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Reverted edits by 2405:201:E005:5024:D052:3B94:FCA0:5778 (talk) to last revision by Feroze Ahmad 2: not providing a reliable source (WP:CITE, WP:RS)

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = -Town<br/>[[Mumbai Metropolitan Region|Mumbai Metropolitan City]]
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Maharashtra#India3
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Maharashtra, India
| coordinates = {{coord|18.75|N|73.08|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{IND}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Raigad district|Raigad]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = [[Municipal corporation]]
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 18
| population_total = 37,852
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 402107
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 02143
| registration_plate = MH 06
| website =
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-MH]]
| footnotes =
}}

'''Pen''' is a town and [[taluka]] in [[Raigad district]] of [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Maharashtra]]. It is well known for world class [[Ganesh]] idols.<ref>[http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=../MaharashtraTourism/ArtsCrafts/GaneshaIdolsPen.html Maharashtra Tourism: The Ganesha Idols of Pen]</ref> It is the geographical and cultural center of Raigad district.

==History==
The name of Pen is derived from the term "पेणे" or "Pene", which means "a place to rest". Although no one is certain about the origin of Pen, historians think it probably dates back to the times of [[Buddha]].<ref>{{Cite book| last =Gadre| first =A. S.| title=Important inscriptions from the Baroda State. Vol. I.| publisher = Sri Pratapasimha Maharaj rajyabhidheka granthmala, Baroda| date =July 1943 | location =Baroda| pages =35, 45| url=https://archive.org/texts/flipbook/flippy.php?id=importantinscrip014869mbp}}</ref><ref name="echavdi.com">[http://www.echavdi.com/itihas/GloriousHistoryOfPen.php पेणचा वैभवशाली इतिहास - द. कृ. वैरागी]</ref>

Due to its location, Pen developed as a port city (the present-day Antora port was commonly referred as "Pen Port"), with trade links as far as [[Egypt]].<ref>पेणचे बंदर - पेण शहराचा इतिहास, 2003 edition</ref> It had a prosperous marketplace where the exchange of goods to and from [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] took place.

The Kolaba District Gazettee gives Pen's history as follows
{{cquote|In historical times Pen was under rule of the [[Shilahara|Silaharas]] of [[Thane district#Origin of name|Shri Sthanak (Thana)]] from 9th to the 12th Century and subsequently it passed under the control of the Yadavas. When [[Shaista Khan|Shayastakhan]] was sent against [[Shivaji|Sivaji]], a detachment of the [[Mughal Empire|Moghal]] army had been kept at Pen but it was subsequently routed by him. [[Parvatibai]], the wife of [[Sadashivrao Bhau|Sadasivrav Bhau]], the hero of [[Battle of Panipat (1761)|Panipat]],. In 1819 the easy communication with Bombay and with the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] by the [[Bhor Ghat|Bor pass]] made Pen an important centre. Its chief prosperity lay in its salt beds. There was a considerable export of rice to [[Mumbai|Bombay]]. A number of carved stones about the town appear to belong to an unusually large temple of about the thirteenth or fourteenth century.<ref name="Pengazettee"/>}}

During the period of Shilahar kings, many temples of goddesses were built, including Jagdumba of Vashi. In the period of [[Chalukyas]], grand temples of [[Shiva]], like Rameshwar (रामेश्वर), Pataneshwar (पाटणेश्वर), Goteshwar (गोटेश्वर) and Vyaghreshwar (व्याघ्रेश्वर) were constructed<ref>[http://www.echavdi.com/itihas/GloriousHistoryOfPen.php पेणचा वैभवशाली इतिहास].</ref>

