Bijawar

Bijawar is a town and a nagar panchayat in Chhatarpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Bijawar Taluk, and was formerly the capital of a princely state of British India of the same name.

History

Bijawar state

The native state of Bijawar covered an area of 2520 km² (973 sq. m.) in the Bundelkhand agency. Forests coveed nearly half the total area of the state, which was believed to be rich in minerals, but lack of transport facilities had hindered the development of its resources.

The state takes its name from the chief town, Bijawar, which was founded by Bijai Singh, one of the Gond chiefs of Garha Mandla, in the 17th century. The first ruler of the state was Bir Singh Deo (1765-93), a Bundela Rajput descended from the ruler of Orchha. It was conquered in the 18th century by Chhatarsal, the founder of Panna, a Rajput of the Bundela clan, by whose descendants it is still held. It was confirmed to Ratan Singh in 1811 by the British government for the usual deed of allegiance. In 1857 Bhan Pratap Singh rendered signal services to the British during the Mutiny, being rewarded with certain privileges and a hereditary salute of eleven guns. In 1866 he received the title of maharaja, and the prefix sawai in 1877. Bhan Pratap was succeeded on his death in 1899 by his adopted son, Sanwant Singh, a son of the maharaja of Orchha.

The state acceded to India on 1 January 1950, and became part of the state of Vindhya Pradesh, which was merged into Madhya Pradesh on November 1, 1956.

Geography

Bijawar is located at . It has an average elevation of 398 metres (1305 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Bijawar had a population of 18,412. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Bijawar has an average literacy rate of 59%, lower than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 66% and female literacy of 50%. 16% of the population is under 6 years of age.

References