Furus also known as Phuroos or Furoos is a village in Khed, Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra state in Western India. The 2011 Census of India recorded a total of 3255 residents in the village with total area 1062.35 hectares. It is predominantly populated by Konkani Muslims along with Hindu and Buddhist. Furus is believed to be named by Persians who came here to trade in horses (horse: فارسی Persian). The main language spoken in Furus is Kokni (not to be confused with Goan Konkani), a blend of Bankoti, Sangameshwari and Marathi infused with words of Arabic, Urdu and Persian origin.
Since antiquity, the Konkan coast has had maritime mercantile relations with major ports on the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Konkani Muslims can trace their ancestry to traders from Hadhramaut (in Yemen or South Arabia),[1] some who fled from Kufa in the Euphrates valley, about the year 700,[2] the North of Indian (Haryana/Punjab), as well as various regions of Arabia and the broader Middle East.[1] Others arriving as traders or mercenaries. By the 10th century, Ceul (Chaul), Dabhol had a significant Muslim presence, with mosques and self-governance. Subsequent waves of migration were driven by upheavals, like the Karmatian revolt (923–926 CE) and Mongol invasions (1258 CE). Despite (Chaul) and Dabhol prominence under the Ahmadnagar kingdom (1490–1626), Muslim rule was never firmly established in Konkan, and forced conversions were absent. Most Konkani Muslims are thus of mixed foreign descent.[2] According to Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, Muslims first arrived in the Konkan region in 699 CE—less than 70 years after the death of Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE.[3]
In the later eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Konkani Muslims became influential sailors, merchants, and government employees as the port city of Bombay (present Mumbai) began developing.
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar is believed to have visited Furus on May 17, 1937, while en route to Dapoli, and spent the night at Buddhawadi, Furus.[4]
Location
Furus comes under the Konkan Division of Maharashtra State. Furus is on State Highway SH104, between the towns of Khed and Dapoli.[5] The closest train station is in Khed, about 12km away, and Dapoli is about 17km from Furus. The village is next to a seasonal stream called the Nirgudi[6] and is surrounded by small hills. It gets a lot of rain during the monsoon season (June-Sep), and the temperature ranges between 15 and 40 degrees Celsius.
Ratnagiri District is divided into three parts: Coastal, Middle, and Hilly. Furus lies in the Middle Zone, which has medium-height land and is easy to reach thanks to the Mumbai–Goa Highway and the Konkan railway
Furus During Monsoon
Political Administration
Furus was part of erstwhile State of Bombay. Furus holds historical political significance as the native village of MLA Parkar Wajuddin Ahmed, who was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for 1952 Bombay State Legislative Assembly election for Dapoli-Khed Constituency. He contested the election under banner of the Indian National Congress (INC) during the tenure of Jawaharlal Nehru as party president.
Currently, Furus falls under the Raigad Lok Sabha Constituency and Dapoli Vidhan Sabha Constituency. Current MLA and MP representing Furus are below
Furus is well-connected by road to nearby big towns. State Highway 104, Khed to Dapoli passes from Furus. Besides buses are also available as per their timings auto-rickshaw are available round-the clock.
Educational facilities
Siraj ul Islam Junior College of ScienceSiraj ul Islam Educational Campus
Furus was one of the first townships in the area to have a high school. S.I. High School & Junior College of Science, Furus was founded by Adv. W. A. Parkar under a government initiative in 1938 (pre-independence time). The School was in Marathi medium named Anglo Vernacular High School and is still functional with semi English curriculum. Furus has following schools
Siraj-ul-Islam High School and Junior College
CWS - Ideal English School
Economy
Furus economy was hugely dependent on agricultural product till early 1980. Post 1980 most of the young earners head towards metro cities and hence agricultural production gets big hit in coming years. During the same period most of the people started to migrate to Gulf, UK, Canada, Australia, USA for the jobs. Presently 95% of Furus economy depend on remittance from foreign countries.
Healthcare Facilities
Furus has government run Primary Health Center situated at Dayal Road. Apart from this Furus has one equipped private nursing home run by resident Dr. Antule and a small clinic run by visiting Dr. Chikhale.
Demographics
Furus consist of 4 Sub-villages mentioned in Census 2011 viz., - Furus, Furus Gaonthan, Furus Amshet and Falsonda
Ratnagiri District and in particular Furus is one of the very few place in India whose sex ratio stood at 1210 Females per 1000 males which means the females population is higher than males
1 2 Kulkarni, Anant R.; Joshi, Purshottam M.; Nayeem, Muhammad A.; De Souza, Teotonio R., eds. (1996). Mediaeval Deccan history: commemoration volume in honour of Purshottam Mahadeo Joshi (1. publed.). Bombay: Popular Prakashan. ISBN978-81-7154-579-7.
1 2 Kyd Nairne, Reverend Alexander (1884). "Bombay Gazetteer". gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/.
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