Ballarpur’s Untold Journey

thenewsdirt
Oct 16
10 min read

Ballarpur stands today as the second-largest city in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, yet few recognise the depth of history embedded in this industrial town.

The city traces its origins to the 15th century, when it served as the capital of a powerful Gond kingdom that ruled over Vidarbha for centuries. Located on the eastern banks of the Wardha River, Ballarpur has witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties, from the glory of Gond rulers to the Maratha conquest and British administration.

The transformation from a royal city with magnificent fortifications to a modern industrial centre represents one of the most dramatic shifts in the region's economic landscape. Today, remnants of ancient walls stand alongside paper mills and coal mines, creating a unique tapestry where medieval history meets contemporary industry.

The Gond Dynasty and the Foundation of Ballarpur

The origins of Ballarpur connect directly to the powerful Gond dynasty that established the Kingdom of Chanda in the 9th century.

According to Gond traditions and historical records, a legendary figure named Kol Bhill unified scattered Gond tribes and formed them into an organised political entity.

This proto-kingdom was later formalised under Bhim Ballal Singh of the Atram clan, who established his rule at Sirpur on the right bank of the Wardha River around 870 AD. For the first eight generations, Gond kings ruled from Sirpur, gradually consolidating their authority over surrounding territories and developing an administrative infrastructure that would characterise their later expansion.

The foundation of Ballarpur itself occurred during the reign of Khandkya Ballal Shah, who succeeded his father Surja Ballal Singh in 1242 AD.

This period marked a significant transformation for the Gond kingdom, as rulers began suffixing the title "Shah" instead of "Singh", reflecting the influence of neighbouring Muslim sultanates. Khandkya Ballal Shah suffered from severe tumours and boils that conventional medicine could not cure.

According to historical accounts, only his wife Hiratalni remained faithful to him during this affliction, tending to him with care. She induced him to leave Sirpur and erect a fort and palace on the opposite bank of the Wardha River, where she could care for him in retirement.

The legend surrounding the foundation of Ballarpur interweaves pragmatic statecraft with cultural symbolism. Traditional accounts describe how King Khandkya went hunting one day and discovered a pond near the Wardha River.

The waters of this pond, later named Akaleshwar Tirth, possessed miraculous healing properties that cured the king's afflictions. This discovery led to the decision to establish a new fortified settlement at this location. The fort and the settlement that grew around it came to be known as Ballalpur or the city of Ballal, named after the king himself.

Though Khandkya Ballal Shah later built a new palace at Chandrapur and transferred the seat of government there, Ballarpur continued to serve as a secondary royal residence for several centuries.

The Gond kingdom reached considerable prosperity under successive rulers who developed sophisticated administrative systems and maintained independence until the 18th century.

The kingdom produced rulers who implemented excellent irrigation systems and established the first well-defined revenue system among the Gond kingdoms. During the reign of Babji Ballal Shah, the kingdom achieved recognition in the Ain-i-Akbari as being fully independent, even conquering territory from nearby sultanates.

However, during Akbar's rule, the kingdom began paying tribute after the Mughals incorporated territory to their south into the Berar Subah. The relationship between the Gond kingdom and the Mughal Empire allowed local rulers to maintain control over their territories in exchange for regular payments and military service.

The genealogical records maintained by the Dhume family of Vani, who served the last two Gond kings, provide insights into the succession of rulers.

The list shows that from Bhim Ballal Singh in the late 9th century to Nilkanth Shah in the mid-18th century, nineteen kings ruled over Chandrapur and its territories.

The historicity of the later rulers, particularly Ram Shah and Nilkanth Shah, stands beyond doubt as they were contemporaries of Raghuji I Bhonsle and their interactions are well documented in Maratha records.

The Fort and Architectural Heritage

The Ballarpur Fort represents one of the most significant examples of Gond military architecture. Built by Khandkya Ballal Shah in the mid-15th century, the fort was constructed of large black stones and served as a formidable defence structure.

Located on the eastern bank of the Wardha River, the fort occupies a strategic position that allowed control over river crossings and trade routes.

The fort is rectangular in shape, with the main entrance facing the east side. The walls of the fort, built with walls and towers, remain partially intact even today, though most of the old buildings within have fallen into total ruin.

The architectural features of the fort demonstrate sophisticated defensive planning. Two intact doors are set at right angles to each other, creating a defensive entrance system that would slow down any attacking force. A small entrance exists on the edge of the river, providing a water gate for emergency access and supply during sieges.

Many parts of the pillars remain safe inside the earth, suggesting extensive structures that once stood within the fort complex. Excavations in 1865 revealed underground chambers accessible through two tunnels with entrances a few feet apart.

