Nargund
Nargund, 1908
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Town in the Navaigund taluka of Dharwar District, Bombay, situated in 15° 43' N. and 75° 24' E., 32 miles north-east of Dharwar town. Population (1901), 10,416. Nargund was con- stituted a municipality in 187 1, the average income during the decade ending 1901 being Rs. 5,000. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 7,700. Though not a manufacturing town, it is a busy entrepot of trade, where the merchants of Dharwar and North Kanara exchange rice, sugar, spices, and other agricultural products. Nargund was one of the earliest possessions wrested from tlie feeble grasp of the Muhammadan Sultans of Bijapur by Sivaji. It was subsequently handed over to Ramrao Bhave with some surrounding villages. On the conquest of the Feshwa's territory by the British, it was restored by them to Dadaji Rao, the chief then found in possession. An agreement was concluded with him, by which he was exempted from the payment of his former tribute of Rs. 3,470, from nazarana or presents on occasions, and from rendering service, on condition of loyalty to, and dependence on, the British Government. This petty principality, containing 36 towns and villages, with a popu- lation of about 25,000, was, at the time of the Mutiny in 1857, held by Bhaskar Rao, alias Baba Sahib. Affected by the disturb- ances in the north, the chief rose in oi)en rebellion and murdered Mr. Manson, the Commissioner and Political Agent, Southern Maratha Country. A British force was dispatched at once to Nargund ; and, after a short but decisive engagement, the fort and town fell. The fortifications have since been dismantled, and the fort has been ren- dered untenable by destroying some of the chief reservoirs. Nargund contains a large temple of Shankarling and a smaller one of Dand- eshwar, with an inscription dated 1147 ; another temple, of Venkatesh, on the hill-top in the fort, was built in 1720. An annual fair attended by 10,000 people is held in honour of Venkatesh on the full moon of Ashvin, and lasts for twelve days. The town contains six schools, including one for girls.
