PLACES

VITE

Vite, 17° 16' n. latitude and 74° 35' e. longitude 75-63 km (47 miles) south-east of Satara with in 1961 a population of 13,391 is the head quarters town of Khanapur taluka. It is situated at the junction of the Guhagar-Ciplun-Karhad-Bijapur and Singnapur-Belganv roads 41.84 km (26 miles) east of Karhad and 28.96 km (18 miles north of Tasganv with the Yerla river 11.26 km (seven miles) TO the west. The town lies in a slight depression, a bit of rolling ground dividing the Vita river from the Yerla. 3.21 km (two miles) cast is a rather more abrupt rise of about 60.96 metres (200 ft.) on the Khanapur plateau. The Vita is a small stream which flows into the Yerla at Bhalavni 11.26 km (seven miles) to the south-west. During summer it runs very dry.

Vite has much historical significance. At one time the Pratinidhi of the Maratha Chatrapati is said to have made it his residence, There is a vada or a palace built by one Trimbak Krsna, who before ciming to Vite was a karbhari or a manager of the Panbal-gad Pratinidhi. The palace has crumbled down and lies amidst ruins but yet the remains of the bastions and the defence fortifications, which have survived the test of time, point to the existence of the mansion. Inside the vada there is a very big well. Trimbakav Krsna is said to have built the Trimbakesvar temple of the town. in front of which his memorial is also seen. The Pratinidhiship successively passed on to Bhavanrav, Bhagvant-rav and Bhavanrav again. Bhagvantrav's and his wife's memorials are also seen by the side of Trimbak Krsna.

The town being centrally located and also on account of its being the headquarters of the taluka, is an important centre of trade and commerce. The area from the mamlatdar's office up to the old water reservoir and from the town library to the cavadi forms the chief commercial centre. On Mondays and Thursdays is held the weekly bazar which is attended by a large number of merchants coming not only from all over the taluka but also from some of the prominent commercial centres of the district. The chief articles traded are jowar, bajri, wheat, gram, udid, tur, groundnut, chillis and turmeric. It is also an important market for the purchase of poultry and eggs. This bazar is held in an open space to the north-west of the municipal office. By far the most important feature of the town is its cattle market where well-bread and healthy cattle are displayed for sale, for which this part of Maharastra is so well-known. It is held by the side of the road going to Mayani. A cattle-shed and water facilities are also provided. The municipality has constructed a dharmasala close by.

It is fairly a good centre of weaving and about 1,500 kostis are engaged in this profession. There are over 400 looms working in the town but the trade is in doldrums due to the stiff competition of the mill-made cloth. To prevent the trade from vanishing altogether a co-operative society named as Vite Vinakar Sahakari. Mandali Ltd., has been formed. The average annual output of saris is nearly 7,000 but the society is in difficulties of finding a good market for the goods produced.

The town has adequate educational facilities. There are nine primary schools, two high schools and an arts and commerce college. In 1932 was established the school of music, the only one of its kind in the taluka. There are two libraries one of which is maintained by the town municipality, a gymnasium and a vasatigrha. The civil dispensary of the town has an operation theatre and a maternity ward attached to it. It was set up at a cost of Rs. 1.25,000. There is also a veterinary dispensary.

The following is an extract taken from the old Gazetteer regarding the town as it was then: "The town has a wall about 6.09 metres (20 ft.) high of stone for the lower 3.04 metres (ten ft.) and upper 6.09 metres (ten ft.) mud, with gates on the east and west flanked by bastions. The sub-divisional offices are in the old native mansion built against the east wall with a gateway flanked by a strong wall. The Desmukhs who live here used to be connected with Bhupalgad fort 38.62 metres (24 miles) to the east. " [ Old Satara Gazetteer, pp. 609-10.] The mamlatdar's office is now housed in a newly constructed building accommodating besides offices of the police sub-inspector, the sub-registrar and the magistrate. To the north of the mamlatdar's office is the civil court also in a new building. The town has also the offices of the P.W.D. and pancayat samiti and a post office.

