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Introduction
Located in Central India, Chhattisgarh has been carved out of Madhya Pradesh to become the 26th state of the Indian Union. |
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It is endowed with huge mineral deposits and forest resources. Chhattisgarh also has the largest concentration of Schedule Tribes in the country.
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Its cities, especially Raipur are full of migrants from other parts of the country.
Geographical Information
Location
Due to its location in central India, Chhattisgarh is one of the few landlocked states of the country. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar bind the State in north, in the east it is bound by Orissa, in the south by Andhra Pradesh and in the West by Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Physical Features
A large part of the state comes under Vindhyachal range that divides the Indian subcontinent into two. Mahanadi and Narmada are the principal rivers of the state. Narmada has its origin in Amarkantak, which lies in Chhattisgarh.
Climate
The state has tropical climate with hot summer and cold winters. Most of the precipitation occurs during the monsoon (July to mid-September). Day temperature during the summers (mid-April to June end) can touch a high of around 45°C while in the winters the temperature may fall well below 10°C.
Flora and Fauna
The state has one of the largest forest covers in the country with around 45% of its total area under forest. Chhattisgarh also has a large concentration of wildlife with national park and wildlife sanctuaries like Indrawati National Park and Kanagerghati National Park covering a large part of the state. The forests are mixed deciduous with teak and bamboo comprising a major part.
History
A major part of the Chhattisgarh (Bastar) as we know today was known as Dandakaranya in the ancient times. Other parts were known as Dakshina Koshal. In the medieval period, the region, which falls south of the Vindhyas, came to be known as Gondwana. Earliest human settlements were established in this region much before they came into existence in any other part of the country. Historians and anthropologists are trying to establish the exact date for the earliest human settlement in this region.
Right from the beginning, Chhattisgarh has been swarmed with migrants from nearby places, who now constitute a major part of the population. Right from the days of great Magadha Empire, Chhattisgarh remained part of every empire that ruled the country from north to south, but their dominance was political only. As the region was extremely inaccessible, not much interference could be made in the lifestyle of the tribes. Kalchuris were the first rulers who ruled clearly over this region till 19th century. After the fall of Kalchuris, it was time for the Bhonsles of Nagpur to dominate over this region for a brief period in the 19th century. However with the decline of the Marathas, there prevailed complete lawlessness throughout the region and many tribal chieftains established rule over small tracts of land.
The English recognized the mineral wealth of the region and established a vast network of mines and railway track throughout the region, which marked the beginning of a new phase in the tribal history of Chhattisgarh. Today, the state is a heterogeneous mix of races from all over the country working together to create a prosperous Chhattisgarh.
People
Ethnicity
Majority of the population in Chhattisgarh comprises of the local tribal groups. Gonds form the largest group among these natural residents of the land followed by Oraon, Kanwar, Baiga, Kamar, Birhar Saura, Role and so many other tribes. It also has a good percentage of schedule castes and other backward classes. This apart, it also has a sizable migrant population with migrations taking place from all over the country through centuries. Now these migrant groups are a part of the cultural milieu that the state presents. Religiously, majority of the people are Hindus, Christians and Muslims comprise only a small part.
Music & Dance
Chhattisgarh often resounds and reverberates with the beats of the drum. Country-dances are the chief source of amusement. Dance and music forms of this state have very close relation to its tribal heritage and culture that they are practicing from the time immemorial. Major music forms of the state are Pandwani singing, Chandeni, and Bharthari. Some of the popular dance forms of the state are Panthi Dance, Nacha, Gond, and Muria.
Fairs & Festivals
Ghotul is a better-known event in tribal life and they have aroused considerable interest from anthropologists to study the tradition. Both boys and girls are allowed to spend a night out in the ghotul (kind of rest house), every week. Ghotuls are regarded as a shrine, built by Lingo Pen, a Gond (a tribe) cult hero. Here, the unmarried boys of the village learn songs and dance from their leader. Besides, every week, there is a dance carnival as well in which the girls also take part. Moreover, It is treated like a pilgrimage.
Dussehra is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Jagdalpur every year.
Cuisine
Rice is the principal crop of the area, and forms the main part of the diet of these people. Interestingly red ants, flying ants, mushrooms, squirrels, and rats are some of the other special delicacies. Liquor, brewed from mahuwa is an important delicacy among the tribal people. They are fond of fish as well. Pork is a major item in their diet and almost every major ceremony commences with the sacrifice of a pig
Economy
Infrastructure
The state has a good network of roads and rail connecting every part. Beside the state has immense potential for power generation. Mineral deposits It also has large mineral reserves.
Industry
The state has vast forest and mineral resources. Substantial deposits of limestone, iron-ore, copper-ore, rock phosphate, manganese-ore, bauxite, coal, asbestos and mica exist in the newly formed state. Major industries of the state are iron and steel, power generation, and mining.
Agriculture
Though Chhattisgarh accounts for only 30 per cent of the total area of Madhya Pradesh, its contribution to forest revenue---the biggest source of income for Madhya Pradesh---is nearly 44 per cent. Agriculturally it is a very productive area. The soil and climate here are suitable for rice, which is grown here in large quantities. Chhattisgarh supplies food grain to almost 600 rice mills.
Tourist Centres
Major tourist centres in the state are Amarkantak, Banjari Baba, Bhoramdev, Champaranya, Chitrakoot, Dudhadharimath, Indrawati National Park, Kangerghati National Park, Jagdalpur, Bastar, Danteswari Temple, and many more.
How To Reach
By Air
Raipur is the capital of the state and only centre to be linked up with an air network. Indian Airline connects the city with Delhi and Nagpur by regular flights.
By Rail
Almost all the state is connected with good railway network internally as well as externally. Raipur and Bilaspur are the major railway stations connected to every part of the country.
By Road
National Highways 6, 43, and 16 connect all the major cities of the state to other parts in the country like Bhubaneswar, Calcutta, and many places in the western India. There is a good internal road network in the state connecting all the major parts with the state capital.
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