In [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj]] era, Shayistekhan's raid on Deccan led to major fights in Pen between Moghals and Marathas. Initially the mMoghal army led by Sardar Taherkhan occupied Pen's fort of Mahalmeera and looted surrounding villages, which included desecration of the grand temple of Goteshwar.<ref name="echavdi.com"/> Shivaji's army fought back. They defeated Kartalabkhan in nearby Umbarkhind and officer Balakhi, near Ratangad. Mahalmeera was also taken back on 27 February 1662 and the following day, after a valiant struggle, Pen's Bastion (presently, the site of Tehsil office) was secured by Shivaji's army. In this conquest, Sardar Vaghoji Tupe fought against an equally skillful Moghal officer but at the crucial moment, Tupe dealt a decisive blow which killed the officer and ensured Maratha victory. Vaghoji was also critically injured and died soon afterwards. Shivaji Maharaj visited Pen on two occasions, on 6 August 1668 and 11 May 1674.<ref>http://www.echavdi.com/itihas/GloriousHistoryOfPen.php</ref>

==Geography==
Pen town is located at 18°40' N, 73°05' E, on the outskirts of [[Mumbai Metropolitan Region]].<ref>[http://202.71.136.179/mmrda/showArticle.jsp?srv=rGFRyv6YfePE85 MMRDA]</ref> It gained prominence in ancient times due to its location on trade routes to [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]], proximity to [[Mumbai]] and [[Pune]] and its central position in the Raigad district. It lies on the bank of Bhogavati creek about 16 km from its mouth.<ref name = "Pengazettee">{{Cite web | last =P.| first =Setu Madhav Rao | title =Pen | work =Kolaba District Gazetteer | publisher =The Gazetteers department, Kolaba | date =July 1964 | url =http://raigad.nic.in/DG/1964/places_Pen.html | access-date =2009-10-28}}</ref>
Pen county has a total area of 199.6 sq. miles<ref>[http://raigad.nic.in/DG/1964/gen_admin_div.html Administrative Divisions - Raigad Gazettier]</ref> and the area of the town Pen is 6.75 sq.miles.<ref>[http://raigad.nic.in/DG/1964/places_Pen.html Places in Raigad]</ref>

==Demographics==
[[File:Beth-Ha-Elohim.JPG|thumb|[[Bene Israel]] synagogue, the Beth-Ha-Elohim]] The Pen Municipal Council has population of 37,852 of which 19,257 are males while 18,595 are females as per report released by Census India 2011. Population of Children with age of 0-6 is 3910 which is 10.33% of total population of Pen (M Cl). In Pen Municipal Council, Female Sex Ratio is of 966 against state average of 929. Moreover, Child Sex Ratio in Pen is around 911 compared to Maharashtra state average of 894. Literacy rate of Pen city is 91.40% higher than state average of 82.34%. In Pen, Male literacy is around 93.91% while female literacy rate is 88.82%.[http://www.census2011.co.in/data/subdistrict/4176-pen-raigarh-maharashtra.html [chk<nowiki>]</nowiki>]
Traditionally, Pen city was populated by Agri, Brahmins and merchant's community as it was center of culture, education and trade. But now,{{when|date=November 2019}} the city of Pen has become an amalgam of several castes and religions. In the olden days,{{when|date=November 2019}} Pen was recognised primarily as a Chitpavan Brahmin dominated village, but nowadays{{when|date=November 2019}} all Pen tehsil dominated by [[Agri people|Agri]] . Agri community dwells in flatlands of Pen West, Hinterlands of Pen South-East are sparsely populated by tribal Katkari and Thakurs<ref>Communities of Pen - पेण शहराचा इतिहास</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Pen has a small [[Jewish]] community, the [[Bene Israel]]. The community has a [[synagogue]] the Beth-Ha-Elohim.<ref>{{Cite book
| last =Israel
| first =Benjamin J.
| title =The Bene Israel of India: some studies
| page =107
| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=dar3Wt2gJM0C&q=Bene+israel+Pen+synagogue&pg=PA107
| isbn =9780861314553
| year =1984 }}</ref>
Population of Pen county is 1,76,681 as per 2001 census.<ref>http://raigad.nic.in/htmldocs/demography.htm</ref>

