ASHTI

Ashti, though small, is a rapidly developing township of 4,888 inhabitants in Arvi tahsil, lying just below the Satpuda hills in the north of the district about 50 miles from Wardha and 15 miles north of Arvi. It is connected with Arvi railway station on the metre gauge and Pulgaon junction on the broad gauge by a good all weather motorable road which crosses the AmravatiNagpur road at Talegaon and further passing through Arvi and Rohna goes to Pulgaon. Tradition ascribes Ashti to the legendary period of the Gavli rule, but it subsequently became desolate. During Emperor Akbar's reign, Ashti along with Anji, Wadhona, and Karanja of Wardha district was included in the Gavilgad paragana where Akbar's authority was only de jure, the de facto authority being held by the Gond rulers. When Jahangir succeeded his father he gave Ashti, Amner, Pavnar, and Talegaon (Berar) paraganas in jagir to Muhammad Khan Niazi, an Afghan nobleman of high rank. The credit of restoring Ashti and bringing large tracts of the surrounding land under cultivation goes to this nobleman. He died at Ashti in A.D. 1627, a handsome mausoleum in the Moghal style being erected over the spot where he was laid to rest. Ahmad Khan Niazi, a relative of his, succeeded him and after ruling for 24 years over these territories, died in 1651, a similar but smaller and less handsome mausoleum being erected over his tomb. The two mausoleums stand side by side and are worth a visit. Repairs were carried out to these tombs only once since their construction. Crowning the top of a small hillock in the vicinity of the town, is a tomb of a Muhammedan saint by name Pir Bajit which is worshipped every Thursday both by the Hindus and the Muhammedans. An annual urus attended by about 5,000 persons is held in honour of the saint. A dome was recently added to the tomb. There is also a temple dedicated to Kapaleshvar.

Ashti really consists of two villages, Ashti and Ahmadpur, their contiguity being broken by a small stream called the Lendi nala. The population is mainly agricultural the town being a considerable market centre for chillis, cotton, bananas and oranges. Over 40 betelleaf gardens exist in the vicinity of the town. There is a large market place and the weekly market is held on Sundays. Recently a large tank known as Ashti talav was harnessed for irrigation, thus extending considerably the area under irrigation. The town is also a centre for handloom cloth and has a cotton ginning and pressing factory organised on cooperative basis, as also an oil mill. Ashti has two high schools, a post office, a police station, a janapada dispensary and a veterinary aid centre. There is also a rest house and a bus stand.

Ashti shot into prominence during the 1942 Quit India Movement when fired upon by the police the freedom fighters set fire to the police station and in the action that followed one subinspector and four police constables lost their lives. Seven freedom fighters laid down their lives while fighting. This incident is wellknown and has gone down in the history of the Indian Independence Movement as AshtiChimur episode. A memorial in the form of a pillar has been erected to commemorate the hutatmas or martyrs where a function is held on the Nagpanchami day.
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