The Tuljapur Epidemic:
Shortly after Subedar Amir Ali Khan took over the reins of Suba Gulbarga (in the then Hyderabad State) in 1937 the Tuljapur Epidemic broke out. Tuljapur (now in Maharashtra) is known for its philosophical stories associated with the famous Tuljapur Temple. Hundreds of Thousands of people from all over India throng to this Temple Town every year to participate in the Annual Jatra held on a particular day of the year.
More than 100,000 Pilgrims attend the Jatra, drawn from four corners of India. None of the previous district officials had made any special arrangements to provide the necessary amenities to such a large number of Pilgrims as well the thousands of Vendors, Hawkers, Thhela Bandi Wallahs, Food and Snacks Sellers, Toy Sellers, Giant Wheel and other Playground Equipment Wallahs, Magicians, Snake Charmers, Musicians, Soothsayers, Singers, Dancers, Monkey Wallahs, Bear Wallahs, Jokers, Story Tellers, Conjurers, Con Men, Hakims, Vaids, Quacks and God Men who keep a track of_ and survive on the business generated during_ such Jatras, Urs’ and Melas being conducted in quick succession at one Temple Dargah or the other in different places throughout the country on different dates almost throughout the year.
While the situation with regard to planning and provision of Pilgrim amenities, safety, health and hygiene in other such Pilgrimage centers was nothing to boast about it was particularly grim in Tuljapur. In addition to these problems, there used to be traffic chaos while trekking over the dingy, pot holed and just 12 feet wide road leading to the Jatra place. Subedar Saab ordered this road to be widened to 60 feet to ease the traffic jam for the pilgrims.
Lack of safe drinking water, proper sanitation and drainage, open defecations and generally very unhygienic conditions culminated into an Epidemic of Cholera and Plague spread like wild fire.
The Epidemic started spreading with no let up. Subedar Amir Ali Khan took note of the grim situation. And like an Army Commander he hastened to mobilize the state resources to fight the Epidemic he set the tone and pace of the entire Suba administration on a War Footing. Subedar Saab immediately mobilized the Medical and Health wing and all available Doctors and health workers and kept them on their toes until the unfortunate Health Emergency lasted. The services of other departmental employees were also commandeered and they were immediately pressed into relief and rehabilitation work. Wasting no further time, Overhead Water Tanks were ordered to be built. And in order to meet the temporary exigency expediently, Water in Bulk was brought in tankers from adjoining areas.
A special Sanitation and Cleanliness drive was undertaken and the people were advised to take necessary precautions and also to isolate and report even their near and dear ones if any symptoms of Cholera or Plague were noticed in them. They were also being advised to use the Temporary Toilets and Baths built by the Government instead of relieving themselves in the open or taking bath in the fields, near water courses and ponds. Garbage was removed and burnt, dead rats, which are the major Carriers of the Bubonic Plague Virus were destroyed by burning and the remaining live rats were caught in hundreds of Rat Traps that were set up and killed with Rat Poison in a special drive involving the villagers and some volunteer pilgrims. Those that had already contracted the disease were isolated, Quarantined treated and the unaffected were given preventive medicines as were available during those days.
With all these measures, implemented with clockwork precision and at great speed, the Epidemic subsided without taking a further toll of people, apart from those who had already caught the infection and had died before any treatment could reach them.
The total toll in such a major Epidemic in Tuljapur was in Hundreds which could actually have escalated perhaps to thousands, had the Subedar Saab not taken the measures he did and had he not remained in the forefront of this war against the Twin Epidemic day and night and had he not inspired the people and his subordinates to risk their own lives to save hundreds of thousands of Pilgrims by his own personal example.
People heaved a sigh of relief and Subedar Saab got a well deserved respite when the Cholera and Plague Epidemics beat a hasty retreat without leaving a trail of death and destruction they were otherwise capable of.
Given below is a translation of a Memorandum written in Urdu and submitted to the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad Sir Akbar Hyderi by the chairman and the members of the Town Improvement Board Tuljapur, acknowledging the service rendered by Subedar Saab to the town.
“To,
His Excellency Right Hon’ble Sir Akbar Hyderi, Nawab Hyder Nawaz Jung Bahadur,
The Prime Minister of Hyderabad.
Sir,
We are the inhabitants of Tuljapur town in Usmanabad District, where the famous Sri Tulja Bhavani Temple, a noted pilgrim centre is located. The population of this town is 6057, out of which 5354 persons are directly or indirectly dependant on this temple for their livelihoods. More than one lakh pilgrims from all parts of India come to this small town for a darshan of the Devi, during the annual Jatra.
