Madhya Pradesh situated in the centre of India, is surrounded by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh in the south, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in the north, Bihar and Orissa in the east and Gujarat in the west. The state of Madhya Pradesh came into existence on November 1, 1956.

Except for the valleys of the Narmada and the Tapti, Madhya Pradesh consists of a plateau with a mean elevation of 1600 ft above sea level, interspersed with the mountains of the Vindhya and the Satpura ranges. The main river systems are the Chambal, Betwa, Sindh, Narmada, Tapti, Mahanadi and Indravati. Nearly a third of the state's area is covered with tropical forests ranging between the rivers Chambal in the north and Godavari in the south. To the east of Chambal, the area has rocky surface and thick forest. Farther north, the topography of the plains stretches up to the ravines of Chambal.

The highlands of Malwa present an appearance of waving fields of grain and the green luxuriance among the shades of mango and tamarind trees clustering round the rural habitations. The inhabitants of this plateau are mostly agriculturists. The low lying area in the north of Malwa which touches the tract around Gwalior has a different appeal. Its north-east side gradually extends to y Bundelkhand and meets the Kaimur Hills in Baghelkhand. Here the people are more sturdy and of lesser height as compared to the peasants of Malwa. The hilly regions fall mainly on the Vindhya and Satpura ranges where Bhils, Gonds, Korkus and other tribes of mixed descent practice agriculture. The river Narmada which rises from Amarkantak begins to run through a rocky bed near Jabalpur and Mandla. It emerges near Mandhata and widens its flow near Maheshwar in Nimad. During the rainy season a rich growth of vegetation is visible all around. The black soil of Malwa bears magnificent crops.

The climate is extreme in the north of Madhya Pradesh. It is cool and breezy in the central parts and humid in the eastern and southern regions.

HISTORY
Madhya Pradesh consisted of the region called Malwa. The Malwa region was occupied by the predecessors of the Bhils, Gonds and other tribes who had to confront the Aryans. The Aryans who were stronger pushed the tribal inhabitants to the south of the Vindhyas. The Malwa region is also found to have evidences of a civilization contemporary to the Indus Valley Civilization. This region excelled in art and architecture during the period of Buddhism when this area witnessed the rule of Mauryan empire till 327 B.C. The Sungas also established their influence over this region. The rule of Vikramaditya lasted from 78AD to 388AD and after this Chandragupta II ruled from 388 to 401AD.A After the decline of the Guptas, by the 10th century Malwa was under King Bhoja II of the Paramaras. Internal rivalry between the tribes and the Rajputs made it easy for the Muslims to establish their rule which lasted till 1401AD.The Khiljis under Mahmud Khilji ruled from 1435-1459. The invasion of Babar paved the way for establishment of a strong Muslim rule from 1526 to 1530. The Sur dynasty under Sher Shah also had its influence on it. In 1562 Akbar made it a part of the Mughal empire and it remained a part of Mughal empire till the 18th century. The tribal, Gonds gained control of Malwa after the decline of the Mughals followed by the Marathas from 1690.Though this area too fell under the British jurisdiction it was administered by the Marathas who ceded it to the British completely by 1817. In 1948 after independence this region of Malwa was joined with regions of Indore and Bhopal. In 1956 it was organised into the present Madhya Pradesh.

THE PEOPLE
Madhya Pradesh has the largest population of Scheduled Tribes of all states and a high proportion of Scheduled Castes. Of the total 45 districts, 23 are predominantly tribal. The major tribes of Madhya Pradesh are Gonds, Bhils, Oraons, Korkens, and Kols. The state presents in all a varied matrix of tribal culture ranging from animists and fowlers to advanced cultivators and factory workers.

Away from the tribal stock of Madhya Pradesh the rest of the population consists of Hindu communities. They include Rajput landholders, traditional merchant classes and established agriculturists such as the Ahirs, the Khatis, the Kunbis, the Lodhis, the Malis and others. The industries and factories in the urban areas have drawn labour from all the classes. A small percentage of Parsis, Muslims and Jains also add to the racial mosaic of Madhya Pradesh.

By its geographical position, Madhya Pradesh has remained exposed to cultural influences. The central region of the state was directly under the Indo-Aryan culture. The Vindhyas sheltered primitive tribes since the early dawn of history. No communication was possible with the south from the north because their existence was an effective barrier until the Marathas entered Malwa and its nearby territories. On account of the sturdy barrier of these mountainous ranges, all the racial movements, incursion and migration, took place in central Madhya Pradesh, from the Gangetic plain, Rajasthan and Gujarat through the gap in one of its arms. Fertile lands of the state have drawn people from distant directions.

The interpenetration of the culture of the hills and the forests and the plains has been going on from time immemorial. It is only in the lower part of Madhya Pradesh that the Adivasis maintain their indigenous culture.

The socio economic condition of the people has improved considerably since independence. People have become conscious of their rights. The economy of the state has developed to a desired satisfaction. Social changes were bound to occur in the tribal section of the population of the state. Social welfare agencies made them aware of many things. There are instances of adapting traditional Hindu manners and ritualistic patterns by some of the Adivasis.

FAIRS
The popular fairs occur mostly in the months of Phalguna, Chaitra, Bhadra, Asvina and Kartika. During Phalguna many fairs coincide with the Holi and Shivaratri. The Tansen Urs also falls at Gwalior during this season. Sankranti Melas are held at various places. Melas held around Basant Panchami are also important. Baldeviji Ka Mela(Panna), Rajim Mela and the fairs held in Bilaspur district are worth notice.

