Aurangabad City
1908
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|colspan="0"|This article has been extracted from
THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908.
OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS.
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Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts.Many units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Aurangabad City
Head-quarters of the Division, District, and taluk of the same name in Hyderabad State, situated in 19 53' N. and 75 20' E., on the Hyderabad-Godavari Valley Railway, near the eastern bank of the river Kaum. In point of historical interest and size it is the second city in the State, and its population at the last three enumerations was as follows: (1881) 30,219, (1891) 33,887, and (1901), 36,837, including cantonments. In 1610 Malik Am bar, minister of the Nizam Shahi kings of Ahmadnagar, founded the city near the village of Kharki, and called it Fatehnagar. The Mughals and the Nizam Shahi troops under Malik Ambar were constantly at war during the early part of the seventeenth century. After the death of Malik Ambar in 1626, the power of the Ahmadnagar rulers declined, and in 1637 their territories were incorporated in the Deccan Si/bah of the Mughal empire. Aurangzeb was appointed viceroy of the Deccan in 1635, and again in 1653, and during his residence at Kharki changed its name to Aurangabad. It was from here that he directed his earlier campaigns against the Marathas and the Bijapur and Gol- conda kingdoms. In 1658 he dethroned and imprisoned his father, Shah Jahan. A few years later he undertook the subjugation of the Muhammadan kingdoms of the Deccan, and commenced his wars with the Marathas, in which he was almost continuously engaged until his death, at Ahmadnagar, in 1707. Bijapur fell in 1686, and Golconda, the Kutb Shahi capital, in 1687, these victories being followed by the annexation of the two kingdoms. During the confusion and internal dissension which followed the death of Aurangzeb, Asaf Jah, the first Nizam, came to Aurangabad, and having declared his indepen- dence, subsequently made Hyderabad his capital.
The city is bounded on the north and south by the Sichel and Satara ranges. During the reign of Aurangzeb its population is said to have been not less than 200,000, and the ruins still existing bear testimony to its former populousness. The modern city is situated to the east of Old Aurangabad, while the cantonment lies to the west, across the Kaum river. The garrison consists of two regiments of native infantry, and one of native cavalry, four squadrons strong, under the command of British officers.
In 1853 Aurangabad was the scene of a sharp conflict between the Hyderabad Contingent and a body of Arabs, who were defeated. In the eventful year 1857 some of the troops showed a spirit of disaffection, and an attack was meditated upon the cantonment. The authorities at Hyderabad had been apprised of this, and troops from Poona were ordered to mareh to Aurangabad. When the Poona troops arrived under General Woodburn, the disaffected cavalry were summoned to a dismounted parade. On the names of the ringleaders being called out, a jemadar ordered his men to load their carbines. A scene of wild confusion ensued, and some of the troops profiting by it mounted their horses and fled, and, though pursued by the 14th Dragoons from Poona, they escaped. Two-thirds of the regiment remained loyal ; a court martial was held and twenty-one of the condemned were shot, while three were blown away from guns.
At Aurangabad the Subahdar (Commissioner), the Nazim-i-Subah (Divisional Judge), the First Talukdar, and other officers hold their courts. The public buildings include a large Central jail, a college, an industrial school, and several smaller schools. The city is an important centre of trade ; and silk, gold and silver cloth, and lace of a superior quality are manufactured here and largely exported. A spinning and weaving-mill gives employment to 700 persons, besides an oil-press. The city has suffered severely from plague and from the famines of 1897 and 1900 ; and but for the opening of the Hyder- abad-Godavari Valley Railway, the country around would have been depopulated. The increase of population in 1901 is due to the immi- gration of famine-stricken people from the neighbouring villages. A system of water-supply was introduced by Malik Ambar, and completed by Aurangzeb ; and though it has largely fallen into decay, it still yields sufficient water to supply the needs of the people. A new system of water-works was opened in 1892, to supply filtered water to the canton- ment.
Many places of interest are situated in the city and its suburbs, among which may be mentioned the makbara or tomb of Aurangzeb's wife, the Jama Masjid built by Malik Ambar, the ancient palace of the Nizam near Borapal, and the Kila Ark or citadel, which was Aurangzeb's palace. About 2 miles north of the city are the Aurangabad caves, 12 in number. These are of Buddhist origin, and are among the latest known, while they present especially interesting features.
[Archaeological Survey Reports of Western India, vol. hi.]
