SATNA, Madhya Pradesh

Main Attraction: SATNA - FORT, MADHAVGARH

The fort of Madhavgarh was built by Maharaja Vishvanath Singh Judeo of Baghel dynasty in the 18th century A.D. It is a fine example of Bagheli style. A state protected monument, the fort is said to be the lifeline of the locality. When the river is in spate, the fort prevents its water from flowing into the locality. Overall, a beautiful fort with palaces around two courtyards, the architectural style is typical of 18th century palaces of the region. What is distinctive is the array of painting in the walls and ceilings of many of the palaces. Nearby is also a chhatri complex with chhatris of rulers and temples.

Brief History

The district, as per Balmiki Ramayana and Mahabharata, derives its name from Sutikshna Rishi, a staunch devotee of Lord Rama, who during his 14 years of exile had spent nearly five years of his life in the dense forests, hills and rivers of the district - having Vindhya ranges and rivers like Tons, Son and Paisuni. It appears that the district takes its name from Satna river, a tributary of Tons flowing beside the district headquarters.

The present Satna town was founded by Maharaja Raghuraj Singh Judeo of Rewa State in the year 1865, there after a rail service was started in 1867-68 under the auspices of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR). The people in those days were so orthodox and superstitious that before entering the train they used to worship the rail engine for their safe return. They were too reluctant to undertake a rail journey on the false belief that the train might leave them any where in the unknown places. Maharaja Raghuraj Singh was an embodiment of secularism; giving due respects to all castes, creeds, religions, culture and languages. He laid the foundation stone of famous Venkatesh Temple at Mukhtar Ganj in 1925. This temple has no parallel in Rewa division in regards for its unique sculpture, architect and grandeur, it is built of red stones like Red Fort of Delhi and Agra.

The Digamber Jain temple was constructed in 1880 and is also noted for its marble idols, carvings and sanctity. Similarly, the foundation of Pranami Mandir was laid down by one Senbai of Nepal in 1890. A good deal of improvement was done by another lady Malabai of Gujrat in 1908 and its present shape was given by Mahant Sewadasji. People professing Pranami faith visit the temple from all over India, especially from Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bhutan.

The history of Satna district is the history of Baghelkhand region. The district comprises of Maihar, Raghurajnagar, Nagod, Sohawal, Kothi, Jaso, Baraundha, Paldeo-Parhra, Taraon, Bhaisundha and Kamta-Rajaula- all erstwhile Sanad states of Baghelkhand region.

The early Buddhist books, Ramayana and Mahabharata connect the Baghelkhand tract with the rules of Haihaya, Kalchuri or Chedi clan who are believed to have gained sufficient portion of this area during the third Century A.D. They had their capital at Mahishmati (identified by some with Maheshwar in Khargone District), from where they seem to have been driven eastwards.They had acquired a fort of Kalinjara (a few miles beyond the border of the district, in Uttar Pradesh), and with this as their headquarters extended their dominion in Baghelkhand region. During the 4th and 5th Century A.D., the Gupta dynasty was paramount over this region. The Haihaya and Kalchuries clan received the first blow at the hands of Chandel chief Yashovarmma, 925 to 955 A.D., who seized the fort of Kalinger and the areas surrounding it. However, The kalchuris were hold most of their possessions of this area till the end of 12th Century A.D.

The chief of Rewa descended from the Solanki clan of Gujarat, who made their way into this area in the middle of 13th Century and occupied the fort of Merpa first and Kalinger thereafter. It is also said that a Solanki prince named Kanandev married a Kalchuri (Haihai) girl of Mandla and received Bandhogarh (In the Umaria district) in dowry which remained as the Baghel capital till its destruction in 1597 by the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

In 1298, the emperor Allauddin drove the last Baghel ruler of Gujrat and this led to considerable migration of Baghels to Bandhogarh, where they continued extending their dominion till 15th Century. The Baghel King Ram Chandra was contemporary of Akbar. Tansen, the renowned musician was in his court, from where he was summoned to become one of the nine jewels of Akbar darbar.