In the tribal villages of Bastar the Madai fairs record their social consideration as of vital importance to all the ethnic groups of the area. The Madai fairs of Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Dantewara and Dhanara, falls within February, March and April every year.

In the Chaitra fair held at Biaora (Malwa), the Dhup Dehi ka Mela of Hirapur (Rewa Division), the Ram Navami fair of Naya Gaon, the Bhilat Baba ka Mela of Seoni and the Gal Yatras held at over two dozen villages of Malwa are worth mention.

A good number of fairs are held in the 10th day of the month of Bhadra, to mark the birth of Tejaji. Many tales are current about this legendary figure. In Tejaji's fairs rituals are made to cure snake-bite. In Guna district at Bhamavad village there is a platform on which a statue of Tejaji on his horse is installed. Every year during the fair many persons come with pieces of cloth round their necks. This they untie near the platform and as soon as they untie it, they become unconscious only to regain it after water and milk are sprinkled on their faces. Similar rituals are witnessed in the fairs held at Sagar village of the same area and at Rawati of Ratlam district.

In the months of Asadha and Bhadra, at Deotalab (Rewa) the Somnath Sankarji ka Mela and Tejaji fair draw thousands of people. The Triveni ka Mela held at Ratlam and the Singaji Jatra held at Piplya vilage of Nimad encourage the people to attend fairs occurring in Kartika at Ujjain, Mandhata (Nimad), Naya Gaon and many other places. The Kumbha Mela is held after every twelve years at Ujjain.

Lachhandas Baba's fair (Laljit ka Pura-Morena) or the fairs of Hira Bhumia (Gird-Gwalior), Shah Peer Budhan (Sanwarw-Shivapuri district), Abda Peer (Bamhori-Rewa), Chaumukh Nath (Panna), Baba Shabuddin Saheb Oulia (Mandsaur district), Kaluji Maharaj (Piptya Khurd-West Nimad) and Singaji (Rajpur Tehsil-Nimad), Khalari (Mahasamund-Raipur) etc, carry a number of anecdotes about their beginning. Bhilat Baba ka Mela (Malapur and Seoni Malwa-Hoshangabad), Garibnath Baba ka Mela (Awantipur Barodia-Shajapur district) and Kana Baba ka Mela (Harda Tehsil) have many legends behind them. Ramlila Mela of Bhander is one of the oldest fair supposed to be over a century old. The Bhaya Sokar Devi fair of Rewa, the Unao or Baramju fair of Datia are also old fairs. The Somhar Dev Baba ka Mela of Goradiya village (West Nimad) is held in the honour of Somhar Dev whose glory is recited in a narrative called Pathwad.

ECONOMY
AGRICULTURE
The state is predominantly agricultural and about 80% of the population depends on agriculture for its livelihood. Rice, wheat, soyabean, rapeseed and mustard are among the principal crops of the state. But it is in the matter of pulses, urad, mung, gram and arhar, that Madhya Pradesh leads the others with about one-fifth of the total production of these protein-rich food crops coming from the state. The black soil of the Malwa region is good for cultivation of cotton and some textile mills have also come up because of the availability of cotton.

INDUSTRY
Forests are important in the state. About 1.7 million hectares of land in the state is under forests. Apart from the high quality teak, 'sal' an important timber wood is also available in the state. Bamboos are also available in large quantities. A product of the forests of great relevance to the economy and even the polities of the state is the tendu leaves used extensively for making beedies. The state's forests are mainly located in the Vindhyas and the Satpuras.

Coal and iron are among the more important of the minerals of Madhya Pradesh. The iron ore found in Madhya Pradesh is of high grade and occurs in the Dury, Jubalpur, Bastar and Gwalior districts. Manganese is another important mineral which occurs in Madhya Pradesh in the Balaghat and Chhindwara districts. There is bauxite which is required in the production of aluminium and which is available in the Katni tehsil of Jabalpur. Madhya Pradesh has a large deposit of limestone required for the production of cement. The Panna region has a rich diamond bed and is well known for the production of diamonds. Marble is also available in the state in several districts. The state has rich granaries of food. In the northern part sillimanite and ochre are excavated. Other natural products are steatite and China clay.

There are many flourishing textile mills in the state and artificial silk manufacturing plants located at Ujjain, Nagda, Indore and Gwalior. In the public sector, huge plants, namely the Bhilai Steel plant, the Heavy Electrical and the Bailadilla are the major achievements. The Nepa Mills produces newsprint for the country. Diesel engines are manufactured at Indore and attractive pottery and carpets are produced at Gwalior.

The state is famous for traditional village crafts such a chanderi sarees, leather and clay toys. Ancillary industries such as dyeing, calico printing and bleaching have also tended to concentrate in areas producing handloom cloth, silk and wool products. The states wood work and lacquer-ware are also very famous.

TOURISM
Madhya Pradesh is situated at the heart of India. The magnificent paintings and other archaeological discoveries made in rock shelters and caves at Bhimbetka, illustrate the continuity of settlement for over half a million years. Ujjain with historic palaces, Sanchi with ancient Buddhist monuments, Gwalior with beautiful forts, Khajuraho with beautiful temples and Bhopal the lake side capital city are the main tourist centres.

SANCHI
Sanchi is known for its stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars stretching from the 3rd century BC to the 12 century AD. The most famous of these monuments, the Sanchi Stupa 1,was originally built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka.

The site is one of the most evocative in India, and a good base for a number of interesting bicycle excursions.