The Prayer of Sewagram, march of Paunar and the Ashti’s Revolutinary freedom is nothing but the soul of Wardha District. As of  the other districts in Maharashtra State, though Wardha District is smaller in area but greater with its fame. 

The existing Wardha district was part of Nagpur district till 1862. Further it was separated for convenient administrative purpose and Kawatha near Pulgaon was the district Head quarter. In the year 1866, the district head quarter moved at Palakwadi village which is the existing place and then Wardha city is habited there. Wardha District is of three divisions and eight Talukas. 

Wardha district is situated at Western side of Wardha-Vainganga vallies in South - East Maharashtra. District is covered with Satpuda Hills at the north where as Western side is occupied by the vallies of river Purna. The plane Plato of the Nagpur District is at Eastern side where as  the river Wardha flows from the boundaries of the North, West and South. 

Polytical Greatness 

In the year 1934, Mahatma Gandhi came at Wardha. He selected the Segao as his functioning land with Shri Jamanalal Bajaj. Further the Segaon renamed as Sewagram. Afterward Wardha district is found more important not only in India but in World also.In Indian freedom movement, Sewagram and Wardha District became immortal. As per the Gandhiji’s directions, Aacharya Vinoba Bhave settled at Paunar and constituted the Ashram on the bank of river Dham at the Wardha-Nagpur road. 

Vinoba Bhave was staying long time in village Gopuri near Wardha. Late. Jamanalal Bajaj was staying in small hut where now Gitai Temple is constructed.

Many important leaders had visited Wardha due to giving the new vision for Political, Social as well as Educational methods. President Rajendra Prasad, Moulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Pt. Jawaharlal Neharu, Acharya Kriplani, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Veer Sawarkar, Subhashchandra Bose, Khan Abdul Gaffar khan, Narayanji Agarwal, Rajashri Tandan, Dr. Radhakrishnan, Indira Gandhi, Acharya Aryanayakam, Dr. J.C. Kumarappa, Kamraj, Acharya Dhrmadhikari, Poet Keshavsoot, Ram Manohar Lohiya, Sarojini Nayadu etc. great leaders also came in Wardha. 

Regarding Indian Freedom Movement, various important decisions have been taken in Sevagram Ashram. Therefore it was also known as the non-government Capital of India. Different religious, various ladies-gents delegates from other countries visited the Ashram and mate Gandhiji to resolve the  Political, Social, Religious issues. The British reprehensive Lord Lothian visited Wardha and traveled by bullock cart. Madam Chang Cashek from China, Lui Fisher could understand the real problems of India by visiting the Ashram. 

Share in Freedom Struggle 

From the year 1934, when Mahatma Gandhi staying in Wardha, many important decisions for Indian future have been taken in that environment. The Indian freedom movement directed from the Sevagram. Gandhiji had initiated his personal 'satyagraha' of 1940 from Ashram. Vinoba Bhave was the first Indian 'Satyagrahi' of this movement. All British rules have been intensifying opposed by the 'Bharat Chhodo' (Leave India) Movement which was originated in Sevagram Ashram only.  

9th August Revolution

At the time of Freedom Movement in 1940, Smt. Sarayutai Dhotre had addressed to the freedom fighters at Wardha Station. She had been arrested on the same place. Suddenly Police began the firing in which Shri Jangluji Dhale and Chinnabai shot dead who were went to unfold the tricolor flag in Gandhi Chouk. Further British Police had arrested the other member of the movement. Therefore peoples have began the strong movement against the Police by disturbing the Police vans, breaking of the railway tracks etc. D.C.P., D.M. had also been suffered due to this movement. Therefore the strong fine imposed on the entire village and collected from the poor farmers.      

16th August Revolution

All villages of the Arvi Taluka have started this revolution  on Nagpanchami day 16^th August 1942. Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj gave the slogan ‘Pathar Saare Bomb Banenge, Bhakt Banegi Sena’. Therefore Ashti became the origin for the movement and on 16^th August march pass was arranged on Police Station. The on duty Station Incharge have ordered the shout exiting in which six revolutionary were died and four were injured. This issue was reached at the Londan where for ten revolutionary hang till death, for fifty five imprisonment have been ordered. Four revolutionary were already dead Jail. Total 112 peoples became the accused. Therefore the Ashti event became one of the major  memorable history in Indian Freedom Revolution.  

