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Heritage India Unveils Maharashtra History Book, Gift of the Sahyadris
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Mumbai, Heritage India Communications Pvt Ltd announced Gift of the Sahyadris: The Story and Glory of Maharashtra, a lavish 280-page coffee table book that traced nearly two millennia of the region’s history, from the Satavahana period in the 1st century CE to the formation of Maharashtra on May 1, 1960. The publication explored how geography, faith, political power and its people shaped the state’s distinctive identity.
The announcement was attended by Dr Tejas Garge, Director of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra, as Chief Guest, while Unman Bankar, one of the writers of the blockbuster film Chhaava, attended as Guest of Honour. Their presence brought together perspectives from Maharashtra’s archaeological scholarship and contemporary storytelling.
The book was introduced at a time when Maharashtra’s historical legacy was receiving renewed international attention. In 2025, twelve forts associated with the Maratha Military Landscapes were inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, joining celebrated heritage sites such as Ajanta and Ellora. The publication placed these landmarks within a wider historical narrative.
Speaking at the announcement, Manjiri Khandekar, CEO of Heritage India, explained that the organisation had spent two decades making history more accessible through tourism, publishing and education. Drawing inspiration from its earlier coffee table book, Punyakatha: Pune’s Story of a Million Years, the team sought to create a similarly ambitious publication on Maharashtra, combining scholarly research with maps, photographs, illustrations and an engaging narrative.
Journalist and author Kalyani Sardesai, who wrote and creatively visualised the book, said the intention was to go beyond a conventional history text and present Maharashtra’s story in a way that connected with readers’ lives. Dramatisation and poetry were woven into the historical account to make the subject more relatable, while retaining its depth and breadth.
Sardesai also highlighted the distinctiveness of Maharashtra’s identity, shaped by its cultural traditions, educational achievements, industrial development and social evolution. Despite Mumbai’s standing as a global film industry hub and the state’s considerable cultural wealth, she observed that Maharashtra’s larger historical narrative had often received less attention than it deserved.
Unman Bankar emphasised the importance of introducing Maharashtra’s history to younger generations. He acknowledged the challenge of presenting such a vast subject and appreciated the editorial effort that helped maintain focus throughout the book.
Dr Tejas Garge, a former contributor to Heritage India Communications’ magazines, including Maharashtra Unlimited and Heritage India, commended the publishers for bringing out a comprehensive volume that combined visual appeal with substantial historical content.
The Sahyadris: The Landscape Behind Maharashtra’s History
At the centre of the book stood the Sahyadri mountain range, part of the Western Ghats, a region renowned for its biodiversity. The mountains influenced monsoon patterns, nourished river systems such as the Godavari, Krishna and Bhima, and provided settings for ancient cave monasteries. In later centuries, their rugged terrain also served as a strategic foundation for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s vision of Swarajya.
Designed for readers aged 12 and above, Gift of the Sahyadris covered Maharashtra’s ancient, medieval and modern periods. It examined the relationship between geography and history, explored the state’s rock-cut caves and formidable forts, and traced the circumstances that preceded the rise of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The narrative also followed the evolution and decline of the Peshwai, alongside Maharashtra’s emergence as a centre of education, journalism, social reform, cosmopolitan thought and innovation. It culminated in the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement, during which 106 people lost their lives, and the formation of the state on May 1, 1960.
Beyond political history, the publication explored the spiritual and literary traditions that shaped Maharashtra’s cultural identity. It featured the saint-poets Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram, the Warkari tradition, and the development of Marathi as a language of devotion, administration and literature.
Women who influenced the state’s history also received dedicated attention, including Jijabai, Tarabai, Ahilyabai Holkar and Savitribai Phule. Separate sections on Vidarbha, Marathwada, Konkan, Khandesh and Western Maharashtra highlighted the distinctive histories and cultural characteristics of the state’s different regions.
The book featured illustrations by Rahul Deshpande, Anant Dere, Tejas Modak and Madhumita Shinde. Its research panel included historians Dr Ajit Apte, Professor P. K. Ghanekar and Dr Manjiri Bhalerao.
Conceived as a lasting addition to family collections, school libraries and personal bookshelves, the publication was positioned as a keepsake for readers across generations. Released ahead of Diwali, it also offered a meaningful gifting option for history enthusiasts, residents of Maharashtra and anyone interested in understanding the state’s heritage.
Industrialist Dr Abhay Firodiya was scheduled to formally launch Gift of the Sahyadris: The Story and Glory of Maharashtra on October 31, 2026, at the auditorium of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune.
