Wani: Ancient Fossils, Coal Riches, and Surprising History in Vidarbha

thenewsdirt
Nov 24
12 min read

Wani, a town positioned in the eastern reaches of Yavatmal district in Maharashtra, stands as a place where geological antiquity meets the demands of modern industry.

Located 110 kilometres from Yavatmal city and 52 kilometres from Chandrapur, this settlement has witnessed the passage of civilisations spanning millions of years, from the earliest Stone Age inhabitants to the coal miners of today.

The town sits on the left bank of the Nirguda River, which eventually merges with the Wardha River. This waterway has been a lifeline for the region, supporting agriculture, providing drinking water, and shaping the very landscape that holds beneath it some of the oldest geological formations in the Indian subcontinent.

Vidarbha, the region encompassing Wani, has long been recognised as a distinct cultural and geographical zone within Maharashtra, with its own patterns of settlement, agriculture, and historical development.

Ancient Foundations and Geological Heritage

The documented history of human presence in Wani stretches back far beyond written records.

Suresh Chopane, an environment and geology researcher based in the town, discovered Mesolithic stone age sites at Susari and Mardi villages.

These findings push back the timeline of human habitation in the area to roughly 10,000 years before the present era. The stone tools discovered at these locations represent the technology of hunter-gatherer communities who lived in the region during a period when the Indian climate was transitioning from the last Ice Age.

The geological story of the Wani area extends even further into deep time. The region contains stromatolite fossils dating back approximately 200 million years, found in limestone formations near Pandharkawada and Maregaon talukas. These fossils represent colonies of cyanobacteria that once thrived in ancient shallow seas. The presence of such fossils indicates that long before the Deccan plateau emerged, much of Vidarbha lay beneath oceanic waters.

Around 60 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous period, massive volcanic eruptions transformed the landscape. The Deccan Traps, as this geological formation is known, cover approximately 500,000 square kilometres of central India. The lava flows from these eruptions are believed to have been among the largest volcanic events in Earth's history.

In the Wani area, these eruptions created distinctive geological features, including columnar basalt formations. These hexagonal stone pillars formed when hot lava cooled rapidly after flowing into water bodies, causing the rock to contract and fracture into geometric shapes.

The region's geological wealth includes substantial deposits of coal and limestone.

The Wardha Valley Coalfield, which extends through the area, has been a major source of employment and economic activity. Western Coalfields Limited operates multiple mines in the Wani region, including the Mungoli Nirguda Coal Mine, which has been in operation since 1994, and the Niljai Coal Mine, operational since 1991.

These operations have transformed the local economy, providing direct employment to thousands of workers and indirect employment to many more through ancillary industries.

The limestone deposits of the area have been exploited for various purposes, from traditional lime burning to modern cement manufacturing. The geological surveys of the district indicate extensive reserves of cement-grade limestone in the Wani taluka, with deposits proven to depths of 45 metres or more.

Archaeological Discoveries and Early Settlements

The written historical record of Wani begins during the early medieval period. The town appears in historical accounts from the Berar Province under various names.

In earlier times, it was known as Wun in Hindustani, though the Marathi name Wani eventually became more prevalent.

The settlement gained administrative importance during the British colonial period when it served as the headquarters of a district in the Berar Province.

This administrative status continued until 1905, when the district was renamed Yavatmal and the headquarters were shifted, though Wani remained an important taluka centre.

At Kayar village, located approximately 20 kilometres from Wani, the Archaeological Survey of India conducted excavations that revealed a complex multicultural settlement dating back roughly 3,000 years.

The site shows evidence of continuous occupation from the Iron Age through the Early Historical period and into the Medieval era. The earliest phase of habitation, identified as the Iron Age, yielded black slipped ware, micaceous red ware, and significant quantities of iron slag, suggesting early metallurgical activity in the region.

The second major cultural phase corresponds to the Satavahana period, roughly spanning the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. Artefacts recovered from this layer include coins bearing the nandipada motif, terracotta figurines, shell bangles, and a gold bangle.

The architectural remains show brick and stone structures, fortifications, ring wells, and tanks, indicating a well-planned urban settlement. The ceramic assemblage from this period includes vessels of various forms, including bowls, plates, storage jars, and miniature pots.

The third cultural phase at Kayar corresponds to the Kshatrapa period. Eight terracotta sealings and one seal dated to the 1st century CE were discovered, along with Roman bullae inscribed with Kharoshthi and Greek scripts.

These findings suggest that the settlement participated in long-distance trade networks connecting the Deccan with Mediterranean civilisations. Coins of lead, silver, and copper, terracotta and stone figurines, glass and semiprecious beads, pendants, bone tools, iron weapons, and even a kohl stick were among the objects recovered from this layer.

Two stone slab inscriptions in Brahmi script, dating to the 2nd century CE, were reportedly discovered at Kayar in the first quarter of the 20th century. Though the original inscriptions are no longer available, historical records indicate that they detailed Kshatrapa sovereignty in the region following their victory over the Satavahanas.