The habitations of the pilgrims in and around the Jatra places become so densely populated that the pilgrims found it difficult to move around and face great difficulties in travelling.Traffic chaos were rampant while trekking over the dingy, pot holed and just 10-14 feet wide road that lead to the temple from the Jatra place. The width of old and meandering passages within the town, made it difficult for such a large number of pilgrims to travel safely. None of the previous district officials had made any special arrangements in Tuljapur town to provide the necessary amenities to such a large number of Pilgrims and our pleas were brushed aside on the excuse that there were denser populations and narrower passages everywhere in India. The sufferings faced by the pilgrims due to this lack of interest and planning on the part of the administration need not be emphasized. But shortly after Subedar Amir Ali Khan took over the reins of Suba Gulbarga, he ordered this road to be widened to 100 feet to ease the traffic jam for the pilgrims.
Your Excellency have been known for time bound program execution and luckily during your period we were provided with all kinds of amenities, facilities and comforts that we are short of words to thank your Excellency and our benign ruler H.E.H. the Nizam, for his munificence. We offer our thanks to your Excellency and request your Excellency to convey our thanks to the H.E.H. the Nizam. We will feel elated and honored if the same is accepted. Your Excellency, during his reign, Subedar Amir Ali Khan has turned his special attention to solve the problems of this pilgrim town. The width of this new road, which is already opened for traffic, is 60 feet and wide foot paths are built on either side. Electrical poles with streetlights are being installed and will shortly be illuminated. Trees are planted on both sides of the footpaths. In a few years the trees will grow up to provide shade to the pilgrims.
Your Excellency, the construction of this new road cost about Rs. Fifty thousand. We are deeply grateful to your Govt. and the H.E.H. for the sanction of this huge amount. Water works, Electricity and Drainage works have been ordered by the Subedar Saab with a cost of Rs. 36800/- and the same are in progress. We are also thankful to Moulvi Samiullah Sahib, special engineer water works and his officers who are aware of our needs and doing their work sincerely under the guidance of Subedar Saab. Your Excellency is aware that due to the shortfall in rains in the year 1346 Fasli, all but one well of the town dried up and not even a bowl of water could be fetched from them. As a result, your subjects were forced to fetch water from a distance of two miles. Due to the unhygienic conditions resulting from water shortage, an epidemic of Cholera broke out and eight to ten deaths were being reported on a daily basis. As soon as Subedar Amir Ali Khan, the Collector of this district received this information, he made arrangements forthwith and provided emergency relief and facilities to the subjects for protecting their lives. His sympathetic attitude and sincere services to the people of this town cannot be forgotten by us. The Hygiene department on the one hand started preventive measures against Cholera through inoculations / vaccinations and on the other the local fund department installed a pump set and constructed water galleries at the lone working well two miles away. 500 Gallon steel water storage tanks with taps were installed at various places within the town and habitations. Water from the above said well and adjoining areas was brought in day and night in tankers and people, irrespective of cast and creed took water from these taps. People were also being advised to use the Temporary Toilets and Baths built by the Government instead of relieving themselves in the open or taking bath in the fields, near water courses and ponds. The epidemic has completely subsided by the grace of God. Had not these and similar measures and arrangements made by Your Excellency’s Government through the district administration, God only knows how many more deaths in Tuljapur town would have occurred among the local inhabitants as well as among the pilgrims.
Your Excellency, if we describe our state of affairs and the favors of the concerned authorities, it will continue for long. So we limit our submission saying that whenever the ordure tasked, Hon’ble Revenue Member, Mr. R.N.Crofton or Nawab Ghouse Yar Jung visits Tuljapur, there is a likelihood of new favors, and the splendor and brightness in this town as a result of favors of the above said persons. And from auspicious tour of your Excellency, we hope that Tuljapur will be linked to a railway line. We have submitted our state of affairs in short before your Excellency. We request your Excellency to inaugurate the road for traffic by your auspicious hands and convey our request to H.E.H the Nizam.
We pray to God that our rulers’ power be resplendent and His Highness the Prince of Berar and Prince Moazzam Jah may live long. We also pray that your Excellency should hold the portfolio of Prime Minister ship with the perfect condition of health.
Loyal to your Excellency
Chairman and Members of town
Improvement Board
Tuljapur.