After the death of Birbhadra, a minor named Vikramaditya acceded to the throne of Bandhogarh, which gave rise to the disturbances as a result of which Akbar seized and dismantled the Bandhogarh fort in 1597. It is after this that Rewa started gaining importance and the constructions of palaces, forts and other buildings started from 1618.

After the treaty of Bassein, the British made overtures of alliance to the ruler of Rewa, but the latter rejected it. But, later on, in 1812, Raja Jaisingh entered into alliance - a treaty with the British - and agreed to allow British troops to march through or be stationed within the territory of Rewa state. In the mutiny of 1857, Maharaja Raghuraj Singh helped the British to crush the uprising in the neighbouring areas (Mandla and Jabalpur district) and for this, His Majesty, the King, was pleased to restore him Sohagpur (Shahdol district) and Amarkantak and also conferred on him the title of ‘His Highness‘ and “Maharaja “ and received a salute of 17 guns. Until the 18th Century, the state was known as Unchahara from the name of its original capital. The chiefs of Nagod were Parihar Rajputs belonging traditionally to Mount Abu. In the seventh century, Parihar Rajputs drove out the Gaharwar rulers from and established themselves in the country between Mahoba and Mau. In the nineth century they were repulsed eastwards by the Chandels, where Raja Dharamsingh seized the fort of Naro from the Teli Rajas in 1344. In 1478 Raja Bhoja obtained Unchahra, which he made the chief town, and which remained so until 1720, when the capital was moved to Nagod by Raja Chainsingh. Lateron, the Parihars lost all their territories to the Baghels and Bundelas except the limited territory that they held before 1947.

When the British became paramount after the treaty of Bessein (1820), Nagod was held as a territory to Panna and was included in the sanad granted to that State in 1807. In 1809, however, a separate sanad was granted to Lal Shesrajsingh confirming him in his possessions. In the mutiny of 1857, the chief Raghvendra Singh behaved most loyally in assisting the Britishers and was rewarded by the grant of 11 villages, which had belonged to the confiscated State of Bijairaghogarh. The Nagod chiefs had the title of Raja and received a salute of 9 guns.

The chiefs of Maihar claimed descent from the Kachwaha Rajput clan. The family apparently migrated from Alwar in the 17th or 18th century, and obtained land from the Orchha chief Thakur Bhimsingh later entered the service of Chhatrasal of Panna. His grandson Beni Singh became minister to Raja Hindupat, who granted him the territory that now forms most of the Maihar tahsil in about 1770. Originally it had been a part of Rewa. Beni Singh, who was killed in 1788, constructed numerous tanks and buildings. His son Rajdhar was conquered by Ali Bahadur of Banda early in the nineteenth century. Ali Bahadur, however, restored the state to Durjansingh, a younger son of Beni Singh. In 1806 and 1814, Durjansingh received sanads from the British government confirming him in the possession of his lands. On his death in 1826 the State was divided between his two sons, Bishansingh, the elder, succeeding to Maihar, while Pragdas, the younger, obtained Bijai Raghogarh. The latter state (now in Murwara tahsil of Katni district) was confiscated in 1858 owing to the rebellion of the chief. Rulers of Maihar enjoyed the title of Raja and were entitled to a salute of 9 guns.

Kothi was a small sanad state of about 169 sq.km, now included in the Raghurajnagar tahsil. The state was formerly ruled by chiefs of the Bhar tribe but Jagat Rai Singh Baghel drove out the original Bhar chief and founded the jagir. On the establishment of British supremacy Kothi was held to be subordinate to Panna because in the eighteenth century when Chhatar rao Bundela was in power in Panna, the Kothi chiefs were his tributory. Thereafter, however, during the domination of Alibahadur of Banda, and afterwards, the Kothi chiefs maintained their independence. In view of this the British granted a sanad to Rais Lal Duniyapati Singh in 1810, making him directly dependent on British government. Sohawal also was a small sanad State of about 213 sq.km, separated into two sections by the Kothi state. Its founder Fatehsingh was one of the two sons of Maharaja Amarsingh of Rewa. He had revolted against his father in the sixteenth century. Originally the State was considerable extent including Birsinghput, Kothi and other tracts in the neighbourhood. On the rise of Panna under Chhatrasal, Sohawal became a territory but retained its independence. Later on, however, Jagatrai and Hirdeshah, sons of Chhatrasal, actually seized much of its territory, while the Kothi chief, taking advantage of these disturbances, with three off his allegiance attacked and killed the Sohawal chief, Prithipal Singh. On the establishment of British supremacy in nineteenth century, Sohawal was first held to be subordinate to Panna. But a separate sanad was granted to Rai Amansingh in 1809 on the ground that, the state had existed before Chhatrasal’s rise to power and had remained independent throughout the supremacy of Alibahadur of Banda. The state has been merged in Raghurajnagar tahsil since 1950.

