Malva Ek Bhaugolik Parivesh

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Malva: Ek Bhaugolik Parivesh" by Basant Sinh, based on the provided pages:

This book, "Malva: Ek Bhaugolik Parivesh" (Malwa: A Geographical Environment) by Dr. Basant Sinh, provides a detailed overview of the Malwa region, examining its geography, history, culture, and economic aspects.

Geographical Extent and Formation:

• Malwa is recognized as a distinct geographical unit due to its landforms and historical, cultural, and political achievements.
• It covers an area of approximately 150,000 square kilometers.
• Located between 25°10' and 27°70' North latitudes and 75°45' and 76°14' East longitudes, it occupies the northernmost part of the Indian peninsula.
• Malwa spans parts of three Indian states: Madhya Pradesh (18 districts), Rajasthan (parts of Banswara, Jhalawar, Pratapgarh, and Chittorgarh districts), and Maharashtra (parts of Dhule and Jalgaon districts).
• The total population of Malwa is around 12 million.
• Its geological formation is attributed to Bundelkhand gneiss, basalt, Gondwana rocks, and lava.
• The Tropic of Cancer passes roughly through the middle of Malwa.

Historical Background:

• The name "Malwa" is believed to originate from the Sanskrit words "Ma" (meaning Goddess Lakshmi) and "Lava" (meaning land or territory), signifying a land of prosperity and wealth, likely due to its fertile soil.
• Professor Rajbali Pandey suggests a connection to the "Malla" nation in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, with the name evolving from "Malla" to "Maly" and finally "Malwa."
• The Malavas are also mentioned in Panini's literature as "Apradhijivin," who resided in the northern part of the confluence of the Ravi and Chenab rivers during Alexander the Great's invasion. They later migrated to the regions of the Chambal and Narmada rivers and Rajasthan, giving the region its modern name.
• Malwa has a significant presence in early Buddhist and Jain literature, Hindu mythology, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. It is described as a peak of architectural and sculptural achievement during the time of Buddha.
• Historically, Malwa was under the dominion of the Maurya Empire by 327 BCE.
• Numerous rulers have governed Malwa, including Vikramaditya, Chandragupta (II), Harsha, Raja Bhoj (II), Dilawar Khan Ghori, Hoshang Shah, Mahmud Khilji, Babar, Bahadur Shah, Humayun, Sher Shah Suri, and Sujat Khan.
• The Marathas entered Malwa around 1690, with leaders like Bajirao Peshwa, Holkar, and Scindia ruling for about 50 years, collecting revenue.
• The British later established stable administration in Malwa, which continued until India's independence.
• After India's independence in 1947, the states were reorganized twice. In 1948, princely states like Indore and Bhopal were integrated into the Indian Union, leading to the division of Malwa into new states like Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Bharat, and Mahakoshal. Rajasthan received parts like Jhalawar, Banswara, and Pratapgarh, while Khandesh was included in the Bombay Presidency.
• In 1956, a further reorganization of states integrated the entire Malwa region into the three states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.

Natural Features:

• Geological Structure: The region features Bundelkhand gneiss in the northeast. Archaean rocks are found in the forested areas of Joharbagh and Dhar. Basalt rocks dominate most of the region. The Vindhyachal hills extend from Neemuch to Sagar, appearing in districts like Kaimur, Bhanpura, Jhalrapatan, Nohar, Bhopal, and Sagar, forming a natural barrier north of the Narmada River. Gondwana rocks are found in the Satpura region south of Hoshangabad. Deccan lava and Narmada alluvial soils are prevalent in the southern parts, renowned for their fertility. The Deccan lava layer ranges from 600 to 1500 meters in depth.
• Natural Divisions:
  1. Malwa Plateau: Spans between Bhopal, Guna, Vindhyachal hills, and Machhal Ghat, with an average height of 500-600 meters. It is the upper catchment area of the Mahi, Chambal, Kali Sindh, Parvati, and Betwa rivers.
  2. Western Vindhyan Hills: Characterized by steep slopes, with heights between 650 meters and 500-600 meters. Prominent peaks include Nagda, Singar, Choti, and Gomanpur.
  3. Western Narmada Trough: Features fertile land between Udaipura and Kukshi, with a horizontal but gradual slope. Below Udaipura lies the Hadiya-tar Hoshangabad plain, bordered by quartzitic hills to the south.
  4. Western Satpura: The watershed between the Narmada and Tapti rivers. The western part is formed by the Deccan Trap, with uneven and gradual hills 20-40 km wide. The eastern part, comprising Talchhit, Varar, and Vijauri regions, contains coal-bearing rocks.
• River Systems: Panchmarhi is the highest point in Malwa, acting as a water divide for rivers flowing into the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
  • Narmada: Known as "Namdous" by Ptolemy and "Reva" in the Puranas. It has numerous waterfalls, islands, and gorges up to 300 meters high in Hoshangabad. Many tributaries from the Vindhyachal and Satpura ranges join it.
  • Mahi: Referred to as "Manorama" in the Puranas. It originates at an altitude of about 617 meters in Dhar district and flows for 160 km, forming the border between Dungarpur and Banswara.
  • Chambal: The third prominent river, originating from Manpur (44 meters high) in Indore district, north of the Vindhyan escarpment. It flows through a gorge for 325 km. The Chambal Valley Project is a significant utilization of this river. Ghambhir, Choti Kali Sindh, Newaj, Parwan, Parvati, Chamla, and Detam are its important, but seasonal, tributaries.