==Development and Economy==
[[File:Moreshwar adlabs1.JPG|thumb|Moreshwar Adlabs (Theatre) sideview]] [[File:Moreshwar adlabs2.JPG|thumb|Moreshwar adlabs front gate]][[File:Dagdushet Halwai Ganpati 2005.jpg|thumb|A clay [[Ganesha]] murti, worshipped during [[Ganesh Chaturthi]] festival.]]People in the Pen city are employed in various sectors such as trade/business, education, banking, industries, services, papad making (women's co-operatives) and most importantly, idol making!
Most villagers are dependent for livelihood on Paddy farming in monsoon. Various vegetables are also grown as by-products, especially in eastern part of the county.<ref>[http://raigad.nic.in/DG/1964/agri_food_crops.html Agriculture - Kolaba District Gazetteer Revised Edition 1964]</ref>

The industrial belt in the western part of the county is causing a major problem of pollution in surrounding rural areas, creating health problems and reducing crop yields. [[Reliance Industries]] was promoting a Maha Mumbai Special Economic Zone, located around the town. A study conducted by ''Citizen's Research Collective on SEZ'' has called the Maha Mumbai Special Economic Zone a Special Exploitation Zone<ref name = "Sezstudy"/>
Land owners resisted the purchase of their land for the purpose and following a historic referendum on the issue, SEZ was cancelled.<ref name = "Sezstudy">{{Cite web
| title =Reliance Maha Mumbai SEZ Study
| publisher =Citizen's Research Collective on SEZ
| date =2007-09-15
| url =https://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:0j3_rFxMXiUJ:sez.icrindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/rmm_sez_study.pdf+Before+1970's+Pen+was+Raigad's+district+headquarter.&hl=en&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgxRtfxEafYSspuIjDZ9oV6v-KdMQayKp4RIUmQae80j3Oi5IyFMMIxPAdPJKf759BKzS75m5ytSVvxFUzkCQF1RAeiNaewy0UXNz2z5ZzebRf4rK78JW1LunbLn1glS0vFoV5c&sig=AFQjCNH6RN409ep5DlXmlFVWfn4eGnRVZA
| access-date =2009-10-25 }}</ref>
<ref name = "Hindusez">{{Cite web
| last =Menon
| first =Meena
| title =Farmers take to streets against SEZ in Raigad
| work =The Hindu
| date =2007-03-24
| url =http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/03/24/stories/2007032401131300.htm
| access-date =2009-10-25 }}</ref><ref name="Tatasez">{{Cite web|last=A. |first=Shaban |author2=Sharma R. N. |title=Social Impact Assessment of Maha Mumbai Special Economic Zone |publisher=Tata Institute of Social Sciences |date=December 2005 |url=http://www.tiss.edu/SIA_MMSEZ.pdf |access-date=2009-10-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060719010608/http://www.tiss.edu/SIA_MMSEZ.pdf |archive-date=19 July 2006 }}</ref>
Land prices are soaring and economy is growing rapidly but there are some serious concerns about uneven and unjust development.

*'''Ganesh Idols''' Pen is known for its Ganesh Idols which are used widely for the "Ganesh Festival". Many of Ganesh Idols in Mumbai are brought from Pen. There are multiple lanes [termed as "Ali"] which consist only of such Idol Making craftsmen. Going through these lanes one can see the whole process of developing Ganesh Idols. Number of Ganesh Idols are now even exported to the Marathi population in the US.<ref>[http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=../MaharashtraTourism/ArtsCrafts/GaneshaIdolsPen.html The Ganesha of Pen]</ref>
*'''[[Papadum#Business|Papad business]]''' Women in Pen are occupied in the domestic business of preparing " पोहे" or "Pohe" (flattened rice) and papad. Significance of Papad business is that this business is women dominated business. number of women workers are significantly high. There are hardly any male worker working in the Papad business. Moreover, owner of these papad business are women. There has been betterment in this business in past few years and they have introduced varieties of Papads. Today, there are approximately 72 to 75 types of papad that they manufacture. types of papad includes Tikali papad, Miragunda papad, Poha Papad, Rice Papad, Nachani Papad Fenugreek Papad etc. This business is on such high peak that they distribute papad not only in India but they export papads out of India.<ref>{{Cite web| title =Districts - Raigad - Economy - Industry| publisher =Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena| url =http://www.manase.org/en/maharashtra.php?mid=68&smid=22&did=11&dsid=9| format =asp| access-date =2009-10-25| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110919005853/http://www.manase.org/en/maharashtra.php?mid=68&smid=22&did=11&dsid=9| archive-date =19 September 2011| df =dmy-all}}</ref>
*'''Salt Production''' Due to unique geological features of Western part of Pen County (Vashi Subdivision), Pen has been for centuries hub of salt making industry dominated by [[Koli people|koli]] community while Brahmin people are also involved. .<ref>[http://raigad.nic.in/DG/1964/ind_large%20small.html Small and Medium industries- Kolaba Gazettier ]</ref>

