BAGHELKHAND

historic region, eastern Madhya Pradesh state, central India. The area is divided into two natural regions by the Kaimur Range. To the west lie elevated plains; to the east is a rough, hilly tract intersected by a succession of parallel forested ridges of the Vindhya Range. The Tons and Son rivers and their tributaries drain the area. The population of the region consists chiefly of tribal Gonds and Kols. Known as Dahala before the Muslims, Baghelkhand was held by the warlike Kalacuri dynasty (6th12th century), whose stronghold was at Kalinjar. With the advent of the Baghela Rajputs (warrior caste) in the 14th century, after whom the tract is named, it was absorbed into Rewa state. Baghelkhand Agency, a subdivision of the British Central India Agency, was created in 1871 and included Rewa and several other states, with headquarters at Satna. It merged with Bundelkhand Agency in 1931 and formed the eastern half of Vindhya Pradesh, created at Indian independence in 1947.