Karad

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Karad | type = city | latd = 17.28 | longd = 74.2
locator_position = right | state_name = Maharashtra
district = Satara
leader_title = |MLAleader_name = |Shri. Shrinivas Patilaltitude = 566
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 56,149| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = |+91-2164postal_code = |415110vehicle_code_range = |MH 11sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website = |www.karadinfo.comfootnotes =

Karad (Devanagari: कराड) is a city and a municipal council in Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It lies at the confluence of Koyna River and the Krishna River, popularly known as 'Preetisangam'. The rivers meet exactly opposite to each other formining shape as letter "T", hence it is called 'Preetisangam'. Moreover Krishna & Koyna originate at Mahabaleshwar & meet at Karad. It will be of interest to know that their length from originating point to meeting point is almost same. That is the uniqueness in the world Karad is well known for Sugar Production & known as the "sugar-bowl" of Maharashtra owing to the presence of many sugar factories in and around Karad.It has many prestigious educational institutes such as Govt. Engg. College and KIMS Medical college.

Geography

Karad is located at coord|17.28|N|74.2|E|region:IN_type:city|display=inline,title. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Karad.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Karad] ] It has an average elevation of 566 metres (1856 feet). Karad is located near Agashiva coord|17.237506|74.15205|region:IN_type:city. It has been referred in great epic Mahabharata. It has "Aum" Devanagari ॐ Shape when viewed aerially. Karad has strong influence over Politics of Maharashtra, as first Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Honorable Mr. Yashavantrao Chavan, was from Karad and he is the person who could reach up to as highest place as Deputy Prime Minister of India.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Karad had a population of 56,149. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Karad has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 72%. In Karad, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Educational Institutes

It hosts a
#Government Engineering College
#Government Polytechnic College
#Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences
#Government Pharmacy College
#Yashwantrao Chavan Science College
#Venutai Chavan Commerce college
#SGM Arts,Science,Commerce College
#am. Anandrao Chavan College
#Diploma College of Architecture
#Bhartiya Vidyapeeth Engineering College
#Law College
#Govtrnment ITI
#Yashavantrao Mohite Institute of Management
#Mahila Maha Vidyalaya
#Bapuji Salunkhe College

It is recognized as an education centre in Southern Maharashtra.

Notable residents

#Yashwantrao Chavan(12 March 1913 - 25 November 1984), an eminent Congress party politician hailed from Karad. He was the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra and also served as the Defence minister, Finance minister, Home minister, Foreign Affairs minister, and as the Deputy Prime Minister of India at different times. Tembhu, one of the mega-projects under the Krishna Valley scheme, is situated near Karad.


#Gopal_Ganesh_Agarkar(1856-1895) Also Tembhu is the birth place of Gopal Ganesh Agarkar. Gopal Ganesh Agarkar was a social reformer from Maharashtra, India during the British rule. He was the first editor of Kesari, a wellknown Marathi weekly at that time. He left Kesari after ideological differences with Lokmanya Tilak and started his own periodical named Sudharak. The difference of opinion was about the primacy of political reforms versus social reforms. Agarkar, Tilak and Vishnu Shastri Chiplunkar were the founder members of 'Deccan Education Society' [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopal_Ganesh_Agarkar]
#Khashaba Jadhav (15'th Jan. 1926 - 14 Aug. 1984) Born in very poor farmer family at Goleshwar Tal. Karad, the only Olympic Medal Winner for India till 2000. He was honored by individual Bronze medal on 23 July 1952, in 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games for Wrestling in bantamweight which is the unbeaten record for India in wrestling till today. In 1993, Maharashtra State awarded him Shiv Chatrapati Award posthumously. In 2001, Central Govt. has also awarded him 'Arjuna Award' posthumously. [http://www.satara.nic.in/htmldocs/prominet_personalities2.htm link title]

References