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HISTORY

Indore city cannot claim very hoary antiquity. First available reference to the place dates back to the year 1661, when it was a village, assuming the name of Indrapur. But the locality has yielded a canopy of a Jain Image, an image of Hanuman and a door frame all of the 12^th century A.D. These remains are exhibited in the Central Museum of Indore. This fact proves the antiquity of the locality. During the Mughal regime it was in Mahal Kampel under Sarkar Ujjain of "Subah" Malwa. Since the first quarter of the 18^th century, the importance of the village began to increase as it formed a regular stage on the march-route of the Marathas. This gave an impetus to its trade, which attached the attention of Zamindars of Kampel.

Malhar Rao Holkar, the founder of the royal Holkar family liked this village for its military importance and named it Malhar Nagari. He also started a mint here. His daughter-in-law Ahilya Bai made Indore the Pargana or District headquarters. She liked the situation of the village and founded a new village opposite the old village (Juni Indore.)

The place prospered till 1801, when Sharzarao Ghatge, the General of Sindhia brought about ruination of the place. Malhar Rao Holkar II rebuilt his palace at Indore and he transferred the capital of his domain to Indore from Maheshwar and Rampura Bhanpura in 1818. Till the formation of Madhya Bharat State in 1948 it was the capital of Holkar State. During 1948-55 it was the summer capital of the new State.

Indore continued to flourish and prosper in all respects, viz., trade, commerce, industry, education, public life, medical facilities and growth of population.

Indore city has now become one of the largest trade centers of Madhya Pradesh. In this growing emporium of trade there are many wholesale and retail marketing centers or localities, several joint-stock banks, co-operative banks and societies, a number of general insurance companies, Madhya Pradesh State Financial Corporation and a number of other private commercial concerns.

It is also the most important industrial center, where a number of industrial concerns like cotton weaving and spinning mills, engineering works, oil mills and many other manufacturing concerns have their own industrial establishments. The Governments of the State has established a large Industrial Estate and constructed an ideal labour colony known as Nanda Nagar. The labour organizations have constructed an ideal Shram Shivir through which activities of labour welfare are conducted. The Shivir has now become a place of interest.

In respect of education, the city has become one of the most important center of learning. A number of Government and non-Government institutions cater to the need of primary, middle and higher education through the medium of various languages. On collegiate education side, many colleges and institutions run by the agencies both Government and non-Government impart education in the fields of art, oriental studies, science, commerce, law, music, engineering, technology, agriculture, arts and crafts, medicines (both Ayurvedic and Allopathic). Indore is the headquarters of the Indore University. There are a number of hostels for men and women scholars in the city. There are numerous public libraries and reading rooms run by the literary and cultural societies of the city. The city has witnessed the publication and closure of many newspapers and periodicals. Today it publishes a number of dailies, biweeklies, fortnightlies, monthlies, etc. The place has to its credit above 50 important printing presses and it has become one of the important publishing centers of the state.

The Municipal Corporation of the city looks after civic affairs and electricity is available for industrial, agricultural and domestic purposes. A beautifully built new powerhouse is situated near the Railway Station, safe and protected water supply is made available for the public from various sources like tanks, wells etc.

There are many cinema houses, public gardens and parks in the city for recreation of the public. A number of voluntary social service organizations of the city are carrying out activities of public interests and utilities.

As regards, the medical facilities may be mentioned, that in the city there are a number of Ayurvedic and Allopathic Dispensaries, Civil-hospitals, T.B. hospitals (Sanatorium), Maternity and Child Welfare centers, Family-Planning centers, Public Health centers, Veterinary Dispensaries and hospitals, Leper asylum, etc. Besides this, a number of private medical practitioners have their own dispensaries, clinics etc.