Today 4 crores of people rule over 33 crores & they have destroyed Indian industries ."It is the businessof the white to ruin us black people". "europeans are like the demon ghost Putana, who was fair outside but poisonous within". " The time for action has come. How many of you ae ready to go to jail or to die?" & the like. Shri Khare was asked to submit a personal bond failing which the High Court recommended that his sanad should be suspended till such time that the order to furnish security continues in force Another interesting case was that of Shridhar Waman Nagarkar of Nashik who was sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment for drawing & publishing a picture containing a mythological representation of the slaying of demon Mahish by the Goddess Durga, framed with portrails of certain persons, notorious for sedition. The government took the view that the picture is likely to excite disaffection towards His Majesty or the government established by law in British India. Similar was the case against Devising Mohansing & Shankar Gir Hanumantgir of Nashik for publishing a seditious picture under the title "Rashtra Purusha". The former was sentenced to three years' rigorous imprisonment. Given below are the details of Jackson murder case that resulted in the subsequent unrest & discontent:- Jackson Murder Case

Jackson Murder Case
The following persons were arrested in connection with the murder of Mr. Jackson, Collector of Nashik, on the night of the 21st December, 1909:-

Who Were They?

Anant Laxman Kanhere

Born in 1891. Elder brother Ganpatrao, younger brother Shankarrao. Two sisters . started life at Indore . Went to Aurangabad to his uncle Barve in 1903 for further study. His brother Ganpatrao at Barsi. Anant stayed with this brither for some time. In 1908 he returned to Aurangabad & stayed in a hired room in one Gangaram Rupchand Shroff�s house. Gangaram had a friend at Yevla named Tonpe . He was a member of the secret of Nashik. One Ganu Vaidya of Nashik used to visit Yevla to meet his relative. Ganu became acquainted with Gangaram at Yevla. He went with Gangaram to aurangabad to purchase cheap weapons for the Nashik Secret Socitey. Anant became acquainted with this Vaidya at Aurangabad.

Krishnaji Gopal Karve

Gopal Karve was a scholar of Hindu philosophy . He had a great faith in the idea of reincarnation . He , therefore , used to say , " If I die early , I will be reborn early & can start fighting with the Britishers again ." Karve told the court that even if it appeared that he was not responsible for the assassination , in fact , responsibility lay on his shoulders.

He was a B.A(Hons.) & was studying law at Mumbai. He was then 23 years old . He was the moving spirit of one of the secret organizations in Maharashtra. He initiated Shankar Ramchandra Soman in the secret organization. He knew the preparation of bombs & taught the process to Soman & Chandratre. He purchased seven Browning pistols , one revolver, & one country-made pistol from one Gopalrao Patankar, who had received the parcel of Browning pistols sent by V.D Savarkar through his cook Chaturbhuj. This was in May or June 1909.

Vinayak Narayan Deshpande

He was 21 years old . He was a member of the secret organization. He was the First Assist ant teacher in the Panchvati school at Nashik. He was married. He conducted a handloom as an additional vocation. On the third floor of the building where this handloom was working there was an old darkroom, where Deshpande & others of the secret meetings. Deshpande had collected some explosives, which were kept in a box.

Shankar Ramchandra Soman

He was a student aged 18 years.

Waman Daji Narayan Joshi

He was 20 years old. He was a teacher in the Panchvati school.

Ganesh Vaidya

He was the person who collected & stored explosives & weapons for the secret society. It was to him that Anant expressed his willingness to do something by way of retalition against the barbarous conviction of Savarkar.

Dattatraya Pandurang Joshi

He was a student at Aurangabad & a friend of Anant. In the court , Anant Kanhere defended himself without any lawer. During the prosecution , he was calm & quiet . He was so much stable-both physically & mentally- that , according to the official records , he put on 15 pounds of weight during this period !

On 7th March 1910 all the accused were presented before court. They included Anant Kanhere , Krishnaji Karve , Vinayak Deshpande ,Shankarrao Soman , Wamanrao Joshi , Ganu Vaidya & Dattu Joshi. Hundreds of citizens had gathered outside the court to have a 'Darshan' of these courageous youths. Justice Mr. Hiton was so much impressed by Anant's personality that he remarked ,
" I am very sorry that I have to sentence him to death . "

It was on 20th March , 1910 that the court declared the verdict . Kanhere , Karve & Deshpande were to be hanged. Shankarrao Soman , Wamanrao Joshi & Ganu Vaidya were given life imprisonment . However , later on , Ganu Vaidya was treated accomplished. Soman & Wamanrao Jashi were to be taken to Andaman - Kala Pani . But Soman (fortunately ? ) passed away before sending to Andaman . Wamanrao Joshi had to undergo the agony of the cellular jail in Andaman.Kanhere , Karve & Deshpande were hanged to death on 19th April 1910 . Krishnaji Karve was the only son of his parents . His supreme sacrifice brought an end to his clan.

At cellular jail of Andaman we find there a list of 300 prisoners who were kept in the jail . The list includes three Maharashtrians :
Svatantryaveer Savarkar , Babarao Savarkar & Wamanrao Joshi .
It is a matter of pride for Nasikites that all of them hailed from Nashik !

