Mahoba district

Mahoba derives its name from the 'Mahotsava Nagar', the city of great festivals, founded by Chandra-veram or Nannuka, the traditional founder of the Chandila dynasty here. Bardic tradition preserves three other names of the city namely Kekapur, Patanpur and Ratanpur. His names are said to be present in Treta and Dwapara Yuga. The existence of the sacred 'Ramkund' and 'Sita-Rasu' cave on the Gokhale hill is said to be of great significance to the visit of Lord Rama, who extensively treated this hilly region during his 14-year exile in Chitrakoot.

Prior to the rise of the Chandelas, Mahoba was held by the Gaharwar and Pritahar clans of Rajputs. The Chandela ruler Chandra-varman, who hailed from Maniyagarh at the birthplace of Panna, took it from the Pratihara rulers and adopted it as his capital. Later, Vakpati, Jejja, victorious Shakti and Rahila-deva succeeded him.

Among the later Chandala rulers whose names are particularly associated with local monuments, Vija-Pala (1035–1045 AD) built the Vijaya-Sagar Lake, Kirti-Varaman (1060–1100 AD) built the Kerat Sagar Tank and Madan Made Varman. 1128–1164 AD) who built Madan Sagar. The last prominent Chandela ruler was Parmani-deva or Parmal, Whose names are still popular because of the heroic deeds of his two generals 'Alha' and 'Udala' who are the masters of many wars. The court poet Jagnik Rao has immortalized his name through his popular song (Veer-Kavita) 'Alha-Khand'. It is read through the Hindi speaking people of the country. In 1860, Mr. William Waterfield, an English officer of the East India Company, was so impressed by the ballad that he translated it into English under the title 'Lay of Alha' which was published by the Oxford University Press of England. Another major treatise on Mahoba's magnificence is the Jain text 'Pranta-kosha', which refers to its magnificence which can only be understood and not described. Deity of Rajarshi or dynasty of Parmala, Fifteen rulers of the dynasty, Witnessed the fall of Mahoba. In 1182 there were disagreements between Paramla and Prithviraj, the king of Delhi, who gave an ultimatum of certain conditions to be fulfilled by Paramla or surrender. Mahoba was seized and his general Chhandund Rai also made a surprise attack on the Kajli procession of Rani Mahena offering Kajli Puja on Raksha-Bandhan day from Raksha Sahir Tank. In a fierce battle the Mahoba warriors Udala, Brahma, Ranjit and Abhai (the lady's son) repulsed the attack and Chaund-Rai had to flee to his base camp at Pachpada. As a result the Kajali-puja was celebrated the next day and this tradition is also followed till this date. The third day is celebrated as a victory day and thanksgiving worship to Lord Shiva is performed to the Gajantak Shiva idol on the Gokhar hill. Who gave an ultimatum of certain conditions to be fulfilled by Paramara or surrender. Seized Mahoba and his general Chhandund Rai also made a surprise attack on the Kajli procession of Rani Mahena offering Kajli Puja on Raksha-Bandhan day from Raksha Sahir Tank. In a fierce battle the Mahoba warriors Udala, Brahma, Ranjit and Abhai (the lady's son) repulsed the attack and Chaund-Rai had to flee to his base camp at Pachpada. As a result the Kajali-puja was celebrated the next day and this tradition is also followed till this date. The third day is celebrated as a victory day and thanksgiving worship to Lord Shiva is performed to the Gajantak Shiva idol on the Gokhar hill. Who gave an ultimatum of certain conditions to be fulfilled by Paramara or surrender. Mahoba was seized and his general Chhandund Rai also made a surprise attack on the Kajli procession of Rani Mahena offering Kajli Puja on Raksha-Bandhan day from Raksha Sahir Tank. In a fierce battle the Mahoba warriors Udala, Brahma, Ranjit and Abhai (the lady's son) repulsed the attack and Chaund-Rai had to flee to his base camp at Pachpada. As a result the Kajali-puja was celebrated the next day and this tradition is also followed till this date. The third day is celebrated as a victory day and thanksgiving worship to Lord Shiva is performed to the Gajantak Shiva idol on the Gokhar hill. Ranjit and Abhai (the lady's son) repulsed the attack and Chaund-Rai had to flee to his base camp at Pachpada. As a result the Kajali-puja was celebrated the next day and this tradition is also followed till this date. The third day is celebrated as a victory day and thanksgiving worship to Lord Shiva is performed to the Gajantak Shiva idol on the Gokhar hill.

Later, the Chauhan king Prithvi Raj captured Mahoba despite a valiant fight by the Bamber brothers: Alha and Udal. Other warriors of Mahoba e.g., Yugal, Brahma, Malkhan, Sulkhan, Dheba and Tala Sayyid etc. laid down their lives. Warning. Parama had to retreat to Kalinjar leaving Mahoba in the hands of the victor. Pritiraj appointed his Thanapati Pajjun Rai as his administrator. A few years later, he was ousted by Parmala's son Samarjeet. However, this did not stop the beginning of the end of Chandela rule. Two decades later, Qutbuddin Aibak annexed Mahoba and Kalinjar in 1203 AD. Ebike took huge booty along with thousands of artisans as prisoners. He removed most of them from Ghazni as slaves and made beautiful buildings there. Later, Trelokya Varman, another son of Parmala, recovered Mahoba and Kalinjar. But the Chandelas lost their prestige. Mahoba had to lose her independence and become a part of the Delhi Sultanate. After nearly 2 centuries of uncertainty, a notable Chandela ruler, Keerat Pal Singh, rose to power and re-established his domains over Kalinjar and Mahoba. His famous daughter Durga Vati was married to Dalpat Shah, the Gond ruler of Garha Mandla (near Jabalpur) in 1543 AD. , Later, Kirat Pal Singh fought bravely with Sher Shah Suri while defending the Kalinjar fort in 1545 AD. However, Shehshah captured the fort after a long battle but was killed in the explosion directed at the final assault on the fort. Kirat Pal Singh fought bravely with Sher Shah Suri while defending the Kalinjar fort in 1545 AD. However, Shehshah captured the fort after a long battle but was killed in the explosion directed at the final assault on the fort. Kirat Pal Singh fought bravely with Sher Shah Suri while defending the Kalinjar fort in 1545 AD. However, Shehshah captured the fort after a long battle but was killed in the explosion directed at the final assault on the fort.

