ften referred to as backward and drought-hit, Bijapur is an important district that has been a treasure trove of antiquarian claims, both in legends and history. Established by the Chalukyas of Kalyani dynasty in 10th-11th century, the city is known for its imposing historical buildings, including the world-famous Gol Gumbaz.

Of late, it is also emerging as the hub of professional education and horticultural produces like grape and pomegranate.

The district, called as Vijayapura (city of victory) once, has seen great wars, political upheavals and worst natural calamities like famine since its inception. But it has successfully withstood all the man-made and natural disasters and transformed itself into an economically and politically vibrant district in the region.

History

As a strategic move, Chalukyas formed Bijapur city during 10th-11th century. They wanted to show their military strength and thereby protect their kingdom from enemy attack from the southern side. They nurtured and successfully protected the city till early 14th century.

After the fall of Chalukyas, the city came under the influence of the Khilji Sultanate in Delhi by the late 13th century. In 1347, the place was conquered by the Bahamani Sultanate of Gulbarga. In 1518, the Bahamani Sultanate split into five splinter states known as the Deccan sultanate, one of which was Bijapur, ruled by Adil Shahi kings from 1490 to 1686.

The city of Bijapur owes much of its greatness to Yusuf Adil Shah, the founder of the independent state of Bijapur. Adil Shahi dynasty ended in 1686, when Bijapur was conquered by Mughal emperor Aurangazeb. The Nizam of Hyderabad established his independence in the Deccan in 1724, and included Bijapur within his dominions. The Nizam suffered a defeat by the Marathas and ceded the region of Bijapur to the Maratha Peshwa.

British East India Company took control of Bijapur by defeating Peshwa in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818 and was assigned to the princely state of Satara and later to Britain's Bombay Presidency.

New district

The British carved a new district by the name Kaladagi. This district included areas presently coming under Bijapur and Bagalkot districts. Bijapur was made the administrative headquarters of the district in 1885, when the headquarters was moved from Kaladagi (now in Bagalkot district) to Bijapur city.

After independence in 1947, the district became part of Bombay state, and was reassigned to Mysore state, and later to Karnataka in 1956. The southern taluks of Bijapur district were separated in 1997 to form the new Bagalkot district.

Bijapur district comprises five taluks - Bijapur, Basavana-Bagewadi, Indi, Muddebihal and Sindagi.

People and culture

People from central Asian regions settled in this part, when they landed as part of the caravan with the kings. Migrants from other parts of the state and the country also came and settled in the district.

The local population is mainly a mix of Dravidian and Aryan descendants. Though a majority of them are Lingayats, in the urban areas one can find considerable population of other castes and communities also. Muslim population in the district is relatively high compared to other districts.

This may be attributed to the fact that the district was under the control of Muslim rulers - Bahamani Sultans, Adil Shahis, Mughals and later Hyderabad Nizams - for centuries.

People of the district, like their counterparts in other districts of North Karnataka, are a bit obtuse in keeping pace with fast changing society.

They are relatively slow in accepting changes taking place in culture, lifestyle and technology. As a result, they are lagging behind in the modernisation process, compared to people in southern districts. However, recent trends indicate that people are slowly opening up to the modern world and they are showing a keen interest in keeping themselves abreast of changes. Easy access to modern education has also increased people's awareness level in the district. The slang of the region too has its own unique character.

Food habit

As far as the food habits are concerned, the district has a distinctive food culture. People in the district prefer hot and spicy food. The staple food of the district is jowar, ground into flour and made rottis, eaten with vegetables. A variety of chutneys made of oil-seeds like groundnut, linseed and niger are also very popular with rotti. The taste of a meal consisting of sajji (bajra) rotti and gurellu (niger) chutney can be relished only by eating it. Huggi, another favourite dish of the district, made of boiled wheat and jaggery, is prepared during festivals.

Agriculture

Agriculture and related business are the main occupations of a majority of people in the district. Of the total geographical area, 74 per cent of the land is used for cultivation, while areas under forest account for only 0.19 per cent. This may be one of the reasons for the district to be known as bayaluseeme.
While only 17.3 per cent of the net cultivable area is irrigated, the rest 82.7 per cent of the area has to depend on rains.

The cropping pattern in the district reveals that food crops like jowar, wheat, maize and bajra among cereals, red gram, bengal gram and green gram among pulses are the major crops cultivated in the district. Oil seed crops like sunflower, groundnut and safflower are also grown in a sizeable quantity.

Horticulture crops - grapes, pomegranate, ber, guava, sapota and lime - have become popular options for the farmers of the district in the recent past. Three commercial crops the farmers have successfully tried their hand at are onion, cotton and sugarcane.

