JALGAON

In Jalgaon, Maharashtra, a place often known for droughts and farmer struggles, three farmers changed their lives and inspired many others. Rajendra Hari Patil, Hemchandra Dagaji Patil, and Bhavarlal Jain each played a key role in this journey.

Rajendra grew up in Wade village with his family on just 1.5 acres of land. After his father passed away when he was only 11, Rajendra worked hard on the farm while also studying. He became a teacher but lost his job after a year. In 1993, he decided to return to farming but faced many challenges until 2006.

Hemchandra came from a family that owned 30 acres of land. His father wanted him to become a lawyer, which he did, but his heart was always in farming. After graduation, he helped his father on the farm and eventually embraced farming fully after attending a seminar in 2000.

Bhavarlal Jain was born into a farming family as well. He chose agriculture over a civil service job and started his own business selling kerosene from a pushcart. Over time, he expanded into agricultural equipment and founded Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd., which became very successful.

In 2006, Rajendra sought help from Jain Irrigation to improve his farming methods. He started using tissue culture for bananas and saw great results. Hemchandra also adopted new techniques through Jain Irrigation and improved his yields significantly.

In 2011, Harvard Business School invited Rajendra and Hemchandra to present at a lecture on food security systems. They charmed the audience with their remarkable transformation stories, despite having only 15 minutes to speak. Their experiences were so compelling that the organisers extended their time, allowing the farmers to field questions from attendees worldwide.

"Asking us to come up on stage for the question-and-answer session, the anchor stated that India represents the world's agricultural future. This was a proud moment for us," Hemchandra said, his eyes reflecting a mix of humility and triumph.

Their success was not accidental; it stemmed from pure drive, hard work, and a willingness to experiment with new technologies. Rajendra plants approximately 40-50 thousand bananas each year and leases additional land to grow various fruits and vegetables across 70 acres. He has even built homes for the seven farming families who work on his farm.

Hemchandra is a true pioneer, continuously experimenting with new techniques on his farm along the highway. Farmers from neighbouring villages flock to his fields to learn from his successes. He has also hosted people from other countries, sharing his expertise and insights. The driving force behind their incredible journeys was Bhavarlal Jain, known as the "father of India's second green revolution." Jain saw potential in Hemchandra and Rajendra and played a crucial role in helping them gain admission to Harvard.

As they returned to Jalgaon, they were met with admiration and requests for advice. Their accomplishments inspired not only their local community but also sparked interest from the global agricultural community, solidifying India's position as a future farming powerhouse.

According to locals, many years ago, a farmer named Ramesh discovered an unusual banana tree in his field. This tree produced fruit that shimmered like gold. Ramesh, intrigued, picked one of the bananas and took a bite. To his surprise, the banana tasted sweeter and more delicious than any he had ever tried.

Ramesh chose to keep the golden banana tree a secret, fearful that others might want its fruit. However, knowledge about the miracle tree quickly travelled throughout the village. People from surrounding places went to Ramesh's property, anxious to see the gold bananas. The community elders, realising the potential wealth this tree could offer, recommended Ramesh to share the fruit with everyone.

As Ramesh began to distribute the golden bananas, the village thrived. People noticed that eating golden bananas improved their health, happiness, and prosperity. They began naming the tree "Swarna Kela" (Golden Banana).

Years passed, and the story of the Swarna Kela became an important element of Jalgaon's cultural history. The residents of Jalgaon celebrate an annual festival in honour of the golden banana tree. They exchange stories of its wondrous fruit and show thanks for the prosperity it gave to their region.

Kaveri is a figure from the history of Yawal, a small town in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, India. She is celebrated for her bravery and leadership during a critical period when the Maratha Empire was facing external threats.

When the Maratha warriors were engaged in battles, an opposing army attempted to invade Yawal. Kaveri recognised the danger and took it upon herself to protect her community. She rallied the local women, training them in basic combat techniques and organising them to defend their village. Under her guidance, these women employed guerrilla tactics and set traps to resist the invaders, ultimately leading to the enemy's retreat.

Kaveri's story has been passed down through generations as a symbol of courage and resilience. She inspires the people of Yawal to uphold their values and defend their land. While there isn't much detailed historical documentation about her life, Kaveri represents the strength of many women during difficult times in Indian history, especially under the Maratha Empire.