This aligns with the broader historical narrative of the Western Kshatrapas, who controlled parts of Vidarbha during the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE.

After a period of abandonment, the Kayar site was reoccupied during the 17th and 18th centuries under Gond rule.

Findings from this Medieval phase include Bahamani coins in copper and silver, and evidence that the ancient fortifications were reinforced with rubble coping. This pattern of occupation and reoccupation reflects the strategic importance of the location throughout different historical periods.

Medieval Power and Maratha Influence

The Gond kingdoms of central India held considerable power in the medieval period. While the major Gond kingdom was centred at Chandrapur, its influence extended throughout Vidarbha.

The early Gond rulers are believed to have introduced iron smelting technology to the region and organised the scattered tribal communities into more cohesive political units.

The connection between Wani and Maratha history emerges through the story of the Bhosale family of Nagpur.

Parsoji Bhosale, who served as Senasahebsuba under Chhatrapati Rajaram, established his military station at Bham village in the Wani tehsil. Before the Bhosale family moved their base to Nagpur, Bham served as their place of rule. Parsoji was among the first to recognise and support Shahu after his release from Mughal captivity in 1707, a decision that elevated the family to prominence in the Maratha Confederacy.

A significant incident in Maratha history occurred at Mandar, three miles south of Wani, in 1734. A dispute had arisen between Kanhoji Bhosale and his nephew Raghuji. Chhatrapati Shahu had ordered Kanhoji to return to court at Satara, but Kanhoji disregarded these orders. Raghuji, acting on instructions from Shahu, confronted his uncle. The encounter at Mandar resulted in Kanhoji's defeat and imprisonment, marking a crucial moment in the consolidation of Raghuji's power and the eventual establishment of the Nagpur kingdom.

The religious landscape of Wani features several ancient rock-cut temples. The Ranganath Swami Mandir, Kala Ram Mandir, and Narsimha Mandir, located in the southern part of the town, are constructed in the Hemadpanti style of architecture. This architectural tradition, which flourished during the Yadava dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries, is characterised by the use of locally sourced black basalt stone assembled without mortar.

The stones are fitted together using precise interlocking techniques involving mortise and tenon joints, creating structures of remarkable durability.

The Ranganath Swami temple holds particular religious importance for the local population. On the festival of Mahashivratri, a fair is held in honour of Ranganath Swami, attracting attendance that has been reported to exceed 50,000 people.

During the fair, the chariot of the deity is brought out from the temple to the site of the fair, following a tradition that has been maintained for generations. This annual gathering serves not only as a religious observance but also as a major social and economic event for the region.

Modernisation and Economic Development

The administrative modernisation of Wani began during the British colonial period. The town was constituted as a municipality in 1924, with jurisdiction over an area of 5.2 square miles.

The municipal council consisted of fourteen councillors with an elected president at its head. By the early 1960s, municipal receipts had reached Rs. 7,73,552, with municipal rates and taxes contributing Rs. 3,20,702 to this total.

Infrastructure development in Wani progressed through the mid-20th century. The town was electrified in 1954, bringing a modern power supply to homes and businesses.

Water works were installed in 1959 at a cost of approximately eight lakhs of rupees, providing access to treated drinking water. The tahsili office was built in 1874 and continues to serve administrative functions. A large bridge was constructed across the Wardha River in 1963 near the village of Patala to facilitate year-round communications on the Hyderabad-Nagpur highway, which passes through the area.

Malaria had been a serious health concern in Wani, as in much of Vidarbha. The disease was described as the principal menace to public health before the implementation of malaria eradication programmes. These programmes, which included systematic spraying of insecticide and surveillance systems, achieved total eradication of malaria in the area. This public health success contributed significantly to the well-being and productivity of the local population.

The economic base of Wani has historically rested on two pillars, agriculture and mining. Cotton cultivation dominates the agricultural sector, with Yavatmal district earning the designation of Cotton City due to its extensive production.

The town serves as a considerable centre of cotton and cattle trade. Four cotton ginning and pressing factories operated in the town during the mid-20th century, processing raw cotton before it was shipped to textile mills. Cotton and grain markets function under the management of the Agriculture Produce Market Committee. A weekly market is held on Sundays, at which cattle are principally sold, serving farmers from the surrounding villages.

The development of cottonseed oil milling units represents a diversification of the agricultural processing sector. These facilities extract oil from the seeds removed during the ginning process, adding value to what was once considered waste material. Wall putty manufacturing units have also been established in rural areas around Wani, taking advantage of the availability of limestone deposits in the region. In the MIDC industrial area, metal fabrication units, cement precast and pipe making units, and pulse processing factories contribute to the industrial base.

Raymond UCO Denim, a major textile manufacturing facility, established operations in the Yavatmal district. Spread over 169 acres, this denim fabric manufacturing facility is strategically located in the heart of the cotton belt. With a fabric manufacturing capacity of up to 44 million metres per annum and garment production of 2.75 million pieces annually, this facility represents one of the most significant industrial investments in the region.

