ABOUT TILAK SMARAK MANDIR
Tilak Smarak Ranga Mandir is an auditorium and exhibition hall located in Pune’s Sadashiv Peth area. The complex includes a theatre, which is dedicated to the Hindu nationalist and social reformer Bal Gangadhar Tilak. It also includes an auditorium featuring a series of murals based on Tilak’s life by the artist Gopal Deuskar.
Today, Tilak Smarak Ranga Mandir hosts various events, exhibitions and performances.
However, this symbolic place dedicated to the ‘father of Indian unrest’ has an unexplored history which deserves a special documentation. Read on!
WHAT IS A “GADHI”?
A Gadhi is a small castle-like structure or fort, also known as a big wada.
Gadhi (fort) played an important role in Indian history. In some of the Princely States, during the Raj, the Gadhi were the residences for the local royalty.
Gadhis were used as a focal point for the governance of a region and, as such, were generally in the centre of the region.
THE GADHIS OF PUNE
Pune has three Gadhis. The first of these Gadhi is the Kille Hissar. This small fort was built around 1350 AD, the site of which is currently in Kasba Peth — the heart of Pune.
The second Gadhi is Kasbe Pune. After 1500 AD, the entire town was enclosed by a large and robust fortification giving it the appearance of the Bhuikot fort.
The third world-famous Gadhi is the resident of the Peshwas — Shaniwarwada.
Pune’s fourth and smallest Gadhi is the one that hasn’t got its due because it was never given much importance in history. Even in historical documents, you don’t find much mention about it. However, even today, part of this Gadhi stands strong, trying to preserve its great heritage.
In fact, this small Gadhi is still a “living fort” and is the current residence of the illustrious Sadar family.
Truth be told, this Gadhi was actually called “Maharaj Panditanchi Gadhi.” Nonetheless, the owners of this Gadhi thought to change its original name and call it “Tilak Smarak Mandir.”
The Pandit dynasty is one of Maharashtra’s oldest and most popular lineages. Shri Siddeshwar Maharaj was the main head of this family dynasty. The Chhatrapati of Kolhapur had honored him with the title of “Rajguru” (royal priest) and “Pandit” (scholar) to acknowledge his learning. His son was Bhau Maharaj Pandit, who was also a highly respected personality.
So if you see, the area towards Parvati hills was simply vacant with no human settlements. The main Pune’s settlement was just till the present-day Pune Vidyarthi Gruh. Just in front of this educational institution was the temple of Shri Laxmi Narsimha, which was also in the range of Pune during that period. At the same time, the sparse community settled around the temple was called Narsimhapura or Narsipura.
Sweet-smelling plants covered the Gadhi with Rastyanchi Baug and Chiman Baug gardens. There’s yet no evidence about who and when the construction of Maharaj Panditanchi Gadhi took place.
ARCHITECTURE OF PANDIT GADHI
Having a sizeable east-facing entrance, the Gadhi has four octagonal towers at four corners with a 15 feet high brick arched construction wall. With this style of architecture, it can be said the Pandit Gadhi was constructed during the Peshwa period.
As per the record, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj did not allow the Peshwas to build any Gadhis. Only after his death did Nanasaheb Peshwa do the fortification around Shaniwarwada. Still, it’s difficult to confirm the exact year of establishment of Maharaj Panditanchi Gadhi.
Considering the location and fortification of the Pandit Gadhi, it is amply clear that it was not used for military purposes. After the Peshwa rule ended, all its important buildings and royal powers were taken over by the Britishers, including the Maharaj Pandit Gadhi.
But in 1819, Mr. Elphistone, while considering the other prized properties of Bhau Maharaj, gave him back this Gadhi as a gift.
Later Bhau Maharaj made all the required repairs to the Gadhi and built a beautiful wada here. Its solid fortified walls were noticeable, which enclosed a water pond and fountain.
In the following years, the heir of Bhau Maharaj—Baba Maharaj Pandit, adopted a small boy. As the boy was a minor, his guardianship was given to Lokmanya Tilak. Years after that, this little boy became Jagannath Maharaj Pandit, a very eminent person of Pune.
In 1920, Bal Gangadhar Tilak breathed his last, and Jagannath Maharaj Pandit donated his wada for Tilak’s memorial. Subsequently, he built a new house just next to this Gadhi, and his kinfolks still reside at this place. From then onwards, the “Maharaj Panditanchi Gadhi” became known as “Tilak Smarak Mandir.”
JAGANNATH MAHARAJ — THE PHILANTHROPIST
Jagannath Maharaj Pandit was a great believer in philanthropic causes. On the instructions of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, father of Indian unrest against the British colonial rulers, he had given 24.75 acres of land on a lease of 99 years to Shikshan Prasarak Mandali in 1917 without any expectations. It’s implausible that the new generation might know about this piece of history as now they can see a huge Sir Parshurambhau College which was once vacant land.
THE AREA OF PANDIT MAHARAJ GADHI GETTING BLURRED
With development, the population of Pune was growing, especially near the Pandit Maharaj Gadhi.
In 1922, the Pune Municipal Corporation constructed a new road from Lakdi Pool to Swargate and named this road “Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak Road.”
The Panditanchi Gadhi, which stood independently as an iconic structure for many years, became part of the main road due to the construction of this new road. In addition to this, the whole area got busier with the establishment of S P College.
In 1973, the Tilak Smarak Mandir’s theater building was erected where formerly the Gadhi had a memorial of the freedom fighter.
With the audiences visiting this historic place, be it for watching plays, exhibitions, or other events, the once private and protected Gadhi was accessible to the public.
Therefore, the old relics of the Gadhi got a new lease of life with renovation and reconstruction activities. With the nirvana of Bhau Maharaj, his samadhi was built in the backyard of the wada (next to the lotus pond). The Gadhi has a beautiful temple nearby, with idols of Lord Shriram, Goddess Sita Mata, and Lord Shri Laxman.
With all the hustle and bustle surrounding the area of Tilak Smarak Mandir, Bhau Maharaj’s samadhi and the Shri Ram temple are now in a neglected corner. People have also forgotten the interesting and golden period of history associated with Bhau Maharaj with the modernization and glitz of the theater plays.
Yet the humble remnants of Maharaj Panditanchi Gadhi is standing on with a promise to protect its cherished legacy as the custodians of fascinating history.
#SanchitaReviews | 2.1/5
Where | Tilak Smarak Mandir, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak Rd, Rukmini Sadan Society, Sadashiv Peth, Pune, Maharashtra 411030
Parking | Dedicated pay and park service is available at Tilak Smarak Mandir
Timings | 9:00 am - 7:30 pm
What Could Be Improved
- Better maintenance facilities are required at Tilak Smarak Mandir.
- Refurbishment is a dire need at Tilak Smarak Mandir.
- The whole of Tilak Smarak Mandir has poor lighting that needs fixing.
- Clean, airy galleries, a new souvenir shop, a good canteen and coffee house, and a state-of-the-art sound system must be installed at Tilak Smarak Mandir for a quality experience for its patrons.
- Ambient scenting and Air Freshening are strongly recommended as the overall Tilak Smarak Mandir has a foul old stench.
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