Akola


Akola is a major city in the Vidarbha region of the Indian state of Maharashtra. With an estimated population of 600,000, Akola is a growing metropolis surrounded by forts, and has the Morna River running through the center of the city.
Akola is an important financial city and affiliated with Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University. It has recently become a hub of coaching classes preparing students for competitive exams like NEET and JEE. The city is developing into a market centre. The primary language spoken by the people of Akola is the Varhadi dialect of Marathi while English is used mostly in educational institutions and Hindi being a lingua franca, including large number of Native Berari a branch of Deccani language which is formally recognized as dialect of Urdu language.
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Etymology

The name "Akola" is believed to have originated from the Marathi word "Akol," which means "the end" or "the boundary." This term is thought to refer to the city's historical role as a boundary or administrative center in the region. According to local tradition, the city was named after Maharaja Akolsingh, who was an influential figure in the area.

History

Early medieval history (Classical)

Akola is mentioned to be a part of Berar province and the legendary kingdom of Vidarbha in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata.

Late medieval history

The period of Muslim rule began when Alauddin Khalji, Sultan of Delhi, conquered the region in the early 14th century. Subsequently, the region became part of the Bahmani Sultanate, which had seceded from the Delhi Sultanate in the mid-14th century. By the end of the 15th century, the Bahmani Sultanate fragmented into smaller kingdoms, and in 1572, Berar was incorporated into the Nizam Shahi Sultanate of Ahmednagar. The Nizam Shahis ceded Berar to the Mughal Empire in 1595, and the Mughals ruled the Berar province during the 17th century. The Akola fort was heavily fortified during Mughal king Aurangzeb's rule. As Mughal rule started to unravel at the start of the 18th century, Asif Jah I, Nizam of Hyderabad seized the southern provinces of the empire in 1724 to form an independent state.

Maratha Empire

The Battle of Argaon in 1803 was fought in Akola between the British and the Marathas during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. In the third Anglo-Maratha War, the last Peshwa, Baji Rao II, was defeated. In 1853, the Akola district together with the rest of Berar, came under the administration of the British East [India Company].

Post-independence

After India's independence in 1947 from the British Government, the newly formed country was divided into different states. The Congress's proposed linguistic provinces plan before the Independence of India had positioned Akola as the headquarters of the Berar region.

Geography

Akola is located on the banks of the Morna River in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, India. It is situated approximately east of Mumbai and west of Nagpur. The city lies in the Tapti River valley, which contributes to its significance as a commercial and agricultural hub. Akola also serves as an important road and rail junction.

Climate

Akola experiences a tropical wet and dry climate, characterized by high temperatures and significant variations in rainfall throughout the year. The climate includes hot, dry summers, a monsoon season with substantial rainfall, and relatively mild winters.
The highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded were 47.8 °C and 2.2 °C, respectively.
Akola has been ranked 34th best “National Clean Air City” under in India.

Demographics

According to the 2011 Census of India, Akola City had a population of 425,817 and an area of about. After the city's municipal limits were extended in August 2016, the estimated population of Akola city is above 603,000. The population estimate for the Akola metropolitan area is currently not available. The most recent census, conducted in 2011, recorded a population of . The scheduled 2021 census for Akola city was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Current estimates are based on historical growth rates.

Government and politics

The local government of Akola is administered by the Akola Municipal Corporation, which operates under a Mayor-Council system. The Mayor, assisted by a Deputy Mayor, heads the corporation, with elections occurring every five years. The corporation was established on 1 July 1967 and governs an area of approximately 124 km².
The city's administrative functions are managed by a District Collector. As of the latest update, Varsha Meena serves in this role. The Municipal Commissioner, currently Dr.Sunil Lahane, is responsible for overseeing the executive functions of the Akola Municipal Corporation. The Mayor, Archana Masne, oversees the implementation of policies and administrative functions within the Akola Municipal Corporation.
Additionally, Akola has a range of local administrative services and multiple police stations operating under the jurisdiction of the Akola Police.

Governance

Police administration

Akola Police maintains eight police stations in the Akola city subdivision that cover the metropolitan area of the city.
The government also approved the creation of a new Railway Police Akola subdivision that will include Akola, Wardha, and Badnera railway police units. The Akola Police subdivision falls under the Nagpur District of Railway.

Notable people