Baraundha was also a petty sanad state of about 218 sq.km. Formerly it was much larger, comprising most of the present Banda district of Uttar Pradesh, the family having held the country for at least 400 years. The name Pathar-Kachhar was derived from its position on the skirts of Vindhyas. The ruling family claimed to be an old one and to belong to the Raghuwanshi clan of the solar division of Rajputs. The original seat of the family was in Rasin in Banda district, originally called Raja Vasini, where there are many old remains. The early history is, however, very obscure. During Bundela supremacy, the State appears to have been held on a sanad from Hirdeshah of Panna. On the accession of British to paramount power, Raja Mohansingh was recognised and confirmed in his territory by a sanad granted in 1807. The rulers of the state bore the title of Raja and received a saltute of 9 guns.

Chaube jagir was a collection of five petty sanad states between Baraunda state and Banda district of U.P. The five states were Paldeo, Pahara, Taraon, Bhaisundha and Kamta-Rajauli with an area of about 126 sq.km. The holders of these estates were Jijhotia Brahmins and bore the appellation of Chaube. They originally held land at village Dadri near Nowgon cantonment. Their aptitude for military service brought them to notice and they rose to high rank under Raja Chhatrasal of Panna. The owners of the first four estates were descended from Ramkishan who was governor of Kalinjar fort under Raja Hirdeshah of Panna. The jagirs are now in Raghurajnagar tahsil.

Early in 1945, the realisation dawned on the rulers of the Princely states that it was no longer possible to thwart in popular demands for responsible government in the states. Maharaja Gulab Singh the ruler of Rewa announced his decision on 2nd April 1946 to draw up a workable constitution for his state. In the same year he was deposed by the British government who was succeeded by his own son Maharaja Martand Singh on 25th June 1946, the political workers of Vindhya Pradesh decided set-up Rewa Rajya Praja Mandal. The organisational committee formed for this purpose included. Three representatives from Satna also. Subsequently events moved swiftlly and the country achieved independence on 15th August 1947. Finally, the Government of India took over Vindhya Pradesh on 1st January 1950, as a centrallyadministered area.

Subsequently, in 1956 due to re-organisation of States, Vindhya Pradesh became a part of New Madhya Pradesh with Satna as one of its district in the Rewa Division. 

Contribution of Satna District in Freedom struggle:

Satna District has significant contribution towards the independence of the country. While Queen of Jhansi Maharani Laxmi Bai was holding the command of first freedom struggle of 1857 started by brave Tatya Tope, in the middle province, Thakur Dheer Singh of Nimi Kripalpur and Thakur Ranmat Singh of Kothi, Satna had awakened the masses against the British Raj by inflaming the freedom struggle in the western Baghel Khand area. The joint command of Thakur Dheer Singh and Ranmat Singh had ruined the english cant of Nagod and killed hundreds of British soldiers. Another struggle for freedom was started under the institution of Baghel Khand Congress Committee which was established on 30th May 1931.

Vishwas Rao Painter who came from Maharashtra and settled at Satna City in 1931-32 gave his own and his family members live for the country. On 12 Aug. 1942 Lal Padmadhar Singh of Kripalpur sacrificed his life at a young age of 29 years by fracing the bullet while protecting the Indian tricolour flag at Allahabad.