Saturday, June 15, 2013

The Heart of Incredible India: Madhya Pradesh


Madhya Pradesh is often referred to as the Heart of India not only for its geographical position but also for its unique cultural history and rich natural resources. It is arguably the most diverse among the Indian States with vast forests, ancient temples and rich wildlife.

Unlike most other Indian States, the history of Madhya Pradesh (MP) dates back to pre-historic times. This region was primarily inhabited by the Gond tribes and hence this region came to be known as the Gondwana Land and even today the modern MP is majorly inhabited by various tribal groups. In fact, MP has the highest population of tribal people in the country. The proofs of pre-historic civilization in these regions can be found in various areas of Bhopal, Raisen, Panchmarhi, Bhimbetka and Hoshangabad in the form of rocks and cave paintings. The famous Historian Brewer asserted that the Aryans were well acquainted with the valley of Narmada and its surrounding areas and it was in these times that regions of MP gradually became thickly populated especially those near the banks of river Narmada. Subsequently the influence of the Mauryas, Guptas and the Mughals shaped the dimensions of the civilization of this region. They influenced the art, culture and lifestyle of the region which can be seen and felt even today. During the revolt of 1857 many of the significant contributions came from the central province in the name of Rani of Jhansi, Tatya Tope and Nana Saheb. After achieving independence various provinces were merged creating MP but the Marathi speaking southern regions were ceded to Maharashtra. And thus was born the modern state of Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh is a confluence of many cultures, religions and traditions. It is often seen as a melting pot of cultures coming from all four cardinal directions and creating a unique combination in itself. Since ages, the music and dances are the most common ways of humans to recreate themselves. The folk music and dance has a cultural connect with the common men, which is a true expression of his emotions and feelings. The folk dances and music of MP are very colorful and beautiful. There are more than twenty tribes found in the State and hence in terms of tribal folk culture, the State has a lot to offer. One of the famous dance forms is called the ‘Rai Dance’ which is the traditional dance form of Beria tribe. This dance is performed in group with a single female dancer in the center. This dance is to celebrate the beauty of womanhood. The dancer at the center is called berani. As far as the Folk Music is concerned, the major ones are the Phaag Songs which are devotional songs based on Lord Krishna and Radha and Garba Songs which are sung at Navratri and are accompanied by claps of hands. Talking of contemporaries, various artists well-known and respected throughout the length and breadth of the country belong to MP. Ashok Kumar, Annu Kapoor, Birju Maharaj and M.F Hussain are just few names from a plethora of national artistic figures.

The land-locked state of MP was the largest state till recently when Chhattisgarh was carved out of MP making it the second largest state behind Rajasthan. Geographically MP can be seen as a confluence of central highlands, Satpura Range and the eastern plateau region. The climate of the state is sub-tropical monsoon type but due to large geographical variations, it may differ at various places. The state of MP has an extensive network of rivers having great river basins and watersheds of a number of rivers. Ten major rivers of India originate here which includes Narmada, Tapti, Chambal, Sone and Betwa among others. The numero uno state of India in terms of the area under forests is also a pioneer in field of conservation and prevention of these forests and flora-fauna in them. The Bandhavgarh National Park, Kanha National Park and Satpura region are among the major National Parks in the country. MP also has a significant Tiger population spanning across the five major Tiger Reserves in the State viz. Pench, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna and Sanjay –Dubri.

In terms of tourism as well, MP has variety to offer right from rich biodiversity and wildlife to spiritual and religious sculptures and monuments. Moreover, the Ghats and valleys of River Narmada create a picturesque outlining along the banks. Every year MP attracts lakhs of tourists both domestic and international and tourism forms an essential component of the State revenues. One of the famous must visit city is Amarkantak which is situated in Shahdol district in Maikal ranges and is considered to be holy among the Hindus. It is the point of origination of rivers Narmada and Sone. It is well known for the 24 temples of Amarkantak and the Kapildhara falls. Then comes the beautiful Khajuraho which if famous for its beautiful artifacts inscribed on stones. The famous temples of Khajuraho were built by the Chandel rulers around 950 AD. Majorly the stone art and paintings of Khajuraho are the unique example of love and sensuality in Indian culture. Among these the places of must visit are the Kandariya Mahadev, Chausath Yogini and Beni Sagar Dam.

The capital city Bhopal apart from being the administrative centre is also a well known tourist destination of MP. Bhopal was established in the 11th century by King Bhoj and today sports both new and old sections of the city and thus becomes a unique feature of architectural brilliance. It is situated over five hills and has two beautiful lakes.  Among various destinations to choose from, one cannot miss the Jama Masjid, Sadar Manjil and Bharat Bhawan. Moreover, Sanchi known majorly for its Buddha Stupas is situated on the outskirts of Bhopal itself. Over the years it has become a major tourist destination for Buddhists all over the world. On the entrance gates of these stupas one can find inscribed various Jataka Kathas i.e. the stories related to the birth of Buddha. Besides the stupas, the place has other attractions like Bodh Vihar, Ashok Stambh and the temples of the Gupta dynasty which are the epitome of temple building in India. And for those who enjoy the spiritual side more, there is the city of Ujjain which is considered to be a major pilgrimage centre for Hindus. This is a place of mythological significance and has appeared in various Hindu Texts. Ujjain is the city of temples and to name a few we have the Mahakal Temple, Kal bhairav, Jyotirlinga Mahakaleshwer and many more.

Madhya Pradesh has some historical caves in its various mountain ranges significant of early civilizations, ancient history and mythology. Most significant of them are the Bhimbetka caves which is a UNESCO world heritage site. These rock shelters situated in the Raisen district of MP have a number of interesting paintings which depict the lives and times of our predecessors, who lived in these caves including scenes of birth, communal dancing and religious ceremonies and rituals. Besides Bhimbetka, the Bagh Caves situated near Mandu and the Pandav Caves of Panchmarhi are something one should not risk missing. Also, the large number of forts in the State are a testimony of the rich cultural heritage and the major ones are located in Gwalior, Deogarh, Chanderi and Narwar among others.

India is an agrarian economy and the heart land is painted in the same colors throughout. Nearly seventy per cent people of the state are engaged in agriculture or allied activities and they account for nearly 20 per cent of the State’s gross domestic product. The good news is that the agriculture and allied sector has been registering significant growth. A State which was earlier considered as a backward state has shown tremendous character and zeal to register all-round growth and even the capacity for sustaining that kind of momentum. Recently MP was honored as the “fastest emerging state” among other big states moving into double digit growth figures. Besides the socio-economic developments, the focus has also been on tourism, new industrial corridors and development of human capital.

Even with all these efforts, experts feel that still the tourism potential of the state is under-utilized and the rich heritage and diversity which it has to offer is still not reaching masses. Let us hope that in the times to come, we witness an infrastructural overhaul of the State, so that the world can see for itself the jewel facet of Incredible India, the heart of India- Madhya Pradesh!

Published in Pardesi Pulse
http://www.pardesipulse.com/flipbooks/June-2013/june-2013.html

P.S. Had made this video for India day about Madhya Pradesh. Sharing it here.



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