Situated on
the
River Nag, Nagpur is the orange-growing capital of India. It was once the
capital of the central province, but was later incorporated into
Maharashtra. Long ago it was a centre for the aboriginal Gond tribes who
remained in power until the early 18th century, and many Gonds still live in
the region.
In the recent years
there has been some desultory agitation for a separate Indian stateof
Vidarbha, which would have Nagpur as its capital. On 18 October each year
the town is host to the thousands of Buddhists who come to celebrate the
anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhists in 1956. Dr. Ambedkar,
a low-caste Hindu, was an important figure during the fight for
independence, and was Law Minister and leader of the Scheduled Castes. An
estimated three million low caste hindus followed him in converting to
Buddhism.
There is a little of
interest to attrach travellers, except those heading for Gandhi Ashram at
sevagram or taking a break on the long journey across the subcontinent.