Vite receives an average annual rainfall of 558.8 mm (22 inches) only and hence it suffers from scarcity of water. Well irrigation is practically non-existent as there are no wells in the town holding a good deal of water throughout the year. The ghat area of the Renavi mountain which is just 8 km (five miles) away, loes receive more rainfall than Vite but the rain-water is draines by the stream flowing through the town. Till 1929 Vite had scarce drinking water-supply and its inhabitants had to go or miles together to fetch a pail of water. In that year with the help of one Mr. Pagson, whose services were employed by the then Government of Bombay State, the municipality tapped the source of the Dhangar stream, about 2 km (a mile and a quarter) away from the town. Soon with the help of govern ment a reservoir was built and the waters were directly emptied into ir by means of pipes. As the water-base is considerably at a higher level no mechanical device was required. But with the increasing population and the corresponding increase in demand the water-supply was found to be inadequate and hence a new project had to be envisaged. Near the stream flowing to the east of the town there was a small well where it is supposes, the elephants of the Pratinidhi were watered. This was (inverted into a bigger well and its waters received in a new reservoir and then distributed. Thus the water scarcity has been temporarily met.

Municipality.

Constitution.—The municipality at Vite was established in the year 1854 and has an area of 60.34 km- (21.3 sq. miles) under its jurisdiction. Administrative business is looked after by the president with the necessary assistants. He is elected by the councillors from among themselves.

Finance:—In 1961-62 the municipal income accrued from the various sources excluding extra-ordinary and debt heads amounted to Rs. 1,05,615. It comprised income from municipal rates and taxes Rs. 84,157: municipal property and powers apart from taxation Rs. 5,190; grants and contributions Rs. 15,745; and miscellaneous Rs. 523. During the same year the expenditure amounted to Rs. 1,00,844. It comprised general administration and collection charges Rs. 31,007: public safety Rs. 10,472. public health and convenience Rs. 51,717: public instruction Rs. 4,885 and mis-cellaneous Rs. 2,764.

Health and Sanitation.—Vite enjoys a salubrious climate. The dispensaries (one civil and one veterinary) of the town are run by government. The drains are pucca stone-lined gutters as well as kutca ones.

Education.—Primary education is compulsory and is looked after by the Zilla Parisad. Towards the primary education the annual municipal contribution comes to Rs, 9,000.

Cremation and Burial Places.—The cremation and burial places are maintained by the communities concerned. The Hindus and the Muslims have their places on the western side of the town, the Lingayats on the eastern side and the scheduled caste on the southern side.

Objects

Temples.

The town has quite a few temples, the most important ones being those of Bahiravnath, Manmathesvar, Revan Siddh, Vithoba, Maruti. Ganapati. Dattiitraya, Trimbakesvar and a Jain basti. Sri Bahiravnath is the gramadaivat or the village deity and this temple was recently re-built by collecting contributions and donations from the people. Nathastami is celebrated with enthusiasm every year. Eight kilometres away there is yet another temple of Revan Siddh. it is situated on top of a hill and is said to be the mula sihana of Revan Siddh of Renavi. The temple edifice is quite big, having a nagarkhana on the eastern gate both of which are said to have been built by one Bhagvanrav Jog Fadnis at his personal cost. A largely attended fair is held on the Mahasivratra day. This temple and the one at Renavi being the same the fair is held simultaneously at both the places. Close by this temple there is a math called Gumpha Math said to have been built by one Agdoji Buva Narayan Buva Gosavi. In addition, there are two more maths belonging to the Dasam-panthis. Those are named as Sriguri Dharma math and Baba Caitanyapuri math alias Nityanandpuri Gosavi math.

Mosques and dargahs.

Muslim places of worship include the Rajveli Pir, Naru Tambat yanca Nalsaheb, an idgah and a mosque. There is only one church. The Rajveli pir is situated near the bus stand along the Ciplun-Karhad-Bijapur road. It is related that in 1905 there was a horse keeper by name Babaji Ghodevala in the mamlatdar kaceri. One day this Babaji beheld the pir in a vision who-, showed him a particular spot and requested him to clear his grave. Babaji disclosed this vision to his friends and many of them went to the spot to test it. To their great surprise they actually came across a grave on clearing the soil. Babaji, thinking that there must be some divine power in it, began to worship it and many followed suit. Since then an urus attended by a large number of persons is held.

Vite is by far the most important place in the taluka in respect of transport and communications and hence has a thriving trade.

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