==Education==
From historic times, city of Pen was center of education and culture in konkan region. In fact, [[Lokmanya Tilak]] used to call it "कोकणचे पुणे"([[Pune]] of [[Konkan]]) due to progressive mindset of Penkars and their love of knowledge.<ref>Page 11, कर्मयोगी रामभाऊ मंडलिक, Second Edition.</ref>
There were at least two school of Vedas(वेदशाळा) in Datar Ali area of Pen city, one of them in Sahasrabuddhe family. Pundits from all over [[Maharashtra]] used to come to Pen to make copies of rare ancient books(पोथी).<ref>Page 34, पेण शहराचा इतिहास, 2003 edition</ref> Sages of Pen especially Bhave, were so superior intellectually, that they defeated sages who accompanied Shankarachrya of [[Varanasi|Kashi]], in debates on Religious studies during his 1883 visit.<ref>[http://www.echavdi.com/itihas/After1857.php पेण तालुक्यातील स्वातंत्र संग्रामाचा ईतिहास (लेखक - प. रा. दाते) ]</ref>

English language instructions came to Pen in the late 19th century in the form of primary English classes started by [[Christian missionaries]]. This school moved to [[Alibag]] with the shifting of the district headquarters there. The Pen Municipal council started five classes, and subsequently Vinayak Narayan Manohar started the remaining two classes, naming them ''Pen Candidate Classes''.The Jewish community who lived in the Pen village adopted the last name of them as "पेणकर" or "Penkar" and it is still being continued wherever the decedents of their people settle, even in USA,Canada and Israel. [[Bubonic Plague#History|Plague]] caused this school to be closed. This English-Marathi school was later revived in the first decade of the 20th century. Balkrishna Shankar Karandikar started an industrial training school around this time; the Kokan Vidyalaya, which was later closed as a result of his arrest for involvement in [[India House#Nationalist movement|Jackson's shooting]] at Nasik in 1909. On 10 April 1910 the Pen Education society was formed, Pen Private High School was started, in Shankar Khanderao Phanse's [[bungalow]] (now the Maternity Hospital), from where it shifted in October 1912, to its present premises at the foot of ''Peer Dongri''.<ref>{{Cite web
| title =A brief history.
| work =Pen Education Society's web site.
| publisher =Pen Education Society
| year =2007
| url =http://peneducationsociety.in/history.htm
| access-date =2009-10-30 }}</ref>
Pen has a grand public library: The Mahatma Gandhi Vachanalay or "महात्मा गांधी वाचनालय".

==See also==
*[[Government Polytechnic Pen]]
*[[Raigad district]]
*[[Vinoba Bhave]]
*[[Rambhau Mandlik]]

==References==
<references/>

{{Raigad district topics}}
{{Mumbai metropolitan area}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Raigad district]]
[[Category:Talukas in Maharashtra]]

Pen, India - Revision history

imported>Rdp060707: Reverted edits by 2405:201:E005:5024:D052:3B94:FCA0:5778 (talk) to last revision by Feroze Ahmad 2: not providing a reliable source (WP:CITE, WP:RS)