History
Pune is known to have existed as a town since 937 AD. Pune was originally called
Punawadi.Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire, lived in
Pune as a young boy, and later oversaw significant growth and development of the
town during his reign.
In 1730, Pune became an important political center as the seat of the Peshwa, the
prime minister of the Chhatrapati of Satara. After the town was annexed to British
India in 1817, it served as a cantonment town and as the "monsoon capital" of the
Bombay Presidency until the independence of India Today, Pune is known for its educational
facilities and relative prosperity. Pune is the cultural capital of Maharashtra.
Pune has well-established manufacturing, glass, sugar, and forging industries since
the 1950-60s. It has a growing industrial hinterland, with many information technology
and automotive companies setting up factories in Pune district. The city is known
for various cultural activities like classical music, spirituality, theater, sports,
and literature. These activities and job opportunities attract migrants and students
from all over India and abroad, which makes for a city of many communities and cultures.
The name Pune is derived from Punya-Nagari (Sanskrit, "City of Virtue"). The oldest
reference to this name was found on a Rashtrakuta copper plate dated 937, that refers
to the town as Punya-Vishaya or Poonak-Vishaya. By the 13th century, it had come
to be known as Kasbe Pune or Punavadi. The city's name is sometimes transcribed
as Poona in English, a practice particularly common during the British Raj. The
spelling Pune was formally adopted in 1976.
Culture
Pune is said to be the cultural capital of the state of Maharashtra. It epitomizes
the Marathi culture, which lays emphasis on education, arts and crafts, music, and
theatre. Pune has emerged as a centre of modern architecture in India, with prize
winning buildings. Pune culture reflects a blend of traditions with modernity, as
along with hosting classical shows.