Pen (Marathi: पेण) is a town and taluka in Raigad district of Indian state of Maharashtra. It is famous for world class Ganesh idols.[1] It is geographical and cultural center of Raigad district.
During the period of shilahar kings, many temples of goddesses were built, including Jagdumba of Vashi. In the period of Chalukyas, grand temples of shiva, like rameshwar(रामेश्वर), pataneshwar(पाटणेश्वर), goteshwar(गोटेश्वर) and vyaghreshwar(व्याघ्रेश्वर)were constructed [6]
In shivaji era, shayistekhan's raid on deccan led to major fights in Pen Taluka between moghals and marathas. Initially moghal army led by sardar Taherkhan occupied Pen's fort of Mahalmeera and looted surrounding villages, which included desecration of grand temple of goteshwar.[3] Shivaji's army fought back with vengeance. They defeated Kartalabkhan in nearby Umbarkhind and officer Balakhi, near Ratangad. Stronghold of Mahalmeera was also taken back on 27th Feb 1662 and the following day, after a valiant struggle, Pen's Bastion (presently, the site of Tehsil office) was secured by Shivaji's army. In this conquest, Sardar Vaghoji Tupe fought mesmerizing battle against equally skillful moghal officer but at the crucial moment, Tupe delt a decisive blow which killed the officer and ensured Maratha victory. Vaghoji was also critically injured and died soon afterwards. Shivaji Maharaj himself visited Pen on two occasions, on 6 August 1668 and 11 May 1674.[7]
Pen remained part of Maratha empire until its termination on 8 May 1818. During struggle for Indian independence, Pen was at the forefront of dissent in Raigad district, which included both peaceful and violent means. Armed freedom fighters of Pen had hatched a plot of killing seventeen collectors in Maharashtra simultaneously, which was foiled due to investigations following killing of Jackson in Nashik.
Pen town is located at 18°40'.N, 73°05' E, on the outskirts of Mumbai Metropolitan Region.[9] It gained prominence in ancient times due to vantage location on trade routes to Deccan, proximity to both Mumbai & Pune and its central position in the Raigad District. It lies on the bank of Bhogavati creek about 16 km from its mouth.[5] Pen county has total area of 199.6 sq. miles[10] and area of Pen City is 6.75 sq.miles.
From historic times, city of Pen was center of education and culture in konkan region. In fact, Lokmanya Tilak used to call it "कोकणचे पुणे"(Pune of Konkan) due to progressive mindset of Penkars and their love of knowledge.[26] There were at least two school of vedas(वेदशाळा) in Datar Ali area of Pen city, one of them in Sahasrabuddhe family. Pundits from all over Maharashtra used to come to Pen to make copies of rare ancient books(पोथी).[27] Sages of Pen were so superior intellectually, that they defeated sages who accompanied shankarachrya of Kashi, in debates on Religious studies during his 1883 visit.[28]
English language instructions came to Pen in the late 19th century in the form of primary English classes started by Christian missionaries. This school moved to Alibag with the shifting of the district headquarters there. The Pen Municipal council started five classes, and subsequently Vinayak Narayan Manohar started the remaining two classes, naming them Pen Candidate Classes. Plague caused this school to be closed. This English-Marathi school was later revived in the first decade of the 20th century. Balkrishna Shankar Karandikar started an industrial training school around this time; the Kokan Vidyalaya, which was later closed as a result of his arrest for involvement in Jackson's shooting at Nasik in 1909. On 10 April 1910 the Pen Education society was formed, Pen Private High School was started, in Shankar Khanderao Phanse's bungalow (now the Maternity Hospital), from where it shifted in October 1912, to its present premises at the foot of Peer Dongri.[29] Pen has a grand public library: The Mahatma Gandhi Vachanalay.
The Ganesha Idols of Pen When all of Maharashtra bids farewell to Ganapati bappa on the immersion night of Anant Chaturthi, the sleepy hamlet of Pen, located in Raigad district on the Bombay-Goa highway, some 75 kms from the metropolis of Bombay, get set for the next year's Ganesha Festival.