The presence of such a facility has created employment opportunities and strengthened the connection between local cotton production and the textile industry.

Coal mining remains a dominant economic activity in the Wani area. Western Coalfields Limited, a Mini Ratna Category-I company and subsidiary of Coal India Limited, operates multiple mines in the taluka. The Mungoli Nirguda Coal Mine, with a capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum and a workforce of 839, has been in operation since 1994. In 2023, the mine produced 5.23 million tonnes of coal.

The Niljai Coal Mine, operational since 1991, has a capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum and produced 4.47 million tonnes in 2023.

In 2018, Western Coalfields Limited opened coal mines in Wani to public tourism, allowing visitors to descend as deep as 200 metres below ground to observe mining operations. This initiative, undertaken in collaboration with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, represents an effort to promote industrial tourism and educate the public about coal mining operations.

Visitors are taken to Ukani opencast and Bhandewada coal mines, where they can observe stockpiles, workshops, and mining equipment.

The strategic location of Wani enhances its commercial importance. The town sits on the main road from Hyderabad to Nagpur and has a railway station on the Majri-Rajur railway line. Chandrapur is only 52 kilometres away, Nagpur is 135 kilometres distant, and Wardha is 120 kilometres by road. This connectivity facilitates the movement of goods and people, supporting both the coal industry and agricultural trade.

Contemporary Demographics and Society

According to the 2011 census, Wani had a population of 58,840, making it the third largest city in Yavatmal district. Males constituted 51 per cent of the population and females 49 per cent.

The average literacy rate stood at 91.4 per cent, significantly higher than the national average of 74 per cent.

Male literacy was 95.09 per cent, and female literacy was 87.67 per cent. Children under six years of age comprised 11 per cent of the population. However, these official figures do not include villages like Ganeshpur, Chikhalgaon, Waghdara, and Lalguda, which fall within the city boundaries, suggesting that the actual urban population may be considerably higher.

The demographic composition shows that Scheduled Castes constitute 11.5 per cent of the population, while Scheduled Tribes represent 7.4 per cent. The religious makeup reflects the broader patterns of Vidarbha, with Hindus forming approximately 75 per cent of the population, Muslims about 12 per cent, and smaller communities of Buddhists, Christians, Jains, and Sikhs.

The cultural identity of Wani reflects its position within Vidarbha, a region with distinct linguistic, agricultural, and historical characteristics. While Marathi is the primary language, tribal languages, including Gondi, are also spoken, reflecting the historical presence of Gond communities in the area. The agricultural calendar, religious festivals, and social customs bear the imprint of both Maratha influence and indigenous tribal traditions.

The geological, archaeological, and historical layers of Wani present a complex picture of human settlement in Vidarbha. From the stromatolite fossils of ancient seas to the stone tools of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, from the fortified settlements of the Satavahana period to the coal mines of the present day, the area has been shaped by diverse forces over millions of years. The town stands at the intersection of deep geological time and rapid industrial change, a place where the extraction of 60-million-year-old coal fuels contemporary economic activity.

The infrastructure and institutions established during the colonial period laid the groundwork for modern development. Municipal governance, educational facilities, and transport networks created the framework within which subsequent economic growth could occur. The eradication of malaria and the provision of clean water improved public health outcomes, while electrification brought modern amenities to homes and businesses.

The contemporary economy of Wani reflects both continuity and change. Agriculture, particularly cotton cultivation, remains central to the livelihoods of many families in the taluka. The processing of agricultural commodities through ginning factories, oil mills, and other facilities adds value at the local level. At the same time, coal mining and limestone extraction represent extractive industries that draw on non-renewable geological resources, creating employment and revenue but also environmental challenges.

The town's position within regional trade networks continues to evolve. The weekly cattle market and agricultural produce markets maintain traditional patterns of rural commerce, while the coal industry connects Wani to national energy distribution systems and global commodity markets. The textile industry, through facilities like Raymond UCO Denim, links local cotton production to international fashion supply chains.

The preservation of historical and archaeological sites presents both opportunities and challenges. The rock-cut temples of Wani and the excavated site at Kayar hold valuable information about the region's past, but ensuring their protection and interpretation for future generations requires sustained effort and resources. The annual Mahashivratri fair at Ranganath Swami temple demonstrates how religious traditions continue to draw large gatherings, maintaining social cohesion and cultural continuity.

The broader context of Vidarbha's development raises questions about regional disparities and resource allocation within Maharashtra.

As a cotton-producing region with significant mineral resources, Vidarbha generates substantial revenue, yet concerns about agricultural distress, infrastructure gaps, and limited industrialisation persist in policy discussions. Wani's experience reflects these larger patterns, combining resource wealth with development challenges.

The story of Wani encompasses the deep history of the Indian subcontinent, the medieval kingdoms that rose and fell in the Deccan, the colonial transformation of governance and economy, and the industrial development of independent India.

The town's location on ancient trade routes, its role in Maratha politics, and its present function as a centre of coal production and cotton trade illustrate the multiple layers of history that coexist in places far from metropolitan centres.