Explanation: The paragana system was a significant administrative division used in the Maratha Empire and later in British India. It was a subdivision of a district, consisting of a group of villages. The paragana system was designed to manage local administration efficiently, with each paragana having a specific number of villages under its jurisdiction.
In the context of Maharashtra, the paragana system was particularly important in the Pune region. Pune, historically known as Punya, was a significant city in the Maratha Empire and had a well-organized administrative structure. One of the paraganas in Pune had 290 villages, which was a notable administrative unit within the region.
The paragana system was not uniformly applied across all regions of the Maratha Empire. It was more common in rural areas and smaller administrative units, where it facilitated the collection of revenue and the maintenance of law and order. The number of villages in a paragana varied, but it was a way to organize and manage the local administration efficiently.
In contrast, cities like Mumbai (historically known as Bombay) and Nagpur did not have a paragana system with 290 villages. Mumbai was a major port city and had a different administrative structure, while Nagpur, although an important city, did not have a specific paragana with 290 villages recorded in historical records.
Shirwal, a town in the Pune district, is not known to have had a paragana with 290 villages. It was more likely to be part of a larger paragana or a smaller administrative unit within the Pune region.
Therefore, the correct answer is Pune, as it had a paragana with 290 villages, reflecting the historical administrative structure of the region during the Maratha Empire and British India. Understanding the paragana system and its application in different regions of Maharashtra is crucial for comprehending the historical and administrative context of the area.