The present tower of Shah Buru at Ambajogai District in Beed is of historical importance and is also known as Laman Buruj. Mominabad was the Nizami name of present Ambajogai. In 1942, the government installed a radio on this tower. Nizam's army had a permanent base camp at Ambajogai. This radio was installed so that the soldiers could hear the war news. Ordinary citizens were allowed to listen to this news. But still, people used to gather under the tower to listen to the news. The historic incident of destruction of this radio by freedom fighter Srinivasa Khot took place here. The Nizam of Hyderabad had his permanent base camp at Ambajogai. The British government also kept its 500 cavalry in this base camp of the Nizam. In 1939, the Second World War started. This radio was used by the government to convey war news to the Nizam and the officers and soldiers of the British army to give instructions/announcements to the local population. After Mahatma Gandhi announced the Chale jav movement in August 1942, it reached far and wide in India and in various institutions. In Hyderabad, Swami Ramanand Teerth and his followers at many places in the institution started the Satyagraha. Swamiji, Babasaheb Paranjape, R.D. Deshpande, were arrested. This Satyagraha inspired teachers and students of the Yogeshwari New Vidyalaya and the sentiment was revived by Swamiji at Ambajogai to take part in the agitation. Everyone participated and raised slogans such as “Vande Mataram” and “Jai Hind” against the Nizam and the British. The radio was hijacked by Shah Buruj. Srinivasa Khot was active in various agitations. He was imprisoned many times and had got severe punishments. Since his student days, he had actively participated in the 1942 movement, the freedom movement, the Hyderabad Liberation Movement, and the Goa Liberation Movement. Although there is no reference as to when the construction of this tower took place, it was called Jayatpala's Fort during the pre-Nizam period. The Nizam might have developed this fort and converted it into a watch tower. This Shah Buruj stands today as a testimony to the bravery and freedom movement of Srinivas Khot.
Source of Information1 (with proper reference)
- Information from Marathwada Janata Vikas Parishad, Branch Ambajogai.
- Information was obtained by visiting Shah Buruj in person.
- A book was written by freedom fighter Digambar Veerdhe "Hyderabadcha Mukti Sangram aani aamhi ".
Contact details/email Id of the concerned officer:
Madhav Dattatraya Joshi, DRP CCRT, Beed District (Maharashtra), (Asst. Teacher), Swa. Savarkar High School, Sarafa Road, Beed – 431122 (MAH.)
Byline: Madhav Dattatraya Joshi, DRP – CCRT