RAJAPUR

Photo: A village road in remote area of Rajapur taluka during rainy days. pic by Saraswat Mitra Magazine

Rajapur (Rajapur T.; 16° 35' N, 73° 30' E; p. 8,023), the head- quarters of Rajapur taluka is built on a slope rising from the water's edge, at the head of a tidal creek, thirty miles south-east of Ratnagiri and about fifteen miles from the sea. Rajapur is not now the port as it once was. Vessels cannot ply within three miles of the old stone quay. The bay, about three quarters of a mile broad, passes inland for about a mile between steep laterite cliffs. It is broken into several small coves and inlets, into the largest of which, Tulsanda, on the south side, small vessels caught in a south-west gale can run. Well sheltered from north-west gales, with westerly winds a heavy short swell makes it, except on the north side, a not very safe anchorage. [It is high water at full and change of the moon at 10 hours 45 minutes. Ordinary mean springs rise six feet five inches, neaps rise four feet five inches. Bom. Gov. Gazette, 3rd July 1879, 701.] Local vessels discharge and load at Jaitapur on the left bank of the river about four miles from the entrance, which among early European travellers shared with Rajapur, the honour of naming the river. There is only seven or eight feet of water on the bar at low tide, but further in abreast Jaitapur are depths of fror fifteen to twenty-four feet.

The oldest looking and best preserved town in the Konkan, its streets are steep and narrow and the markets paved and roofed. The old English factory, a massive stone building with an enclosure leading to the sea, now used as a Government office, and another equally large ruined European building probably the French Factory, give the town a special interest. The mamlatdar's office is situated in the old Dutch factory, purchased by English in 1699. it was closed in 1707. It was once a peculiar Ratnagiri port through which Arabs carried on their trade directly. [Nairne's Konkan, 121.] Now no foreign trader carries on trade through this port. The nearest railway station is Kolhapur, 80 miles to the south-east.

During the last century in the fair season active communication was kept up between Bombay, and the Deccan. Every year a few Arab vessels from Zanzibar and the African coast brought fresh and dry dates to exchange for gul and other produce. Now from Bombay piecegoods, metals and miscellaneous commodities, and from Malabar, cocoanuts and betelnuts are imported for local use and for through carriage to the Deccan. From the Deccan, to meet local wants come food grains, cotton cloth, molasses, turmeric, chillies, tobacco, clarified butter, edible oil, and other products. Mangoes and betelnuts are exported outside. The town is situated on the Bombay-Konkan-Goa National Highway, 48 miles away from Ratnagiri. It is connected with Kolhapur by road. The system of trade was similar to that at Chiplun and other old fashioned isolated Konkan towns. Business was in the hands of local merchants. Formerly it was an important trade centre. Goods from the Deccan and Bombay were consigned to the local merchants. On arrival they were sold and re-sold to petty dealers, continually changing hands until they were distributed amongst the consumers or reexported. The through trade was limited to the fair season (October-May), and as at Chiplun, during this busy time a large trading camp was formed, every available space near the market and the landing place being filled by temporary booths and warehouses. The conditions are now changed. It, is not so important a town as it was once. All essential commodities of life are imported and only mangoes and betelnuts, cashew-nuts and other forest products are exported. The chief streets are well-kept and paved, and the permanent shops are substantially built. During the hot months, March, April and May the streets are shaded from the sun by a continuous canopy of plaited cocoanut leaves, stretching from house to house and making a temporary arcade.

Communications.

There is direct communication with Kolhapur and the neighbouring Deccan districts by a provincial motorable road through the Phonda Ghat towards Nipani, and by an easy road over the Anaskura Ghat.

There are no industries in the town except fruit canning. Mango fruits are sliced and canned and are sent to U.S.A.

Population.

