PLACES

RAHIMATPUR

Rahimatpur, (Koreganv T; 17°. 35' N, 74° 10' E; RS. p. 8,055) in Koreganv, on the Satara-Tasganv road, seventeen miles south-east of Satara, seven miles south of Koreganv, and about three miles beyond the bridge on the Krshna at Dhamner. Besides the municipality, Rahimatpur has a civil court, a post and telegraph office, a training college for men, a market yard and a high-school.

Mosque.

The chief object of interest in the town is a mosque and mausoleum, which with the name, show that Rahimatpur was a head-quarter town under Muhammedan rule. The mosque which is still in a fair state of preservation is about forty feet long by twenty feet broad and opens to the east. The inner roof is divided into six vaulted divisions made by two lines of Saracenic arches running from north to south and two from east to west. There is a good deal of ornamental work about the arches and walls. The shafts of the pillars supporting the arches are in a single rectangular course. The roof above is flat with a small parapet and projecting eaves supported by brackets at intervals. East of this is a raised stone platform forty-five feet square and three feet high with a projecting margin, and in the centre a pipe for a fountain. To the east of this again is a domed mausoleum about thirty feet square. The usual tomb inside the spring of the dome is about twenty feet off the ground and the whole about forty feet high. In the centre of each side is a small door about two feet by five broad. The mausoleum seems to have been built in honour of Randullakhan, a distinguished Bijapur officer who flourished in the reign of the seventh Bijapur king Mahmud (1626-1656). He died about 1650 (H. 1053 or 1069). The mosque has four inscriptions one on each side which is quite legible even to this date (1960). The east side inscription runs: On the death of Randullakhan Sahib Bahadur he went to heaven on account of his merits. He was reckoned as one of the brave in the world. He died while speaking. The date of his death is 1053 H. Nothing like this ever happened. There was a saying in heaven that this man was one of the lords of the world. He obtained a place in the heaven of heavens near the gods. This is a wonderful occurrence.

The west side inscription runs:

This Randullakhan was highly praised by people for his good acts, and because he assisted the kings' throne he was given the rank of minister. This chief got the victory over many forts, strong and fine in appearance. He was charitable, kind, strong, and at the same time learned; thus this man was known throughout his life for these qualities and his fame was spread throughout the world. This famous Vazir died with all his pomp, in the year 1059H.

The north side inscription runs:

This is the wonderful ' Ghumat' of the holy Randullakhan which is famous throughout the world. The air of this Ghumat is excellent like heaven, and the Ghumat being wide, looks beautiful. The chief, friendly to Randullakhan, ordered this inscription to be written. While they were writing there was a word from God. There is no Ghumat like this Ghumat. Randullakhan Sahib whose body was like the sun, rested peacefully in this Ghumat in 1059 H.

The south side inscription runs:

By the grace of God this man was blessed in his life as he was in a former state of existence. His body was handsome. He became victorious in every war and was very skilful in assaults and battles. Being inventive he had need of no one. He confided in no one and did ever}' thing for himself. He conquered every famous place. He was the most valorous in the world, this Randullakhan Sahib.

About a hundred yards south-east of the mosque, on the south of the road, is a tower about fifty feet high with a slope bending down to the ground on the west. This is an elephant water-lift which supplied power for the mosque fountain. At Brahmapuri on the Krshna, three miles south-west of the town, is a Hindu temple of Vithoba, in whose honour a yearly fair lasting for a month is held in Margshirsh or November-December and is attended by about 8,000 people. In April 1791 Major Price noticed Rahimatpur as a considerable town marked by a mosque with a swelling dome [Memoirs of a Field Officer, 260.]. While pursuing Bajirav, General Smith reached Rahimatpur on the 6th of February, 1818 and here he was joined on the 7th by General Pritzler and the combined force went to Satara [Grant Duff's Marathas, Vol. II, 489, Pendhari and Maratha War Papers, 213.]. In 1827 Captain Clunes describes Rahimatpur as a market town belonging to the Patvardhans with 500 houses, 110 shops, a water-course and wells' [Itinerary, 32.].

Population.

The population of the town according to 1951 Census was 8,055. Of this the agricultural classes numbered 4,722 and the non-agricultural classes 3,333. Of the latter, 1,192 persons derived their principal means of livelihood from production other than cultivation; 1,033 persons from commerce; 103 persons from transport; and 1,005 persons from other services and miscellaneous sources.

Municipality.

Constitution.

Rahimatpur is a municipal town with an area of 12.3 sq. miles where municipality was established in 1953. It is governed under the Bombay District Municipal Act, 1901; the total number of members in the municipal council is 15. Two seats are reserved for women and one seat is reserved for the Scheduled Castes. Besides the managing committee there are committees for education and health.

Income and Expenditure.

The total income of the municipality for the year 1957-58, excluding extraordinary and debt heads amounted to Rs. 46,390, from municipal rates and taxes, Rs. 31,381; municipal property and powers apart from taxation, Rs. 2,813; grants, Rs. 10,844; and miscellaneous, Rs. 1,352. The total expenditure for the same year excluding extra- ordinary and debt heads amounted to Rs. 41,610, general administration and collection charges being Rs. 8,058; public safety, Rs. 3,682; public instruction, Rs. 8,242, and miscellaneous, Rs. 3,367.

Medical Facilities.

The municipality runs a dispensary named as ' Rahimatpur Municipal Dispensary' which gets a contribution from the Government. There is also a veterinary dispensary managed by the District Local Board to which the municipality pays a contribution and also provides a building.

Drainage.

There are pacca stone gutters on both the sides of the main mad and all the rest are kaccha gutters.

Water Supply.

Wells and nallas form the main sources of water supply. All the wells are cleaned annually and proper care is taken to disinfect the water supplied.

Education.

Primary education is compulsory in the town. The District School Board manages primary education towards which the municipality pays an annual contribution of five per cent, of the total annual letting value. The municipality does not maintain any high school but pays an annual grant to the high school conducted by the Rahimatpur Panchkroshi Shikshan Mandal.

Miscellaneous.

The total length of the roads within the municipal area is eight miles, four furlongs and 222 feet. There are no asphalted roads, the metalled roads measuring one mile and four furlongs.

The municipality does not maintain any library but pays an annual contribution of Rs. 100 to the town library viz. 'Hindi Library'

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