Pen, we discovered, is the centre of considerable traffic between the Deccan and the sea coast. Trucks come down from the Sahyadri ranges along the Khopoli road bringing tobacco, molasses, pepper and onions and taking away salt and rice, the produce Pen offers the rest of the region including Bombay. Not to forget the Ganeshas that this town transports to Bombay and the rest of Maharashtra, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras and even lands as far away as the USA and the UK. All this despite the fact that none of the ingredients that go into the manufacture of the idols is available locally and the town not laying claim to any outstanding tradition in art.
During the period of shilahar kings, many temples of goddesses were built, including Jagdumba of Vashi. In the period of Chalukyas, grand temples of shiva, like rameshwar(रामेश्वर), pataneshwar(पाटणेश्वर), goteshwar(गोटेश्वर) and vyaghreshwar(व्याघ्रेश्वर)were constructed [6]
In shivaji era, shayistekhan's raid on deccan led to major fights in Pen Taluka between moghals and marathas. Initially moghal army led by sardar Taherkhan occupied Pen's fort of Mahalmeera and looted surrounding villages, which included desecration of grand temple of goteshwar.[3] Shivaji's army fought back with vengeance. They defeated Kartalabkhan in nearby Umbarkhind and officer Balakhi, near Ratangad. Stronghold of Mahalmeera was also taken back on 27th Feb 1662 and the following day, after a valiant struggle, Pen's Bastion (presently, the site of Tehsil office) was secured by Shivaji's army. In this conquest, Sardar Vaghoji Tupe fought mesmerizing battle against equally skillful moghal officer but at the crucial moment, Tupe delt a decisive blow which killed the officer and ensured Maratha victory. Vaghoji was also critically injured and died soon afterwards. Shivaji Maharaj himself visited Pen on two occasions, on 6 August 1668 and 11 May 1674.[7]
Pen remained part of Maratha empire until its termination on 8 May 1818. During struggle for Indian independence, Pen was at the forefront of dissent in Raigad district, which included both peaceful and violent means. Armed freedom fighters of Pen had hatched a plot of killing seventeen collectors in Maharashtra simultaneously, which was foiled due to investigations following killing of Jackson in Nashik.
Pen town is located at 18°40'.N, 73°05' E, on the outskirts of Mumbai Metropolitan Region.[9] It gained prominence in ancient times due to vantage location on trade routes to Deccan, proximity to both Mumbai & Pune and its central position in the Raigad District. It lies on the bank of Bhogavati creek about 16 km from its mouth.[5] Pen county has total area of 199.6 sq. miles[10] and area of Pen City is 6.75 sq.miles.
From historic times, city of Pen was center of education and culture in konkan region. In fact, Lokmanya Tilak used to call it "कोकणचे पुणे"(Pune of Konkan) due to progressive mindset of Penkars and their love of knowledge.[26] There were at least two school of vedas(वेदशाळा) in Datar Ali area of Pen city, one of them in Sahasrabuddhe family. Pundits from all over Maharashtra used to come to Pen to make copies of rare ancient books(पोथी).[27] Sages of Pen were so superior intellectually, that they defeated sages who accompanied shankarachrya of Kashi, in debates on Religious studies during his 1883 visit.[28]
The Ganesha Idols of Pen When all of Maharashtra bids farewell to Ganapati bappa on the immersion night of Anant Chaturthi, the sleepy hamlet of Pen, located in Raigad district on the Bombay-Goa highway, some 75 kms from the metropolis of Bombay, get set for the next year's Ganesha Festival.
Pen, we discovered, is the centre of considerable traffic between the Deccan and the sea coast. Trucks come down from the Sahyadri ranges along the Khopoli road bringing tobacco, molasses, pepper and onions and taking away salt and rice, the produce Pen offers the rest of the region including Bombay. Not to forget the Ganeshas that this town transports to Bombay and the rest of Maharashtra, Delhi, Calcutta, Madras and even lands as far away as the USA and the UK. All this despite the fact that none of the ingredients that go into the manufacture of the idols is available locally and the town not laying claim to any outstanding tradition in art.
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