Of the total population of 8,023, according to the Census figures of 1951, the agricultural classes number 1,137 and the non-agricultural classes 6,886. Of the latter, 1,086 persons derive their principal means of livelihood from production other than cultivation; 2,118 persons from commerce; 388 persons from transport; and 3,294 persons from other services and miscellaneous sources.

Municipality.

Established in 1940, Rajapur Municipality has an area of 2.39 square miles. It is composed of 11 members and is now governed under the Bombay District Municipal Act, 1901. Besides the managing committee, there are committees for schools, dispensary and sanitation.

The annual income of the municipality for 1956-57, excluding extraordinary and debt heads amounted to Rs. 95,776; from municipal rates and taxes Rs. 85,617; revenue derived from municipal property and powers apart from taxation Rs. 1,873; grants and contributions Rs. 6,769; and miscellaneous Rs. 1,517. The expenditure for the same year, excluding extraordinary and debt heads amounted to Rs. 79,351; general administration and collection charges being Rs. 18,915; public safety Rs. 17,180; public health and convenience Rs. 37,707; grants and contributions Rs. 300; and miscellaneous Rs. 5,249.

Water supply in the town is mostly from private and public wells, municipal water works and tanks. The municipality has constructed one dam at Kodavli, from which water is carried to the town reservoir through pipes.

There are 6,931 ft. of underground and 18,091 of open drains in the town. During the year 1956-57, the municipality had constructed new drains, measuring 127 ft., out of which some are kaccha and some are stone-lined gutters. Water is collected in 25 cesspools, connected to the houses.

For fire-fighting the municipality has purchased one fire-fighter-cum-water-sprinkler, the same being also employed for sprinkling water on the streets.

The town has three furlongs of asphalted road, five miles, one furlong and 142 feet metalled and one mile six furlongs unmetalled.

Primary education in the town is managed by the District School Board, the municipality paying its annual statutory contribution. Rajapur High School is run by the Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, the municipality paying an annual contribution of Rs. 1,000.

There is one allopathic dispensary called "Rajapur Municipal Dispensary" situated in ward No. 1. One veterinary dispensary run by Government is situated in ward No. 4. The municipality runs a maternity home which extends free service.

There are six burial places and six cremation grounds, all managed by the respective communities. Four are situated in ward No. 1, one in ward No. 2, three in ward No. 3, and four in ward No. 4.

The town has some places of interest like the Pundalik Temple, Pandavas' Temple and the old English factory building now used as the Mamlatdar's office.

History.

At the time of the first Musalman conquest (1312), Rajapur was the chief town of the district. [Jervis' Konkan, I. 81. As so many names along the Konkan coast are Grecized, it seems probable that Ptolemy's (150), Turannosboas is Rajapur.] In 1638, it is said to be one of the best Deccan maritime towns. [Mandelslo in Harris, II. 130.] In that year Courten's Association and East India Company formed a compact in 1649 by which the former was to retain its assuda Factory in Madagaskar while the port-to-port trade in India, was to be reserved to the latter and because of pepper and cardamoms, and freedom from Dutch interference, the offer was accepted. [Sir William Hunter. A History of British India, Vol. II, p. 115.] In 1660 and 1670, Shivaji invaded the town sacking the English factory. In 1673, it is mentioned as then a French and formerly an English factory. [Fryer's New Account, 59.] In the terms of a treaty with Shivaji, the factory was again established but it was never profitable. [Grant Duff, 118.] In 1686, after the unsuccessful expedition of Aurangzeb's son Muazzam, his brother Akbar, who had long been in rebellion against his father, hired a ship commanded by an Englishman, and embarking at Rajapur, sailed to Maskat, and from Maskat went to Persia. [Nairne s in Ind. Ant. II. 320.] In 1713, Rajapur was handed over to Angre. [Grant Duff, 186.] About this time (1710-1720), Hamilton states that formerly both the English and French had factories, and that the country produced the finest batelas and muslins in India. Now (1720), he adds, 'arts and sciences are discouraged and the port deserted'. He noticed its fine artificial water cisterns and natural hot bath within three yards of a cold one, both reckoned as medicinal. [Hamilton's New Account, I. 246.] In 1819, Rajapur was, in the extent of its trade and in the number and wealth of its people, much ahead of any other south Konkan port. The river was not very good, large boats having at one-third of the way up to move their cargoes into small boats. But trade was encouraged by specially easy rates. The inland trade was through the Anaskura Ghat to all the chief towns of the Maratha states. In 1834, Rajapur was a great mart for goods to and from the Karnatak and southern Maratha country. The exports were cloth, clarified butter, and pepper; the imports were dates and other dried fruits, and iron.

