Bhopal district

History

Early history of the present-day district area is obscure. According to a legend, the area was part of "Mahakautar", a barrier of dense forests and hills separating North India from South India. 10th century CE onwards, names of Rajput rulers (including Bhoja) Malwa appear in the historical records. The number of Muslims rose after invasions by the Delhi Sultanate under Iltutmish. In 1401, Dilawar Khan Ghori (father of Hoshang Shah) took control of the territory, ruling from Dhar.

In the 14th century, a Gond warrior Yadoram established a kingdom headquartered at Garh-Mandla. At the time of Mughal invasion of Malwa in 1561, the area was subdivided into territories known as chaklas. The present-day Bhopal district was part of the Ginnor chakla, which comprised 750 villages. The Gond warlord Nizam Shah controlled these villages from his fort of Ginnorgarh. After his death, the Afghan mercenary Dost Mohammad Khan managed the state's affairs on behalf of his widow Kamlapati. After her death, Khan usurped the territory, and acquired neighbouring territories to establish the Bhopal princely state. He founded the town of Islamnagar, and also established the modern city of Bhopal. His son Yar Mohammad Khan paid tribute to the Marathas. After his death, there was a war of secession between Sultan Mohammad Khan and Faiz Mohammad Khan, during which the Nawabs of Bhopal had to cede some territories to the Marathas. Faiz was a religious recluse, and his step-mother Mamola Bai effectively ruled the state on his behalf. His successors maintained good relations with the East India Company, which eventually came to rule India.

Between 1819 and 1926, Bhopal was ruled by four female rulers, including Begum Sultan Shah Jehan and Begum Kaikhusrau Jahan. After independence of India, her son Hamidullah Khan expressed his with to retain Bhopal as an independent unit, leading to public protests. On 30 April, 1949, the Nawab relented and signed an Instrument of Accession to the Dominion of India. The state was taken over by Government of India on 1 June 1949, resulting in the formation of Bhopal State (1949–56).

After the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, Bhopal state was integrated into the Sehore district of the newly formed state of Madhya Pradesh. The Bhopal city was declared as the capital of Madhya Pradesh. On 13 September 1972, the Government of Madhya Pradesh announced that Bhopal would be made a separate district. The Bhopal district was officially carved out of the Sehore district on 2 October 1972.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census, Bhopal District has a population of 2,371,061, roughly equal to the nation of Latvia or the US state of New Mexico. This gives it a ranking of 189th in India (out of a total of 640).

The district has a population density of 855 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,210/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 28.46%. Bhopal has a sex ratio of 918 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 80.37%.

Geography

The district has an area of 2,772 km².

Bhopal District is bounded by the districts of Guna to the north, Vidisha to the northeast, Raisen to the east and southeast, Sehore to the southwest and west, and Rajgarh to the northwest.

The city of Bhopal lies in the southern part of the district, and the majority of the population resides within Bhopal municipality. The town of Berasia lies in the northern part of the district.

Subdivisions

The Bhopal district has two tehsils: Berasia and Huzur. There are two community development blocks: Berasia and Phanda. The two tehsils are further sub-divided into units known as Patwari Halkas.

Cities and towns

Berasia tehsil:

1. Berasia (municipality)

Huzur tehsil

1. Bhopal (municipal corporation)
2. Kolar (municipality)