Shahdol Pincodes

Shahdol District, in the eastern-central part of Madhya Pradesh, India, was once known as Matsya Raj or the Virat Kingdom, named after the great King Maharaja Virata. 

History:

Shahdol, originally known as Sohagpur (Shahdol), has a rich history dating back to the Gupta era. It was governed by the Chedis and Kalachuris before the Gonds took over. The town of Sohagpur (Shahdol) was founded by Baghel King Sohag Deo. The Bhandavgarh Fort, now in Umaria district, was initially owned by the Kalachuris and then passed to the Baghels of Rewa through marriage. The Baghels expanded their territory, taking lands from the Gonds. A part of Shahdol was later controlled by a Baghel branch, descendants of Jamuni Bhan Singh, who were independent of Rewa. The Bhonsles of Nagpur eventually seized the area, but after the Second Anglo-Maratha War, it was handed to the British. Post the 1857 rebellion, the Maharaja of Rewa, who had supported the British, was awarded the district. At that time, Shahdol was thinly populated, prompting the Baghels to invite settlers from various regions. It remained under Rewa state until Indian Independence, after which it became a separate district.

Geography:

Shahdol District, located in the northeastern part of Madhya Pradesh, India, covers an area of 5,671 km². This size resulted from a division of the district in 2003. It is bordered by Anuppur to the southeast, Satna and Rewa to the north, Sidhi to the northeast, Umaria to the west, and Koriya district of Chhattisgarh to the west. The district stretches about 110 km east to west and 170 km north to south.

Geographically, Shahdol is part of the northeastern Deccan Plateau. It sits at the intersection of the Maikal Ranges of the Satpura Range, the Kaimore Range (an extension of the Vindhya Range), and a series of hills extending into the Chhota Nagpur plateau in Jharkhand. Between these ranges lies the narrow valley of the Son River and its tributaries. The district can be divided into three main areas: the Maikal Range, the Hills of the Eastern Plateau, and the Upper Son Valley. Shahdol is known for its hilly terrain, beautiful landscapes, and areas of sal and mixed forests. It shares borders with Satna, Sidhi, Umaria, Anuppur, and Rewa districts.

Economy:

In 2006, Shahdol district was identified by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj as one of India’s 250 most underdeveloped districts, out of a total of 640. It is among 24 districts in Madhya Pradesh that receive financial support from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF) due to its underdevelopment.

Agriculture in Shahdol is particularly backward. The local tribes mostly stick to traditional farming methods. Their farms are small, and most farmers have limited land. The crops they grow usually aren’t enough to last them the whole year, so they have to work as daily wage laborers for the rest of the year. The Mahua fruit, along with its wood and seeds, is a key source of income for the tribal people in the area.

Demographics:

Shahdol District in India has around 1.07 million people, making it the 427th largest district out of 640 in India. For every 1,000 men, there are 968 women, and 68.36% of residents can read and write. Around 20% live in cities.

The tribes in Shahdol live simply. Their houses are made of mud, bamboo, straw, and tiles. Men wear dhotis and headgear, while women wear a special skin-colored saree called “Kaansh” and colorful clothes and jewelry. Many people are starting to wear Western clothes too. The main tribes are the Gonds (nearly half), Kols (22%), and Baigas (20%).

Most people (93.53%) are Hindu, 3.98% are Muslim, and 1.82% follow other, mostly tribal, religions. During the 2011 Census, 94.92% of people said they speak Hindi, and 3.4% speak Bagheli. Bagheli is similar to Hindi and spoken by 7.8 million in Bagelkhand. About 7,500 people speak Gondi in the district.