Vidarbha (Marathi: विदर्भ) is the eastern region of Maharashtra state, India made up of the Nagpur Division and the Amravati Division. Its former name is Berar (Varhad in Marathi).[2][3] It occupies 31.6% of total area and holds 21.3% of total population of Maharashtra.[1] It borders the state of Madhya Pradesh to the north, Chattisgarh to the east, Andhra Pradesh to the south and Marathwada and K
handesh regions of Maharashtra to the west. Situated in central India, Vidarbha has its own rich cultural and historical background distinct from rest of Maharashtra. The largest city in Vidarbha is Nagpur, the second largest is Amravati while Akola stands third followed by Bhandara, Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Wardha and Gondia. The Nagpur region is famous for growing oranges and cotton. Vidarbha holds two-thirds of Maharashtra's mineral resources, three quarters of its Forest Resources. Vidarbha has Tadoba Tiger project, Melghat Tiger Project, Pench Tiger Project, Bor Sanctuary, Navegaon and Nagzira Wild life Sanctuaries near Bhandara district, all are located in Vidarbha region. Vidarbha holds two-thirds of Maharashtra's mineral resources, three quarters of its forest resources, and is a net producer of power.[4] Throughout its history, Vidarbha has remained much calmer during the communal troubles than the rest of India; but it is plagued very much by poverty[5] and malnutrition.[6] It is less economically prosperous compared to the rest of Maharashtra.[7]
In recent times, there have been calls for a separate state of Vidarbha, due to perceived neglect from the Government of Maharashtra and incompetent political leadership in Vidarbha. The living conditions of farmers in this region are poor compared to India as a whole. There have been more than 200,000 farmers' suicides in Maharashtra in a decade, of which 70% being in the 11 districts of Vidarbha region.[8] Though rich in minerals, coal, forests and mountains, this region is always underdeveloped because of its continuous dominance by the political leadership from the other parts of the state, especially Western Maharashtra. Though being culturally, politically and financially different from the rest of Maharashtra, the calls for a separate state come in picture only when the leaders from this region are sidelined by the other higher authorities in the govt. of Maharashtra.[9] It has largely become a myth as a separate Vidarbha state, mainly due to the opposition from the state political party Shiv Sena.[10]
