Mirjoli

Mirjoli is a small village on the banks of Vashishthi River in the mandal of Chiplun, Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra.

The village starts as soon as Uktad (last delimited ward in Chiplun town) ends. The first landmark of Mirjoli seen is Kabrastan on left side of the road which houses a dargah of revered saint Mira Hussain. An annual Urs is held here every year. As we move forward, we come across first human habitation with houses mainly perched on left side of the road on the mountain. There are some houses which have now been built along the road side too, but, mainly most of the houses are located on the slope of the mountain. This area is known as Sakharwadi. Although dominated by locals (Dalwais) previously, this area has now grown to be a true "cosmopolitan" area of Mirjoli and houses people from all religions and castes now. Sakharwadi has a beautifully built Mosque as its major landmark. It also has a Kabrastan belonging to Buddhists.

As we move forward and enter the main village area of Mirjoli, we see a small but nevertheless frequented Sai Mandir. Image of newly built and ever growing huge building of National English Medium School looms large in the background. Its one of the major contribution of Dalwais among many, that this community has given to Chiplun Taluka.

A small shady country road (ridden with potholes and ignored for repairs for a long time now) emerges at this junction. This small road meanders to the left side away from the main Guhagar road towards ethnically divided localities (Wadis in Marathi/Kokani) of Mirjoli village, finally culminating at the historic and much revelry followed Mahalaxmi Temple. As we move a little forward on this small internal road, we come to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar chowk. This chowk is a significant landmark in the village due to its location. On its right is the newly built National English Medium School (Formerly, Dalwai Highschool), and on the left is Marathi Primary School. Both these schools, have in the past, seen glory in their heyday, as almost all of the villagers received their education here. This trend has now dwindled as the erstwhile Dalwai Highschool shifted from here to the new campus in Paanval area, many new English medium schools emerging in Chiplun, due to which parents opted for them to induct their children, shabby management of Marathi primary school and last but not the least, coming up of National English Medium School in the same place where Dalwai Highschool, once stood.

As we move forward on this road, we pass through Boudhhawadis. Boudhhawadis because, there are two of them. One is called Boudhhawadi-1 and the other Boudhhawadi-2. As mentioned earlier, these are ethnically divided localities. Boudhhwadi consists of only Buddhist people. Boudhhawadi-1 boasts of a Boudhha Temple on left of the road on mountain slope, overlooking much of the Mirjoli village. Further on this road is Pawarwadi (also called Marathwadi). As the name suggests, only people belonging to Maratha caste live here. Pawarwadi is the last of human habituated areas of the village on this road. This road further meanders over the mountain to “Maal Raan” area of village, where the historic Mahalaxmi Temple is located. A village fair is organized here every year besides the temple, which is frequented by people of different villages. A major attraction of this fair is the coveted “Bull Cart Race”. This event is widely followed around Chiplun and attracts a major crowd every year.

Other localities (or wadis) in the village which are situated in the mountain and are inaccessible by road largely include Nhaviwadi, inhabited by only people belonging to Barber’s profession, Kunbiwadi inhabited by people belonging to Kunbi caste and Brahminwadi with people belonging to Brahmin caste. Brahmins have always been intellectually strong community, though very few remain in the village now. Most of them have settled in Pune and Mumbai areas. Although Nhaviwadi has a small population, Kunbiwadi has a relatively larger population of 600 -750 people. Both these localities are located on the mountain, above Muslim Mohalla which is located further on the main Guhagar road.

As we move further from ambedkar chowk. This, by far, is the most prosperous area of Mirjoli village dotted by beautifully constructed bungalows on both sides of the main Guhagar road, as well as other exquisitely built houses. This locality belongs to Muslims (almost all of them being Dalwais). Mohalla has an important Maulana Azad chowk at the centre of the mohalla, where Tri-colour is unfurled twice a year on 15 August and 26 January. Many imminent personalities have graced Maharashtra’s political and social circle from the Dalwai community. Namely Hasankhan Abbaskhan (Hasanmaster) Dalwai,Hamid Umar Dalwai, AbuBakkar (Abuseth) Dalwai, HasanKhan Mohammed Khan Dalwai, Hussain Umar Dalwai (Minister in Govt of Maharashtra, MP Rajya sabha), Hussain Dalwai (MP RajyaSabha) and many others. Financially speaking, Muslims (Dalwais) are most stable of all other communities residing in Mirjoli. Many of the youngsters belonging to this community, work in abroad in gulf countries. Many other families (also from other communities of the village) are settled in Mumbai, Nasik and Pune.

As we move further on the main Guhagar road, area located is Paanval. Newly located Dalwai Highschool is situated here. This area consists of largely immigrant population from other villages settled here. This is the last frontier of Mirjoli village. The village of Kondhe-Shiral starts after this. Major land holdings in Mirjoli are still used for farming. As we move towards Guhagar on the main road, the landscape that mainly attracts us is that most houses are located on the left side of the road and the right side of the road is almost entirely fields used for farming. These fields stretch out till the village’s border with Gowalkot area of Chiplun Municipal Council. A tributary river of Vashishthi river flows through these fields, which accounts for water requirement to farming as well as daily consumption for people in the village. The river flowing besides the village makes Mirjoli village a perfect idealistic village situated in the nature’s lap.