Climate, Soil, and Vegetation:

• Climate: The climate is tropical monsoon, generally healthy, with cool nights and warm days. The east-west alignment of the Vindhyachal and Satpura ranges allows monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea to flow parallel to them. The region experiences three distinct seasons: winter, summer, and monsoon. Southwest monsoon winds are strong during summer, blowing from southwest to northeast.
• Rainfall: The average rainfall is 110 cm, with variations from 8 cm to 210 cm. Hoshangabad receives 115 cm, Sagar 117 cm, and Bhopal 126 cm. Most of the rain (90%) occurs between July and September. The atmosphere is generally dry and clean, except during the rains. Dust storms occur in summer, and fog is common in winter, especially in Pachmarhi (about 21 days in July).
• Soil: Black soil is prevalent throughout the region, mixed with lime pebbles and fragments of calcium carbonate. It cracks in summer and becomes sticky in the rainy season. It is generally deficient in phosphate, nitrogen, and organic matter. Soils are categorized into:
  1. Deep Black: Sandy mixture, found in Hoshangabad, Satpura Plateau. Crops: Cotton.
  2. Medium Black: With lime pebbles and calcium carbonate. Found in almost all districts like Sagar, Sehore, Neemuch, Raisen, Mandsaur, Shajapur. Crops: Almost all Indian crops.
  3. Shallow Black: 15% clay. Found in Betul, Jhabua, Ratlam, Banswara. Crops: Rice, Cotton.
  4. Black and Red Mixed: Without lime pebbles, sandy mixture. Lacks nitrogen, phosphoric acid, lime, and organic matter. Crops: Most crops with irrigation. Found in West Guna, Jhalawar, and Shajapur.
  5. Alluvial Soil: Found in river valleys. Crops: Almost all crops.
• Vegetation: Primarily consists of mesophytic vegetation. Deciduous forests are found in the southern part, and dry deciduous forests in the northern part. Common trees include Salai, Khajur, Mahua, Jamun, Teak, and Bamboo. Efforts are underway to utilize these forests scientifically.

Mineral Resources:

• Malwa is rich in various mineral resources, including coal, manganese, and mica.
  • Copper Valley and Betul region have significant copper deposits.
  • Coal is abundant in Dhar, Jhabua, Banswara, and Jhalawar.
  • Manganese mines are concentrated in Jhabua and Banswara, Udaipur, and Western Nimar.
  • Mica is found in Jhabua, and copper ore mines are in Dewas, Hoshangabad, Banswara, and Jhalawar.
  • Bauxite is found in Guna and Vidisha.
  • Economically viable deposits of limestone, clay, marble, calcite, zinc, and graphite are also present.
• Water Resources: The region is also rich in water resources, with rivers like Narmada, Chambal, Mahi, and Kali Sindh being natural assets used for hydroelectric power generation and irrigation. Notable projects include the Chambal Valley Development Corporation and the Mahi Project.

Population and Human Habitation:

• Malwa is sparsely populated, with a density of 81 persons per square kilometer, and the distribution is uneven.
• Areas like Hoshangabad, Rajpur, Ujjain, and Ratlam are densely populated, while the steep slopes of the Vindhyachal and the forested Satpura regions are sparsely inhabited.
• Population densities in Indore, Bhopal, Ratlam, and Ujjain are 44, 67, and 108 persons per sq km respectively.
• 81% of the population is rural, residing in 27,650 villages. Habitations are concentrated near water sources and semi-concentrated on the Malwa plateau. Tribal settlements are found in remote areas.
• Most cities in Malwa originated from villages and are located along riverbanks or ancient trade routes. Urban development has accelerated in the last two decades.
• Notable cities include Ujjain (208,561), Indore (560,936), Khandwa (185,403), Bhopal (304,550), and Sehore (36,136).
• Many cities faced destruction or decline during the Muslim rule.

Agricultural Production:

• Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood, with about 66% of the land under cultivation.
• Jowar is the most important crop, followed by wheat (31%) and cotton (14%).
• Two crops are cultivated annually, with Kharif crops covering approximately 63% of the agricultural land.