Though some small scale industries are operating in the district, no major industrial house has shown any interest in setting up their units in the district so far.

Education

Of late, Bijapur is emerging as a hub of professional education. Earlier, there were only a few educational institutions here. Now, along with professional colleges there are several institutes which offer under-graduate and post-graduate courses in arts, science and social sciences.

The Karnatak University, Dharwad has its PG centre in Bijapur. Besides, Bijapur boasts of the only Sainik School in the entire State. This is a boys' residential school preparing cadets for defence forces. The recently started Karnataka Women’s University has its headquarters in Bijapur.

Medical and engineering colleges started by BLDEA and Al-Ameen Association during the 80s heralded a new era in the socio-economic life of the people in the district.

Transport

Bijapur is well connected by rail and road. Though an airport has been sanctioned to the city, works like identifying land, developing air strip, etc. are yet to take off. The helipad at the Sainik School is used only when government guests or public office-bearers visit the district. It is not open for public.

The State-owned North-West Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation runs buses, including air-conditioned sleeper coaches, to all parts of the State. Private tour operators also ply luxury buses to Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Hubli, Dharwad and Belgaum from here.

Travelling in tongas (horse carts), especially in Bijapur city, will make the visit to this historical place a memorable one.

Art and culture

Navaraspur, where music concerts were held during the reign of Adil Shahi rulers, is about 7 km from the city. The ruins of the site are still visible. Every year, local administration organises the Navaraspur Music Festival to promote local art and culture and attract tourists.

Great personalities like Bhimsen Joshi, Ustad Alla Rakha, Zakir Hussain, Mallikarjun Mansur, Gangubai Hangal and many more have performed in this festival.

Shri Siddheshwar Temple situated at the heart of the city is a holy place for Hindus. During Makara Sankranti, a mega fair is organised by the Shri Siddheshwar Temple Trust.

This fair is well-known for trade in cattle. Farmers from neighbouring districts and the state of Maharashtra come to the fair to buy cattle. Fireworks organised as part of the fair is a major attraction.

Freedom struggle

Bijapur was not only host to many crucial meetings and conferences, including the Bombay Provincial Conference, Karnataka Khilapat Parishat and Karnataka Sahitya Parishat before independence, but also contributed to the freedom movement to a great extent.

The Prarthana Samaj of Bombay, Sarvajanika Sabha, Deccan Education Society of Poona, Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha of Dharwad, Lingayat Education Society and Basaveshwar Vidyavardhaka Sangha (now in Bagalkot district) played an important role in creating political awakening among the people of the district during freedom struggle and the Karnataka unification movement.

Name change

There were several attempts during Adil Shahis' rule to change the name of the city. Ibrahim Adil Shahi II named it Badyapur and Sultan Muhammed renamed it as Muhammedapur.

In an inscription found on the wall near Ibrahim Roza, Bijapur is called Vidyapur, the city of learning. In an old Persian manuscript map, Bijapur is called Darul-Zafar, the abode of victory. But the place has retained its original name Bijapur or Vijapur in Kannada.

Important places

There are several places in the district that have historical and social importance. Basavana Bagewadi (Ingaleshwar), the birth place of Basaveshwara, the great social reformer of 12th century, is prominent among them.

Talikota (Rakkasa-Tangadgi), a town located about 80 km from Bijapur, has historical significance. This is where the last battle between Vijayanagar Empire and Deccan Sultanates took place in 1565. The battle spelt the death knell for the last great Hindu kingdom in southern India.

Babanagar, a tiny village near Bijapur, is famous for its grapes. Grapes and raisins grown here are exported to Western and European countries.

Important personalities

Though the district is tagged with drought and backwardness, it has given great freedom fighters, writers, artistes and politicians to the nation. Prominent among them are Nayasena (of Dharmamrutha fame), social reformer Basaveshwara, Rukmangada Pandit Maharaja, Toravi Narashima (of Toravi Ramayan fame), Sufi saint Hashimpeer, Kaka Karkhanis, spiritual leaders Muja Gam, Tontadarya Swamiji, Siddheshwar Swamiji, former union minister Rajaram Dube (who was also a close associate of Jawaharlal Nehru), former president B D Jatti, B M Patil, known writers Ranna from Mudhol (now in Bagalkot district), Satyakama, Madhura Chenna, Simpi Linganna, dramatists Kandagal Hanamanth Rao, Handignur Sidramappa, pioneer of Kannada journalism Mohare Hanumanth Rao, V B Naik, I K Jagirdar, Vachana Pithamaha F G Halakatti, renowned cinema director V Shantaram, eye surgeon M C Modi... the list goes on.