Ancient history

Malva | historical province, India

Malwa , Sanskrit Malava , historical province and physio region of midwest India , includes much of the western and central Madhya Pradesh State and parts of the Southeast Rajasthan and North Maharashtra States. Strictly speaking, the name is limited to the hilly plateau which is in the south from the Vindhya Range but has been extended south to include the Narmada River Valley and the Include Satpura Range .

Traditionally a land of plenty, it is an area of ​​fertile black soil cultivated by the rivers Chambal, Sipra, Kali Sindh and Parbati is drained. The region is covered with savanna vegetation on the Plateau and humid deciduous forests in the southern part, generally on the foothills of the Vindhya and Satpura mountains. Teak is a commercially important tree. Other natural resources of the region include lac (used to make shellac), dyes and tanning agents, rubber, fruits, sabai grass (a valuable fiber crop) and honey.

Agriculture dominates the regional economy, and cotton growing, Jowar (grain sorghum), wheat, corn (corn), gram (chickpea), sugarcane, millet, and peanuts (peanuts) is important. The Malwa region also has a variety of mineral deposits, including coal, manganese, mica, iron ore, copper, bauxite, limestone, clays, calcite, zinc and graphite, of which the mostly commercial.

Industry sectors include textile manufacturing, chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing, and cotton ginning and baling, which Food Processing and handloom weaving. Industrial centers of Malwa include Ujjain , Indore , Bhopal , Khandwa , Ratlam and Neemuch . Small and cottage industries are more important at the local level. The region has long been known for the production of fine muslin and chintz in Chanderi and Sironj. Malwa is well connected to the country's rail and road network.

As early as the 2nd century v. Chr. War the area as Avanti known ; It was created by the Mauryan and Gupta Dynasties held . The first known Dynasty was the Paramaras, a Rajput- clan (warrior caste) who from its capital Ujjain and later from Dhar from ruled (800–1200 ce ) . The province was occupied by the Muslims in 1235 and became a strong independent state (1401–1531) with its capital Mandu . Later annexed by the Mughals, it was one of the first provinces to be conquered. The Marathas marched 1724 under the Peshwa in Malwa on (Prime Minister) Baji Rao became the headquarters of the Pindaris, or irregular raiders, with the help of the Scindias, Holkars and Puars and Malwa. In 1817 the British restored order.

Malwa became part of the Central Provinces in 1861. The Malwa Agency, a sub-division of the British Central India Agency, was established in 1895. It consisted of the princely states of Alirajpur, Barwani, Dhar, Jaora, Jhabua, Jobat and Kathimau as well as several small states. Neemuch was his headquarters. In 1948 Malwa was officially partitioned between the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.