Anant Kanhere

The supreme sacrifice of Anant Kanhere , Krishnaji Karve & Vinayak Deshpande is a glorious chapter in the history of Nashik.
Anant KanhereThe begining of 20th century witnessed increase in atrocities by Britishers on the innocent Indians . Lokmanya Tilak was put behind the bars for 6 years . Babarao alias Ganesh Damodar Savarkar was sentenced to life imprisonment for publishing the patriotic songs of his younger brother Vinayak Savarkar . Jackson , the then collector of Nashik , was responsible for prosecution of Babarao Savarkar . He tortured Waman Sakharam Khare , a well-known lawyer , so much that Khare lost his mental balance . The only 'offence ' of Khare was : he pleaded for revolutionaries.

All these incidences evoked a sharp reaction in the patriotic youths of Nashik . The last straw came when a British officer beat a farmer to death for not allowing his vehicle to overtake . When the situation was heating up to the boiling point , Jackson was transferred on promotion outside Nashik .
Kanhere & his friends made up their minds : It's now or never !

Jackson

Sir. JaksonA farewell ceremony was arranged for Jackson in the Vijayanand theatre .(The picture show the enterance of the theatre where Jackson was murder.)Vijayanand Theater A famous Marathi drama Sharada was staged to mark the occasion . Anant Kanhere & his friends were all set to execute their plan . Anant grabed the opportunity & fired at Jackson. As per the plan , Anant tried to commit suicide but he failed to do so . He used one of the 20 revolvers which were sent by Veer Savarkar from England . The historical day was : December 21 , 1909.

Vinayak Deshpande

It was planned that only Anant should take entire responsibility of the assassination so that other conspirators would remain in dark . But it did not happen . The Police arrested Krushnaji Gopal Karve , Vinayak Narayan Deshpande , Shankarrao Soman , Wamanrao Joshi & Ganu Vaidya . All these youths were detained in the Sarkarwada & were treated brutally to know more about the conspiracy . The torturing Police team was headed by Alikhan who was reputed for his inhuman behavior. The prosecution of these brave youths is well-known in the history of India as 'Nashik Conspiracy Case' .

Story of The Nashik Conspiracy

The Mitra Mandal

The evidence in this case establishes that prior to the year 1906 , an association of young men , mostly Brahmans, existed in Nashik under leadership of Ganesh & Vinayak Savarkar which was known as the Mitra-Mela. In it were reproduced the features of other similar associations in the Deccan to which reference has already been made. Exciting songs were prepared for the Ganapati & Shivaji festivals & the members of the Mitra-Mela used to join in singing these songs either in procession or in the precincts of some temple or other place of assembly.

Physical instruction was given to members by one of the witnesses in this case & by a Mahomedan brought for the purpose from Baroda. The activities of the association did not, however, cease there, for we have evidence, which we accept as true, that meetings were held at the house of Ganesh Savarkar & of Aba Darekar, one of the song-writers of the association, at which the biographies of patriotic revolutionists were read & re-read, the particular favourites being Mazzini, Shivaji & Ramdas & where discusssions were carried on with regard to the means for attaining independence for India. At these meetings the methods advocated were the education of public by means of lectures, books & songs, & the preparation for rising against the British Government by collection of arms & ammunition.

We have examples of inflammatory speeches delivered by Vinayak & Narayan Savarkar & by Mahadev Bhat, & a photograph of number of members of the Mitra Mela, several of whom are among the accused, grouped round Vinayak Savarkar in which four or five pictures of Shivaji, A board bearing the words �Bande Mataram� & a book bearing the name of Mazzini on the outer cover are prominently displayed, which corroborate the general description of the aims & methods of the association given by the witnesses.

The photograph Exhibit A-271, to which referance has been made, marks an important stage in the history of the association . Its occasion was the impending departure of Vinayak Savarkar for England in the middle of June 1906, a step which he was enabled to take owing to his being the recipent of a scholarship given by Shamji Krishna Varma, the founder of the India House at Highgate. Up to the time of his departure Vinayak Savarkar had been one of the most active & probably the most stimulating of the members of the Mitra Mela. In the early part of 1906 speeches were delivered by him in Poona & in nashik the object of which was to arouse the country & to suggest how by means of mental training & physical exercises, preparation might be made for successful revolt.

Abhinav Bharat

Before the departure of Vinayak Savarkar the Mitra Mela had developed into or given birth to the Abhinav Bharat or Young India Society a title which the prosecution suggests was borrowed from the �Young Italy� of Muzzini. Its objects were unquestionably revolutionary. The aim of its members was to be prepared for war. The list of objects enumerated in Exhibit 9B found in the possession of Kashikar in 1909 affords ample corroboration of the evidence of witnesses upon this point.

Revolutionary Songs

The books of verse composed by members of the socitey known as the �Laghu Abhinav Bharat Mala� were printed & published in Bombay & Sholapur & were for a long time openly sold though of a most inflammatory character. The publisher of four of the earlier issues of the above series departure for England in 1906 & an edition of 5,000 copies was published in September of that year.

Ganesh Savarkar Sentenced

This series of publications culminated in 1908 with the issue by Ganesh Savarkar of Fiowers 8 & 9 containing a clear incitement to war against the British. They resulted in the arrest of Ganesh Savarkar on the 28th February 1909 & his subsequent conviction & transportation but not before he had made arrangements for the reception in Bombay of a consignment of Browning pistols which were originally destined for Nashik.