History of Jabalpur

The history of Jabalpur presents a saga of the ancient kings and the clamor of the battlefields. To begin with, it can be said Jabalpur finds reference in The Mahabharata as the ancient city of Tripuri. Moreover, Bhil and Gond tribes were the aborigines of the city, who depended on farming in the Narmada basin. However, the history of Jabalpur states that the the tribes were driven out of the territory by the Marathas and the Mughals.

Moreover, the history of Avanti, the modern day Jabalpur, dates back to the 3rd century BC. Avanti was ruled by a number of kings belonging to various dynasties, viz. Sungas, Guptas and Harshas, until 8th century. The Kalchuri dynasty ruled Avanti in the 8th century. The Kalchuris made Jabalpur their capital. However, the rule of the Kalchuris came to an end when the Gonds came to the throne of Avanti in the 13th century. Gondwana Kingdom thrived in Jabalpur till the late 16th century.

After the Gonds, Avanti saw the Mughals, who came to the territory to expand their territory. The legend of the Gond Queen, Durgawati, came into existence when she killed herself after being defeated by Akbar, the great Mughal Emperor. After the Mughals, the Marathas emerged in the political scenario of Avanti. The rugged terrain of Jabalpur attracted the Marathas, who were the specialists in guerrilla warfare, towards the territory.

The British assumed control over the region in the 18th century. They largely helped the territory to get rid of the elusive Pindari tribes, known as the Thugs. The British also made Jabalpur the capital of Sagar and Narmada territories. The headquarters of the Southern Army divisions was also established in the city. Furthermore, the city played a great role in the freedom struggle of India. Many national leaders such as Lokmanya Tilak, Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi organized various conferences in the city. Besides, the city saw a number of outbreaks and riots after the Independence. Presently, the city is known to be the stronghold of the Hindu Revivalist political parties.





Last Updated on 30th Nov 2012