![]() After the Western Chalukyas, Ahmednagar passed on to the Deogiri Yadavs who ruled from 1170 to 1310 AD. Deogiri (modern Daulatabad), seventy-four miles north east of Ahmednagar, was the capital city of Yadavs. The most notable minister and statesman of this time was Hemadri who invented modi script and is still being studied by the intelligentsia. Hemadri was indeed a genius and is credited with lending the idea of constructing buildings without the help of limestone and mortar. Well cut stones of medium size across each other were placed and filled upon each other in particular angles in such a manner that walls were erected in the shape of temple. Twenty six such temples scattered over the whole district that had been built in this style. ![]() In 1422, it was the turn of Ahmad Shah Wali to attack Ahmednagar. He was the person responsible for building the Bidar Fort. From this time onwards Ahmednagar was slowly approaching to an era when the Nizam Shahi dynasty would be established on its land. By 1490, Malik Ahmad was successful in establishing the Nizam Shahi dynasty in Ahmednagar. The reign continued till 1636. This dynasty was replaced by the Mughal rule in Ahmednagar. After the death of Nizam-ul-Mulk, there issued a quarrel between his two sons, Salabat Jung and Ghazi-ud-din. In this political mess the Nizam's commandant Kavi Jung betrayed the fort of Ahmednagar to the Peshwa, the minister of the Maratha power. War followed between the Nizam and the Peshwas in which the Nizam was defeated in 1760 at Udgir. Besides other concessions the Nizam confirmed the grant of Ahmednagar and Dualatbad and also gave up the greater part of the province of Ahmednagar. The Nizam was again defeated by the Maratha in 1795 at Kharda. After the death of Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa in 1795, quarrels arose among the Maratha noblemen. In 1797 Daulatrao Sindia took the fort of Ahmednagar from Bajirao Peshwa, as a price of his help to him to raise him to the post of Peshwa. The famous statesman Nana Fadnavis was imprisoned in Ahmednagar fort in 1797 by Sindia. At last he was released in 1798 but sorely discouraged, Nana Fadnavis died in 1800. ![]() When the British Government took possession of Ahmednagar much of it was almost ruined. Many former rich areas were depopulated because of famine and continuous fighting between the British soldiers and the freedom fighters. They continued to rise in arms taking resort to villages and the hills and mountains-mostly Parner, Jamgao and Akola areas. The Kolies and the Bhils harassed the British troops intermittently. Raghoji Bhangria headed this mutiny. At last he was caught at Pandharpur in 1847 and was immediately hanged. ![]() During the freedom struggle in the 20th century, Bal Gangadhar Tilak organised political movement in the whole of India and was put behind bars by the British Government. But he passed away in 1920 and Mahatma Gandhi took up the leadership and carried on the responsibility of organizing Civil Disobedience Movement. Thousands offered Satyagraha and courted arrest. The famous leader of Ahmednagar, Raosaheb Patwardhan, was underground for many days. Achyutrao Patwardhan was never arrested by the British since he was carrying on the freedom struggle secretively. The veteran leader of Ahmednagar district, Senapti Pandurang Mahadeo Bapat was the most fearless and was one of the greatest disciples of Mahatma Gandhi. He carried on the Mulshi Satyagraha bravely and was arrested in 1937. He was kept behind the bars till India achieved her independence. India attained her freedom on 15th of August 1947 and with this Ahmednagar also achieved its independence. The flag salutation ceremony took place on the ramparts of the Ahmednagar Fort at 8 am on 15th August 1947. |