The description of the deeds of Rani Durgavati is most glorious. After the death of Raja Dalpat Shah and in 1564 A.D. resisted the unrelenting aggression of the Mughal king Akbar, whose general Asif Khan adopted Garh Mandla to capture the queen's territory. Rani gave a brave fight but lost her life in the battlefield. On Akbar's aggression, women rulers like Durga Vati and Chand-Bibi tarnished his image as a benevolent ruler.

The history of Mahoba becomes obscure after the Chandela period. It was under the reign of the Sultans of Delhi, described by local traditions and allies of the brothers, the Gond and Khangar families, who kept their administration from time to time. However, during the reign of Akbar, it was constituted into a 'mahal' in the sarkar of Kalinjar within the subah of Allahabad. According to Ain-Akbari, it had an area of ​​82000 bighas, which generated a revenue of over 40,42000 dharmas in addition to 12000 paans (betel-leaves) in the Mughal court. Mahoba is famous for its betel leaf cultivation ever since the first Chandela ruler Chandra-varman adopted it as his capital. Revenue assessments of Mahoba during the Moghal period suggest a higher level of prosperity than the neighboring 'mahals'. Later, with the rise of Chhatrasul Bundela, Mahoba passed on its own, But failed to get and got pre-ritual too. Declared independence in the 17th five-year Chhatrasal and strongly protested against Aurangzeb. He established a Bundela princely state and Bahadur Shah Mogal had to confirm all his acquisitions in the region called 'Bundelkhand'. The hostels were revived during the reign of Farukhshiyar when his general Mohammad Khan Bangash invaded Bundelkhand in 1729 AD. And the aged ruler Chhatrasal had to seek help from Peshwa Baji Rao. His 'Maratha' consisted of 70 thousand men, marched from Indore (Malwa) and encamped at Mahoba. He captured Javatpur, Belal, Mudhari and Kulpahar etc. He surrounded the forces of Nawab Banghesh. Peshwa Jaitpur, By destroying his forces in the dense forests of Mudhari and Salat etc., he inflicted a crushing defeat on the Nawab. For this help, Chhatral handed over one third of his dominion to Maratha Chetchan, that part included Mahoba, Sri Nagar, Jaitpur, Kulpahar etc. Later, in 1803 AD the Marathas ceded the Bundelkhand region to the British rulers under the Treaty of Bassein. However, it was administered by the Subedar of Jalaun until 1858 CE when Murgi was finally annexed by the East India Company. Mahoba was made the headquarters of the sub-division in Hamirpur district. Subsequent history is unrecorded except for a local rebellion in the First War of Independence in 1857 AD, when the British Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mr. Carne had to flee and take refuge in the nearby Charkhi estate which was ruled by Raja Ratan Singh. , The Rani of Jhansi resented this treachery of the king and deputed her general Tantia Tope to attack Charkhari and capture Mr. Carne. Raja Ratan Singh surrendered and entered into a treaty with Tantaya Tope. Mahoba was then under the rule of rebels British General Whitlock defeated and restored British rule. He arrested a large number of local rebels and beheaded some prominent persons at the lake which was called Haveli Darwaza. “Shaheed Mela” is now organized to commemorate the memory of those rebels. Which was called Haveli Darwaza. “Shaheed Mela” is now organized to commemorate the memory of those rebels. Which was called Haveli Darwaza. “Shaheed Mela” is now organized to commemorate the memory of those rebels. Which was called Haveli Darwaza. “Shaheed Mela” is now organized to commemorate the memory of those rebels. Which was called Haveli Darwaza. “Shaheed Mela” is now organized to commemorate the memory of those rebels.

This district was carved out from the erstwhile Hamirpur district on 11 February 1995 by separating the Kulpahar, Charkhari and Mahoba tehsils from it. Mahoba is associated with Chandela kings who ruled in Bundelkand between 9th to 12th centuries.

The district is a part of Chitrakoot division, headed by the Divisional Commissioner, who is an IAS officer of high seniority.[2][3][4][5][6] The District Magistrate & Collector, hence, reports to the Divisional Commissioner of Chitrakoot Division. The current Divisional Commissioner is Dinesh Kumar Singh (IAS).

Mahoba district administration is headed by the District Magistrate & Collector (DM), who is an IAS officer. The DM is in charge of land revenue, law and order and supervises all development activities the district.[2][7][8][9][10]

The District Magistrate is assisted by one Chief Development Officer, one Additional District Magistrate i.e. ADM (Finance & Revenue), and three Sub Divisional Magistrates. The current DM of Mahoba is Manoj Kumar Chauhan (IAS).

Mahoba district comes under Prayagraj police zone and Chitrakoot police range of Uttar Pradesh Police. Prayagraj zone is headed by an IPS officer in the rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADG), whereas Chitrakoot range is headed by an IPS officer in the rank of Inspector General of Police (IG).

District Police of Mahoba is headed by the Superintendent of Police (SP) who is an IPS officer and is accountable to the District Magistrate for Law and Order enforcement. He is assisted by one Additional Superintendent of Police. The Mahoba district is divided into three police circles, each headed by a Circle Officer in the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police. The current SP is Sudha Singh.[7]