In ancient Jalgaon, part of Khandesh, there lived a young Arab named Malik Raja. His family descended from the renowned Khalifa Umar al-Faruq and had a long history of nobility in the Delhi court. However, Malik Rajah's destiny was about to take an unexpected turn.

Malik Rajah joined the war against the Deccan's Bahamani sultanate during the Great Rebellion. When the revolt was destroyed, he retreated to Thalner, a little town beside the Tapi River. He attracted the Emperor's eye while attending a royal hunting excursion. The emperor was so delighted with Malik Rajah's abilities that he rewarded him with the districts of Thalner and Karanda.

Malik Rajah's desire grew, and he started conquering the surrounding areas. He established himself as an independent raja, governing over a small kingdom called Khandesh. His military prowess was legendary, and he was even honoured by the Rajas of Gondwana and Gurra Mundla. The main test for Malik Rajah came when he fought Gujarat's mighty Sultan Muzaffar Shah. The two rulers clashed, and Muzaffar Shah besieged Thalner. However, Malik Rajah's diplomacy saved the day as he was able to negotiate a peace settlement.

Throughout his rule, Malik Rajah supported the arts and agriculture. He was also a devout follower of the holy Zain-ud-din of Daulatabad, who bestowed on him the "garb of desire and assent." This treasured relic would be passed down to Khandesh's future rulers.

As Malik Rajah's life ended, he partitioned his dominion among his two sons. Malik Nasir, the elder, was designated as his successor and given the "garb of desire and assent." Malik Iftikhar the Younger was given Thalner's fort and district.

So the exciting story of Malik Rajah, the founder of the Faruqi dynasty, concluded. His legacy was carried on by his successors, who ruled Khandesh for decades, guided by the sacred artefact and the spirit of their forefathers' ambition and diplomacy.

Mehrun Gaon is renowned for its plump and juicy ber. Several local stories about ber in Jalgaon exist. According to one tale, Shabri, a character mentioned in the Ramayana, collected ber fruits and offered them to Ram. Ram ate the berries and spat out the seeds in Mehrun, where several ber trees subsequently grew. As a result, Mehrun continues to have an abundance of berries today.

Another story recounts that Aurangzeb’s daughter, Mihr-un-Nissa, was fond of eating ber fruits. When she got married, her father gifted her a ber tree in Mehrun Gaon, which is also named after her.

Valmiki Rishi initially engaged in robbery and fraud to support his wife and children. Due to his sins, he filled seven 'paap ka ghada' (pots of sin). Observing this, Narad Muni advised Valmiki Rishi to rid himself of his sins by performing penance through the repetition of Ram’s name. Valmiki Rishi undertook this japa for 12,000 years in a cave in Wagheli. Impressed by his devotion, Ram and Sita visited him, leading Valmiki Rishi to begin writing the Ramayana.

Numerous stories surround the Patnadevi mandir. One tale describes a Brahmin who was meditating in Jalgaon; upon completing his meditation, the devtas decided to fulfil his wishes. The Brahmin requested that Chandika Devi and Chamunda Devi accompany him wherever he went. The devis agreed but stipulated that they would stop following him if he turned around to look at them. The Brahmin travelled for several days and crossed two broad rivers. Upon reaching the third river, he suspected that the devis had ceased following him and turned around. To his surprise, they were right behind him; however, since he had looked back, they would no longer follow him and stopped before crossing the third river. He built a place for both devis at that location.

Another story involves a pujari who prayed to Chandika Devi. During meditation, she called out to him from behind and instructed him not to look back. Although he resisted at first, curiosity eventually overcame him; when he looked back, the devi had vanished, but a mandir stood in her place. This is said to be how the Patnadevi mandir was established.

Additionally, when Parvati and Shiva were not invited to King Dashrath’s gathering, an angry Parvati confronted her father despite Shiva’s reluctance. When Dashrath insulted Shiva, an enraged Parvati jumped into the fire (committing sati). Her body was divided into 108 pieces, with one hand landing in Patnagaon, where this mandir now stands.

It is also believed that Sita’s children, Luv and Kush, were born in the jungle surrounding the mandir; Kush was born from steel, while Luv was born from Sita herself.

A cat used to frequent a dargah present in the heart of Jalgaon. One day, the cat died and an old couple took the cat’s body to their home, wrapped in a chaddar to bury the cat. Once they opened up the cat in their house, the cat suddenly vanished. The only thing left in the cloth was the small insects around the dead cat. These insects had turned into gold. The family then became very rich.