Therefore every year on each Nagpanchami, the 16^th August Revolution is celebrated in Ashti as a Hutatam Din. In Wardha district, Hutatam Smaraks are there at Ashti, Peth, Ahamadapur, Wadala, Khadki, Sahur, Arvi, Wardha, Sewagram etc. 

Cultural Wardha District        

In the Vidarbha region , Wardha district have regularly given the support to fields viz. Cultural, Social, Literature. It had given famous artiste, well known philosophers. It is the land of Gandhiji’s Satyagrahi thoughts. It is the landmark of Bhudan movement of Vinobaji. 

It had given lot for Marathi Cinema. Famous Producer-Director Rajdatta, Sanjay Surkar, Sculpture and Painter B. Vithal, Harihar Pande, T.G. Patankar, Famous writer Wamanrao Chorghade, Waradi encyclopediatic Pro. Devidas Sote, Musician Dr. Prakash Sangeet, Kamalabai Bhande, Flute artist Narendra Shah any many more personalities have initiated their work in Wardha district. Pro. Shyam Manav has started his ‘Andha Shradha Nirmulan’ movement from Wardha and now it is spread all over the India. 

Theaters and Drama

The credit of maintaining and keep alive the cultural activities goes to Theaters and Dramatists in  Wardha district. The famous theater artiste Late M.D. Deshmukh, Purushottam Darvekar, Dinkarrao Deshpande and many other peoples have given their valuable support in theater field. One of the theater is also developed due to continues efforts by Shri M.D. Deshmukh. 

Literature and Philosophers

Mahatma Gandhi, Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Kaka Kalelkar, Acharya Dada Dharmadhikari, Kundar Deewan, Nirmala Deshpande all these great writers have developed the philosophical as well as thoughtful literacy in Marthi and Hindi Languages. Dr. Shriman Narayan Agarwal, Shri Krishnadasji Jaju, Madalsa Narayan, Thakurdasji Bang, Narayandas Jaju, Bhante Anand Koushalyayan, Umashankar Shukla, Asaram Varma, Dr. Surendra Barlinge, Padmakar Chitale, Manohar Varhadpande, Dr. Sadashiv Dange, Damodardas Mundada, Dr. M.G. Bokre etc writer have written thoughtful writings and contributed in Hindi as well as English languages. The Gitai by Vinoba Bhave had the great position in Marathi Literature . 

Music

Famous Harmonium artist Babulalji Bhatt was from Arvi. Bapurao Rapate, Manoharrao Deulkar from Rasulabad were famous Tabala artiste. Famous singer J.L. Ranade was the music teacher in Mahilashram Institute Wardha. Ramdas Shastri, Bhaskarrao Sangeet have started Shivanand Music School in 1941.   

Prahar 

This federation is developed by keeping the objectives for young students from School and Colleges for developing their nature with  the sincerity, military mentality, patriotism . Lt. Co. Sunil Deshpande have initiated the Prahar in Nagpur. Pro. Mohan Gujar have started this work in Wardha Branch. Prahar is not only limited for built the military mentality in youths but also arrange the trainings camps of Urban Security, Mountaineering, Horse riding, Forest Wandering, Rock climbing, Parasailing, etc. Beside this it National integrity, Fundamental rights, ideal citizenship, Social services, summer stories, Biographies of National Leaders, General knowledge, Essays Competitions, Group discussions, leadership, Petriotic songs, and many more meaning full discussions are carried out and contributes for personal development.              

Cooperative Movement

Cooperative Movement had done great job to release the agriculture workers from bindings with ‘Sawkars’. It helped to extend the productivity of farmers and gear up their self respect. At the time of  the post Independence, Government of Maharashtra have sanctioned the State Cooperative Act 1960 on 26^th January 1962 and implemented too. It got tremendous response from the citizens. State Government’s share of investment in cooperative sectors and formation of ‘Lawad’ to resolve the problems in private sectors due to such solutions Cooperative moment got support to stand independently. 

Currently in  Wardha District,   1543 different cooperative societies are working. Due to capable and helpful working towards the farmers by District Cooperative Banks and District Cooperative Land Development Bank, Agriculture workers got the well financial support. Late Baburao Deshmukh gave the major share in the cooperative movement.