Overview
Bhind district is an administrative district in the Chambal division of the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. The district lies in the northern part of the state, in the Chambal–Yamuna ravine country, and is bounded by the state of Uttar Pradesh on the north and east. The town of Bhind serves as the district headquarters.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| Division | Chambal |
| Headquarters | Bhind |
| Region | Chambal valley / Gwalior–Chambal region |
| Major rivers | Chambal, Sind, Kwari, Pahuj, Yamuna (boundary) |
| Languages | Hindi; local dialects include Bundeli and forms close to Braj |
Geography
Bhind district occupies a tract of the Chambal ravines, a landscape characterised by deeply cut gullies (beehad) formed by erosion along the Chambal and its tributaries. The Chambal flows along the northern fringe of the district, while the Sind, Kwari and Pahuj traverse its interior before joining the Yamuna system. The terrain is largely flat to gently undulating in the south, giving way to rugged ravines towards the major rivers.
The district shares borders with Morena and Gwalior districts of Madhya Pradesh, and with several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including parts of the Etawah, Jalaun and Agra regions.
Administration
Bhind district is part of the Chambal division, which also includes Morena and Sheopur districts. The district is sub-divided into tehsils and development blocks, with major towns including Bhind, Gohad, Mehgaon, Lahar, Mihona, Ater and Ron. For parliamentary representation, the area falls under the Bhind (SC) Lok Sabha constituency, and it includes several Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha constituencies.
History
The region around Bhind has a long historical association with the Chambal valley polities. Gohad, in the south of the district, was the seat of the Jat rulers known as the Ranas of Gohad in the 18th century, who at various times contested control of the area with the Marathas, the Mughals and the British. The fort of Gohad and the fort of Ater on the Chambal, built by the Bhadauria Rajputs, are among the prominent surviving monuments of that period.
Following the decline of Maratha power, the area passed under the princely state of Gwalior ruled by the Scindia dynasty, and remained part of it until Indian independence. After 1947, Bhind became part of the union of Madhya Bharat, and on the reorganisation of states in 1956 it was incorporated into the new state of Madhya Pradesh.
In the latter half of the 20th century, the Chambal ravines of Bhind and neighbouring Morena became widely known for the activity of armed bandits, locally called baaghi or dacoits. Major surrenders of dacoit gangs took place in the region in 1972 and again in the early 1980s, events associated with social workers in the Sarvodaya tradition such as Jayaprakash Narayan and S. N. Subba Rao.
Economy
The economy of Bhind district is predominantly agricultural. Principal crops include bajra (pearl millet), jowar, wheat, mustard and pulses, with mustard and other oilseeds being especially important in the rabi season. Livestock rearing and small-scale dairying supplement farming income. Industrial activity is limited and is concentrated in agro-processing, oil extraction and small manufacturing units.
Demographics and culture
The population of the district is largely rural and Hindi-speaking, with significant communities of Rajputs, Brahmins, Yadavs, Jats, Kushwahas, Gujjars and Scheduled Caste groups. The local culture shares features with the wider Chambal–Bundelkhand belt, including folk traditions associated with the Yamuna and Chambal valleys.
Transport
Bhind town is connected by road to Gwalior, Etawah and Agra, and lies on a branch of the Indian Railways network linking it with Gwalior and the Uttar Prad