Fort.

The only stronghold was a small fort, gadhi, on the right bank over the river. On slightly rising ground with a filled up ditch on the south side, the fort was a strong masonry building surrounded by a wall with two bastions which are now ruined. In 1818, it was taken possession of by the British. In 1862, the building was strong, but the wall, except one bastion, was somewhat broken.' Water was plentiful and supplies could easily be obtained. There were four old and unserviceable guns. [Gov. List of Civil Forts, 1862.] The English factory, used as a Government office, seems to have been started in 1649 and closed in 1708. [It was here that the able but unfortunate Sir John Child, afterwards (1682-1690), President of the Company, spent several of his first years in India. The factor at Rajapur was his uncle, and according to Captain A. Hamilton, who never lets a chance of abusing him pass, Child drew the notice of the Company to some irregularities on his uncle's part, and in reward, at the early age of twenty-four, got himself appointed his uncle's successor. New Account, I. 245.] During this time the factory suffered greatly from the disturbed state of the country. It was sacked by Shivaji in 1661, and as a punishment for furnishing the Bijapur king with war stores, the factors were imprisoned until a ransom was paid. The factory was closed at a loss of £ 3,718. In 1668, it was re-established, but after two years (1670), was again invaded by Shivaji and withdrawn. [ Bruce's Annals, II. 399.] It was for fourth time opened in 1702, but after about ten years was finally withdrawn. [Nairne's Konkan, 120; Hamilton's New Account, I. 246.] Of the French factory, now in ruins, little is known. It was probably started about 1667, [ On 15th October, 1665, the first French factory was established at Surat. Milburn's Oriental Commerce, I. 381.] and was sacked by Shivaji in 1670. [ Brace's Annals, II. 399.] Whether it was again opened is not known. It was closed before 1710. [Hamilton's New Account, I. 246. Mr. Nairne (Ind. Ant. III. 319) mentions that the Dutch had at one time a factory at Rajapur.]

Hot Spring.

The hot spring at the foot of the hill about a mile from the town, is for its virtue in curing rheumatic and skin diseases, much frequented by people. The wafer from the side of the hill, about 300 yards from the south bank of the river, flows into a ten feet square stone paved cistern, and thence through a short pipe ending in a stone cow's head, pours in a full stream into the river. With a temperature of about 120° the water has no special taste or smell. [Trans. Bom. Geo. Soc. VII. 159 (1846).]

Ganga Spring.

About a mile from the hot spring, is a spring locally known as Ganga whose water flows at uncertain times, never more than once in two years. The usual season of its flow is in the hot months, rarely or never during the rains. It suddenly begins, flows for two or three months, and dries up without warning. It is held in great reverence and called Ganga. Immediately the flow begins, Hindus from long distances come and bathe, first in the hot spring and then in the cold intermittent spring. A number of small ponds have been built for the use of the bathers. As in similar cases the spring is probably a natural siphon. In the middle of the town is a temple of Vithoba with a large rest-house, used by travellers and religious mendicants. Fairs in honour of the God are held twice a year in Ashadh (June-July) and Kartik (October-November), when a considerable crowd of people assembles.

Mosques.

The large Musalman population have built seven mosques in different parts of the town. None are of any size of architectural beauty. The Juma or chief mosque is near the Kodavli bridge.