Overview
Vidarbha is a geographical and cultural region in eastern Maharashtra, India. It comprises the Nagpur and Amravati administrative divisions and is bordered by Madhya Pradesh to the north, Chhattisgarh to the east, Telangana to the south, and the Marathwada region of Maharashtra to the west. Vidarbha covers a substantial portion of Maharashtra's land area and includes a mix of fertile plains, forested uplands, and river basins.
| Region | Vidarbha |
|---|---|
| State | Maharashtra |
| Country | India |
| Administrative divisions | Nagpur division, Amravati division |
| Largest city | Nagpur |
| Principal language | Marathi |
| Major rivers | Wardha, Wainganga, Penganga |
Etymology and historical references
The name Vidarbha appears in ancient Indian literature, including the Mahabharata and various Puranic texts, where it is referenced as a kingdom. Damayanti, wife of Nala in the well-known episode of the Mahabharata, is traditionally described as a princess of Vidarbha. Rukmini, a consort of Krishna, is similarly associated with the region in Puranic accounts.
Geography
Vidarbha lies on the Deccan plateau and is drained primarily by the Wardha and Wainganga rivers, which join to form the Pranhita, a tributary of the Godavari. The northern parts are bordered by the Satpura range and the Tapti basin. The region contains significant forest cover, including parts of central India's tiger habitat. Notable protected areas located in Vidarbha include Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Melghat Tiger Reserve, Pench (Maharashtra), Navegaon, and Nagzira.
Administrative composition
Vidarbha is composed of districts under two divisions of the Government of Maharashtra:
Nagpur division
- Nagpur
- Wardha
- Bhandara
- Gondia
- Chandrapur
- Gadchiroli
Amravati division
- Amravati
- Akola
- Buldhana
- Washim
- Yavatmal
History
Vidarbha has a long recorded history. The Vakataka dynasty, which ruled parts of central India in the early centuries of the common era, had important centres in the region. In medieval times, parts of Vidarbha came under various regional powers, including the Yadavas of Devagiri and later the Bahmani and successor sultanates. Under Mughal administration, the region formed part of the Berar Subah. In the 18th century, the Bhonsles of Nagpur established a significant Maratha principality with Nagpur as its capital.
During British rule, the region was divided between the Central Provinces (which included Nagpur) and Berar, eventually combined as the Central Provinces and Berar. After Indian independence and the linguistic reorganisation of states, Vidarbha was incorporated into the bilingual Bombay State in 1956 and then became part of Maharashtra when the state was formed on 1 May 1960.
Nagpur as the second capital
Under the Nagpur Pact of 1953, it was agreed that Nagpur would serve as the second capital of the proposed unified Marathi-speaking state. Accordingly, the Maharashtra Legislature holds its annual winter session at Nagpur, and the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court is located in the city.
Economy
The economy of Vidarbha is largely agricultural, with cotton, soybean, pulses, oranges, and jowar among the prominent crops. The Nagpur orange is widely associated with the region. Vidarbha also contains significant coal reserves, particularly in the Chandrapur and Wardha valley areas, and hosts thermal power generation, mining, and associated industries. Nagpur is the principal commercial and administrative centre, while Amravati, Akola, Chandrapur, and Yavatmal are other important urban centres.
Society and culture
Marathi is the principal language of Vidarbha, with the regional dialect commonly known as Varhadi spoken in the Berar (Amravati division) area, while Zadi Boli is associated with parts of the Nagpur division. Hindi is also widely understood. The region has a distinctive cuisine featuring Saoji and Varhadi styles, both known for their use of spice. Festivals including Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Pola, and Mahashivaratri are widely observed.
Nagpur is home to Deekshabhoomi, the site where B. R. Ambedkar formally embraced Buddhism in 1956 along with a large number of his followers, and it remains an important centre of Navayana Buddhism in India.
Statehood movement
There has been a long-standing demand among sections of the population and political groups for the creation of a separate state of Vidarbha out of Maharashtra. Proponents cite regional development concerns, while opponents argue for the unity of Marathi-speaking areas. The demand has been raised periodically in political discourse, but no separate state has been created.
Education and institutions
Nagpur hosts Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, one of the older universities in India. Other universities in the region include Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University and Gondwana University at Gadchiroli. Institutions such as the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, are also located in the region.
Transport
Nagpur is a major railway junction on the Indian Railways network and is served by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport. National highways traversing the region connect it to Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and other major centres. The Samruddhi Mahamarg expressway connects Nagpur with Mumbai.
Sports
The Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA), based in Nagpur, governs cricket in the region. The Vidarbha cricket team represents the region in domestic competitions organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India and has won the Ranji Trophy. The VCA Stadium at Jamtha has hosted international matches.