Industry:

• Malwa has been industrially significant since the Mughal era, ranking second only to Gujarat in industrial importance.
• Industries related to textiles, sugar, metals, and minerals were developed.
• Most industries are rural and cottage-based. The development of the Chambal power station and Punasa projects is fostering new industrial establishments in cities like Ujjain, Indore, Bhopal, and Khandwa.
• Thermal power stations have been established in Indore, Ujjain, Ratlam, Dhar, Mandsaur, and Dewas.
• Cotton Textiles: The most significant agro-based industry, with 18 mills, mostly in Indore, employing 25,000 workers and producing 307 million meters of cloth.
• Handloom Industry: Widespread across the region.
• Cotton Ginning and Pressing: 70 ginning mills with about 5,000 workers and 14 pressing mills.
• Sugar Mills: In Mandsaur, Ujjain, Ratlam, Sehore, and Rajgarh, producing 2700 metric tons.
• Oil Mills: Around 70 mills operating in Ujjain, Dhar, Ratlam, Sagar, Dewas, and Mandsaur.
• Forest-based Industries: Developing in Itarsi, Jhalawar, and Mandsaur, including paper boards, sawmills, and silk industries. Paper factories are in Hoshangabad, Ratlam, and Indore. A cardboard factory is in Sehore, and six silk mills are in Indore.
• Other Industries: Bone crushing mills in Bhopal, Ratlam, and Neemuch (producing 30 tons of bone meal daily). Heavy engineering and electrical equipment industries in Bhopal and Ujjain. Dairy industry in Indore and Bhopal. Other notable industries include pharmaceuticals, soap, chemicals, matches, crockery, footwear, wood, brick, and cement.

Transportation:

• Major transportation routes connecting Delhi-Madras, Delhi-Bombay, and Calcutta-Bombay pass through Malwa.
• The main railway line (Bombay-Calcutta via Allahabad) runs through the region. Itarsi is the largest railway junction, where the Bombay-Calcutta and Madras-Delhi routes intersect. Sagar, Bina, and Guna are also important railway centers.
• Delhi-Mathura and Baroda-Bombay railway lines also pass through Malwa.
• While major railway lines exist, some districts like Jhabua and Khargone lack rail services, and others have minimal connectivity (e.g., Dhar-Rajgarh, Banswara-Pratapgarh, Achnera-Jhalawar). The average railway track per 100 sq km is only 1.42 km.
• Roadways: Road services are more prevalent. National Highways 3 (Bombay-Delhi), 26 (Sagar-Kharvan), and 12 (Sampur-Bhopal and Bareilly) pass through Malwa. The total road length is 1300 km.
• Important state roads include Mahu-Neemuch (260 km), Indore-Ujjain-Jhalawar (236 km), and Dewas-Bhopal-Sagar (235 km).
• Road development is influenced by terrain; most roads run parallel to the Satpura hills and Narmada valley. Roads north of the Narmada are generally access routes, with better services in Jhabua, Dhar, and western Neemuch. Road density is lower in the Narmada valley.
• Regions like Harda, Hardaus, Khandwa, western Banswara, Barwani, Udaipura, Rehlian, Betul, and western Guna have limited access.
• Total roads: 10,526 km of paved and 5,528 km of unpaved roads, with densities of 7 km and 5 km per 100 sq km respectively.
• Airways: Indore and Bhopal are connected by air to Mumbai, Delhi, and other parts of the country.

Problems and Future:

• Land Degradation: Major issues include soil infertility, salinization, weed growth, waterlogging, deforestation, uncontrolled grazing, and grass burning, leading to soil erosion.
• Solutions: Land management and ecological balance restoration are crucial.
• Water Management: Irrigation projects are needed to overcome drought and crop failure and boost production. Flood control, utilization of excess water, and hydroelectric power generation are essential public welfare schemes.
• Industrial Development: Progress in transportation resources is vital for the development of forest and agriculture-based industries.
• Future Projects:
  • Proposed dams on the Narmada will create a chain of artificial lakes from Jabalpur to Navgaon, providing water for irrigation and transportation.
  • Road development projects (1961-81) include national highways connecting Bareilly-Bhopal, Indore-Jhalua, and Nadia-Nagpur, Betul-Hoshangabad, Khandwa-Indore, Ratlam, and Neemuch.
  • Consideration is being given to doubling railway lines between Bombay-Indore, Indore-Bhopal, and Khandwa-Indore.
  • Upon completion of these projects, fertilizer and paper industries can be profitably established in Itarsi.
  • Other potential industries include lac, gum, strawboard, and other forest-based products.
  • Indore has a bright future for dairy, sugar, aluminum, foundry, and forge plants, rolling mills, and copper sulfate businesses.
  • Ujjain can establish agricultural machinery industries; Bhopal can focus on hardware; Nagda on aluminum, sulfate, bleaching powder, caustic soda; Hoshangabad on paper boards, concrete pipes, and fertilizers.
  • The handloom industry can be promoted throughout Malwa.
  • Tourism can be developed at Sanchi, Pachmarhi, and other locations.