Class 7

Shivaji Bhosale IList of Maratha Rulers Chhatrapati of Maratha Empire First monarch Shivaji Bhosale I Last monarch Pratap Singh Bhonsle Formation 1674 CE Abolition 1818 CE

SHIVAJI BHONSLESHIVAJI BHONSLE AND HEIRS Shivaji (1630–1680), the father of Maharashtra and the originator of the Maratha polity, which lasted over 150 years from the middle of the seventeenth century until 1818, is more than a historical figure.

After the first reorganisation of states, the city lost its capital status but according to the “Nagpur Pact” between political leaders it was made the second capital of Maharashtra. Nagpur is also called, “Tiger Capital of India ” as it connects many Tiger Reserves in India to the world.

Profile: The Konkan region, along the western coast, is Maharashtra’s most populous and prosperous region. The region’s capital, Mumbai – home to India’s financial, banking and entertainment industries – is the state’s richest district.

Almost 82% of the rural population depends on agriculture for livelihood. Both food crops and cash crops are grown in the state. The main food crops of Maharashtra are mangoes, grapes, bananas, oranges, wheat, rice, jowar, bajra, and pulses. Cash crops include groundnut, cotton, sugarcane, turmeric, and tobacco.

Maharashtra is major producer of Jowar and Arhar contributing 46.09 and 29.11 %, respectively to the total production of India. It is second largest producer of Cotton (22.21%), Soybean (28.14%), and total cereals (13.56%) in the country.

The Maharashtra State economy is characterised by:Abundant Natural ResourcesAvailability of skilled manpowerTechnological advancementDeveloped infrastructure Abundant Natural Resources. Availability of skilled manpower. Technological advancement. Developed infrastructure.

Business-friendly policies, infrastructure facilities, and the availability of large talent pool give the State its industrial oomph. A favourable industrial policy and the availability of a large talent pool have made Maharashtra the country’s manufacturing hub.

Maharashtra is one of India’s largest commercial and industrial centres, which has led to its being called the gateway of India. Maharashtra is also famous for its culture and beauty. The ancient cave paintings found at Ajanta and Ellora are UNESCO World Heritage sites and popular tourist destinations.

To put it another way, Pakistan’s GDP today ($305 billion) is less than that of one Indian state: Maharashtra (~$390-400 billion). There are many reasons for all of this.