These tunnels branch off in opposite directions, each leading to a set of three underground chambers. One of these chambers communicates with the entrance from the river or water gate.

When the chambers were explored in 1865, ancient copper coins and rusted iron rings were found, providing tangible evidence of the fort's medieval occupation. There is also a perpendicular shaft whose original purpose has not been ascertained.

Local tradition maintains that one of the tunnels communicates with the palace in Chandrapur, with the entrance supposedly located in a well in the courtyard. This tunnel reportedly has its passage virtually blocked at the entrance, and no one enters it due to complete darkness inside.

From the water gate, a staircase leads up the rampart wall where spacious stone platforms offer views of the river, particularly beautiful when the Wardha is in flood.

Within the palace are two tunnels with entrances positioned near each other. These shafts branch off in opposite directions, leading to underground chambers that served various purposes during the fort's active years.

The foundations of the ancient city can be traced around the fort, indicating the extent of urban settlement that developed during the Gond period. The outlines of the ancient palace can be traced with ease inside the fort, though the structures themselves have largely disappeared.

In 1790, Nana Saheb Bhosle of the Maratha confederacy undertook repairs to the palace, indicating the fort's continued strategic or symbolic importance even after the decline of the Gond kingdom.

This suggests that the Marathas recognised its value in the regional landscape and maintained it as part of their administrative infrastructure. The gateway remains particularly picturesque, with architectural details that reflect the building traditions of medieval Vidarbha.

Maratha Conquest and British Administration

The final chapter of the Gond Kingdom of Chanda began with internal political turmoil. Ram Shah, who ruled from 1672 to 1735, was renowned for his wisdom and piety. In 1730, Raghoji I Bhonsle marched on Chandrapur but chose not to invade after finding its ruler to be saintly.

However, Ram Shah's successor Nilkanth Shah, who ruled from 1735 to 1751, became notorious as a tyrant given to vices.

He executed his father's trusted officer, Mahadajee Vedya and interfered in the politics of the neighbouring Deogarh kingdom. When Raghoji I Bhonsle was occupied with expeditions in Bengal, Nilkanth Shah supported rebellions against Maratha authority.

In 1748, Raghoji returned from his Bengal campaign and invaded Deogarh, killing the rebel diwan Raghunath Singh. He then proceeded against Nilkanth Shah of Chanda and defeated him. Nilkanth Shah signed a treaty dated 1749 that gave two-thirds of the kingdom's revenue to the Marathas. This arrangement proved temporary, as Nilkanth Shah rebelled again in 1751. Raghoji defeated him with ease and imprisoned him permanently in the Ballarpur Fort.

Here in 1751, Nilkanth Shah, the last of the Gond kings, died in prison. This brought the Gond house of Chandrapur to an end after nearly nine centuries of rule. With the imprisonment of Nilkanth Shah, Chandrapur passed directly under the rule of the Bhonsles of Nagpur and remained with them until 1853

The Maratha period witnessed the integration of the former Chanda territories into the Nagpur kingdom. Maratha revenue systems replaced traditional Gond practices, while Marathi gradually superseded Gondi as the official language of administration.

Large numbers of Maratha settlers, particularly from the Kunbi community, migrated into the region, fundamentally altering the demographic and cultural landscape. Despite political subjugation, many aspects of Gond civilisation persisted under Maratha rule.

Traditional village governance systems continued to function at the local level, while Gond cultural practices, religious beliefs, and social customs remained largely intact.

British control over Ballarpur came in 1818 during the Third Anglo-Maratha War. In January 1818, according to a treaty, Chandrapur Fort was to be handed to the British, but when this did not happen, British forces besieged the fort on 9 May 1818. From 9 to 13 May, cannon fire was directed from Mana Hill outside Pathanpura.

The battle raged for four days, with the fort's strength making conquest difficult. On 19 May, a breach was made, and on 20 May, troops entered the city. Gangasingh Jat, the fort commander, fought valiantly and was martyred. Ali Khan, a gunner, shot accurately and killed British officer Major Corham. Eventually, the Union Jack was hoisted on Pathanpura Gate, and the British took control.

Under British administration, Chandrapur district, including Ballarpur, underwent significant changes. A Deputy Commissioner was appointed to govern the district.

The British recognised the economic potential of the region's natural resources and began systematic exploitation of coal deposits and forest wealth.

The colonial administration introduced new revenue systems, established courts, and developed basic infrastructure, including roads and railways.

The region remained under British control until Indian independence in 1947. Within two years after the Second World War, independence dawned upon Chandrapur with the rest of India on 15 August 1947. The tri-coloured national flag was hoisted in Ballarpur, and the people celebrated with great rejoicing.

