Chimur

Chimur (चिमूर)
Town
Chimur (चिमूर) Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates: 20°29′49″N 79°22′36″E
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Chandrapur
Government
• Type	City Council (नगरपरिषद)
Elevation	260 m (850 ft)
Languages
• Official	Marathi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	442903
Vehicle registration	MH 34
Nearest city	Nagpur 94 km (58 mi)

Chimur is a city and a municipal council in Chandrapur District in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is one of the Indian Parliamentary Constituencies and a Vidhan Sabha constituency.

Overview

Chimur is a taluk of Chandrapur district in Maharashtra, India, with a population of 30,000. There are offices and a municipality of the Tehsildar, SDO, and Panchayat Samiti.

Chimur is approachable by road from Warora, which is also the nearest railway station on the Wardha-Ballarpur-Hyderabad link. From Warora, it is 55 kilometres (34 mi) and 101 kilometres (63 mi) from Chandrapur. A regular bus service runs between Chimur and Nagpur, which is 94 kilometres (58 mi) away.

Chimur also has a large market because Chimur is so apart from other towns and cities. Chimur doesn't have much education, but till 10th, it is all right with English and Marathi medium schools and can complete graduation in two Gownvana University colleges.

Also, Chimur is the center place from Wardha, Chandrapur, Gondiya, Bhandara, Gadchiroli and Nagpur. It is about 100 kilometres (60 mi) from all these district places.

Historical background

Chimur Kranti

Chimur is famous for its active participation in the Indian Freedom Struggle during the Quit India Movement of 1942.

Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj was doing Sadhna in Gufa Godhula (Canopy) near Chimur during the early days of his life. A close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, Professor Bhansali, who has established an Ashram at Takali in Saoner taluka of Nagpur district, also spent substantial time in Chimur during the Quit India Movement. Many people participated in the satyagraha during the Quit India Movement. During the Quit India Movement, Balaji Raipurkar and Babulal Zire were killed when the British troops opened fire on the satyagrahis. Following this incident, The Government Rest House at Chimur was burnt down by an angry mob in which the Subdivisional officer, Tehmuras Darashaw Doongaji, was killed along with Jarasand some other police officers. This incident held on 16 August 1942 on Nagpachmi thithi, therefore, there is a Nag statue as smarak. After this incident for about 3 days, there was no British rule and the Indian flag was put on and the news was broadcast on Barlin Radio that there was no rule of British in Chimur as the troops were not able to reach Chimur due to the various roadblocks set up by the freedom fighters.

Following this incident, the British government cracked down heavily on the freedom fighters and the people of Chimur. The British troops committed severe atrocities on the satyagrahis. Five satyagrahis were sentenced to death by Baburao Bhope to be hanged by the British government for their role in the 1942 freedom struggle. Professor Bhansali undertook a fast unto death to prevail upon the British government to stop their atrocities in Chimur. He also helped people to buy houses that were auctioned by the British government for non-payment of taxes and fines. Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj also participated in the 1942 freedom struggle but left Chimur on the day of the burning down of the Government rest house. After independence, the Government of Independent India paid back to the people of Chimur, the taxes, and fines which had been forcibly and wrongly collected by the British government. Important places like the Dak bungalow, police station, schools, etc. were reconstructed by the government of independent India.

Balaji Raipurkar

Shri. Udhavrao Tukaram Korekar was born and brought up at Chimur. His father Shri. Tukaram Balaji Korekar had a poor family background.

Udhavrao after completing his vernacular final, went on to get trained to become a teacher. He served as a teacher at Chimur for which he used to get Rs. 16 per month as salary. After only 3 years in service, Udhavrao jumped into the Indian Freedom Movement. He quit his job as a teacher and actively followed the Gandhian principles of satyagraha to oppose British rule. He played a key role as well from my Family late Krushnarao Bhope & Late Shrihari Bhope also in the "Jungle Satyagraha" and the Quit India Movement of 1942. For his role in the freedom struggle, he was tried and sentenced by the British Government to 35 years of imprisonment. His nephew Shri. Gopalrao Korekar was sentenced to death for his role in the freedom struggle. This death sentence was reduced to life imprisonment by the British Government. After India gained independence in 1947, both the sentences were terminated. Udhavrao was released from prison in 1947. He was an active member of the Indian National Congress. He was Chairman and member of Warora Janpad Sabha Education Committee. He was the founder of the Chimur Education Society. Presently, the Chimur Education Society runs 2 Junior Colleges and 3 high schools. Udhavrao Korekar was also the Chairman of the Chimur Gram Panchayat and a member of the Chandrapur Zilla Parishad. Along with Udhavrao Korekar Nanaji Siras (Anantrao Siras), Dada Naik (RSS head, Chimur), and Baburao Begde, Ramdas Rampura were also killed. In the freedom struggle, the British government fired shots at the protesters in which Balaji Raipurkar died and several leaders like Nanaji Siras were severely injured and later on put into jail for several years. However, in 1946 they were set free by paying 2000 Rs.

Nanaji Siras lived in Chandrapur along with his family and son Mohan Siras.

For his contribution to the Indian Independence struggle and for his role in the overall development of Chimur, the Indian Prime Minister Shri. P. V. Narsimha Rao personally honored and publicly felicitated Udhavrao Korekar during his visit to Chimur in 1993.

Udhavrao Korekar breathed his last breath on 24 May 1995 in Pune. He is remembered by the people for his selfless service to the nation and active participation in the Indian Freedom struggle.

Shri Durlabhadas Madhavjee Mehta and his wife Smt Bhagerathiben Mehta also took part in the fight for freedom. They started Charkha Sangh at his home, part of the freedom struggle call by Shri Mahatma Gandhi, both stayed with Mahatama Gandhi in Sevagram Ashram. Prof. Bhansali Mahararaj took 63 fast at his home, who is one of the Gandhijee followers. Both are active members of congress.

Ghodayatra

There is a Balaji temple in Chimur which is more than 395 years old. This temple was constructed during the Bhosale reign. The idol in this temple is a unique one, having laxmi at its feet. This temple is famous for the "Ghodayatra" which begins as per the Hindu calendar on Magh Shuddha Trayodashi. During the "Ghodayatra", the idol is paraded through town in a colorful procession which is attended by devotees in large numbers. This Navrati Usav has started by Devajipant Chorghode in the year 1773 starts from Vasant Panchami, Rath has taken out for procession Rath saptami, on Navami Garud Vahan procession, Ekadshhi Maroti Vahan procession then Taryodsh Ghoda Procession, Charurdash Layit, and Krushna Janma and Pratipada Gopalkala Yatra ends on Mahashivratri.

TATR- Tadoba

The famous Tadoba Andhari Tiger Project & National Park is at a distance of 14 km (8.7 mi) from Chimur. This park is a successful example of the conservation of the tiger - the National Animal of India. The other animal species found in Tadoba are Bear, Gava (Indian Bison), and Chital (Indian Spotted Dear). The park is also famous for its biodiversity. Hospitality services are available in the park. Jungle safaris and lodging facilities make a visit to the Tadoba Andhari park a worthwhile experience.

See also

• Chimur Lok Sabha constituency
• Gadpipari