Industrial Transformation and Modern Development

The discovery of coal deposits in the late 19th century transformed Ballarpur from a historical royal city to an industrial hub.

The existence of coal at Ballarpur was suspected as early as 1871 when carbonaceous shale was discovered in the bed of the Wardha River.

Borings were undertaken, and after several unsuccessful attempts, it was concluded that the bulk of the coalfield lay across the river.

In 1901, when it became imperative to find a substitute for the Waroda Colliery, which was approaching exhaustion, a survey at Ballarpur resulted in the discovery of favourable indications. A trial pit sunk in 1903 found coal at a depth of 60.96 metres. In 1906, a second pit was sunk to a depth of 78.33 metres, and the seam of coal was found to be 15.24 metres thick and of better quality than Waroda coal.

The actual output of coal remained insignificant until 1907, but the opening of the railway route in that year provided good encouragement for developing the mine. In 1907, the extension of the Wardha-Waroda branch of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, later called Central Railway via Chandrapur, reached Ballarpur.

The colliery was connected with the railway station named Ballarshah by a line about a mile long with numerous sidings. The Ballarpur Collieries proved to be a valuable treasure of mineral wealth. Latest estimates put the coal deposits at 2,000 million tonnes, making it one of the most significant coalfields in the region.

The railway connection proved transformative for Ballarpur's development. The Balharshah railway station was established by the Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway and is now under the Nagpur division of Central Railway Zone. With the completion of the Kazipet-Balharshah link in 1929, Chennai was directly linked to Delhi, making Balharshah junction an important station on the New Delhi-Chennai main line.

The station is located at 185 metres above sea level and has five platforms. The Gondia-Nagbhir-Nagpur line was opened for traffic in 1908. The Nagbhir-Rajoli line was opened in 1913 and extended up to Chanda Fort. The Mancherial-Balharshah-Wardha-Nagpur sector was electrified in 1988-89, further enhancing connectivity.

The establishment of Ballarpur Industries Limited marked another major milestone in the city's industrial development. Lala Karam Chand Thapar established the company on 26 April 1945 as Ballarpur Paper and Straw Board Mills Limited.

The company manufactured all kinds of paper and allied products, using trade names "Three Aces" for paper and "Wisdom" for stationery. In 1969, Shree Gopal Paper Mills Limited in Yamunanagar merged with the company. In 1975, the organisation was renamed Ballarpur Industries Limited.

The company emerged as India's largest manufacturer of writing and printing paper, with manufacturing units across India. The Ballarpur unit became one of the world's 100 largest paper companies.

Forest resources played a crucial role in Ballarpur's industrial development. The rich and inexhaustible forest resources surrounding the city gave rise to a paper mill and established Ballarpur as the country's largest timber mart. The government opened a timber depot where timber from the south and west Chandrapur divisions was sold at auction.

A wide variety of furniture is manufactured by local carpenters. Several sawmills operate in the city, processing logs into lumber for various uses. The attraction at the timber depot is an 800-year-old timber log that has been preserved, serving as a testament to the region's long association with forest resources.

The teak from Ballarpur, commonly known as CP teak or Ballarshah teak, is internationally famous for its quality.

The availability of china clay of a fine variety used in the manufacture of tiles and all types of crockery and pipes led to the establishment of pottery industries. Dadabhai Potteries, established in the area, gave employment to a large number of people.

The combined presence of coal deposits, timber resources, and china clay made Ballarpur an ideal location for diverse industrial activities. A thermal power station was established at Ballarpur, utilising local coal production to supply power to the Chandrapur district and adjoining districts of Vidarbha.

The municipal council at Ballarpur was established on 4 January 1949, marking a new phase in the city's civic administration. The Ballarpur Municipal Council manages urban infrastructure, water supply, sewerage systems, and local taxation.

According to the Maharashtra Municipalities Act of 1965, Ballarpur is classified as a 'B' class municipality. The 2011 Census recorded Ballarpur's population as 89,452, with 45,877 males and 43,575 females, making it the second-largest city in Chandrapur district. The city is divided into 32 wards for electoral purposes.

The literacy rate stands at 87.17 per cent, higher than the state average of 82.34 per cent. The Municipal Council administers 19,596 houses, providing basic amenities like water and sewerage.

Due to comparatively excellent means of transport and communications, both road and rail, Ballarpur has emerged as one of the most important industrial centres in Chandrapur. The city serves as an important commercial centre for wood, coal, and paper commodities in central India.

Located on the Chandrapur-Allapalli State Highway, the road further bifurcates for Hyderabad via Adilabad. Modern Ballarpur represents a unique blend of historical legacy and industrial progress, where ancient fort walls stand alongside modern factories, and centuries-old timber traditions coexist with contemporary manufacturing processes.