JewelWoodcock19: update intro for accuracy and corrected details

2025-12-29T22:05:48Z

update intro for accuracy and corrected details

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:35, 30 December 2025
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	[[File:Chambal map.svg\|thumb]]		{{Short description\|Chambal topography}}[[File:Chambal map.svg\|thumb]]
	The '''Chambal''' is a geographical and cultural region in north-central India. It lies along the [[Chambal River\|Chambal]] and [[Yamuna]] river valleys, in southeastern [[Rajasthan]], southwestern [[Uttar Pradesh]] and northern [[Madhya Pradesh]]. ~~It is well-known for~~ its ~~badlands and extensive ravine systems, that have hosted an untold number of~~ [[~~dacoit~~]]s.		The '''Chambal''' is a geographical and cultural region in north-central India. It lies along the [[Chambal River\|Chambal]] and [[Yamuna]] river valleys, in southeastern [[Rajasthan]], southwestern [[Uttar Pradesh]] and northern [[Madhya Pradesh]].
			== Etymology==
			The region derives its name from the [[Chambal River]] which flows through it.

	~~== Geology ==~~		The name of the region in early modern times at least till 1811 as attested by [[James Tod]] was Gujargarh, literally the fortress of the [[Gurjars]].<ref> "In 1811 his duties called him to a survey amidst the ravines of the Chambal, the tract called Gujargarh, a district inhabited by the Gujar tribe" in Tod, J. (1920). [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/57374/57374-h/57374-h.htm#r2.7.104 ANNALS AND ANTIQUITIES OF RAJASTHAN OR THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN RAJPUT STATES OF INDIA Volume I of Three]. Oxford University Press</ref>
	The ~~Chambal badlands are part~~ of the ~~greater Vindhyan Basin~~.<ref ~~name=~~":0" />

	== Geography ==		== Geography ==
	It covers the districts of [[Baran district\|Baran]], [[Kota district\|Kota]], [[Sawai Madhopur district\|Sawai Madhopur]], [[Karauli district\|Karauli]], and [[Dholpur district\|Dholpur]] districts of Rajasthan, parts of ~~[[Agra district\|Agra]],~~ [[Firozabad district\|Firozabad]], [[Etawah district\|Etawah]], [[Auraiya district\|Auriya]] and [[Jalaun district\|Jalaun]] districts of UP, and [[Bhind district\|Bhind]], [[Morena district\|Morena]] and [[Sheopur district\|Sheopur]] districts of Madhya Pradesh. The region is covered by an estimated ~~5 Lakh~~ hectares of badlands. It drains the northwest of the Central Vindhya Plateau and the southeastern part of the [[Aravalli Range]]. Southeastern tributaries like the [[Kali Sindh River\|Kali Sindh]] and [[Parbati River (Madhya Pradesh)\|Parbati]] begin at the extreme south of the Vindhyas and flow north in deep valleys, forming a triangular alluvial plain at elevation of 240-270 m. Afterwards the Banas, a northwestern tributary of the Chambal draining the Aravalli Range, joins the Chambal after crossing the hills near [[Sawai Madhopur]] in southeastern Rajasthan. The valley of the Chambal is wider near the confluence of the Kali Sindh and the Parbati and narrower after the confluence of the Banas. The Chambal extends to the ravines of the [[Parbati River (Rajasthan)\|Choti Parbati]] in Rajasthan and the [[Kwari River\|Kwari river]] in northeastern Madhya Pradesh.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?~~hl=en&lr=&~~id=r3qLxQxgtjQC&oi=~~fnd~~&pg=PR5~~&dq=chambal&ots=N4HtAaqc0m&sig=6uW_QjQzVcYfiEo9M9p4RKwOfFo#v=onepage&q=chambal&f=false~~\|title=The Physiography of the Lower Chambal Valley and Its Agricultural Development: A Study in Applied Geomorphology\|last=Sharma\|first=Hari Shanker\|date=1979\|publisher=Concept Publishing Company\|language=en}}</ref>		It covers the districts of [[Baran district\|Baran]], [[Kota district\|Kota]], [[Sawai Madhopur district\|Sawai Madhopur]], [[Karauli district\|Karauli]], and [[Dholpur district\|Dholpur]] districts of Rajasthan, parts of [[Firozabad district\|Firozabad]], [[Etawah district\|Etawah]], [[Auraiya district\|Auriya]] and [[Jalaun district\|Jalaun]] districts of UP, and [[Gwalior]], [[Bhind district\|Bhind]], [[Morena district\|Morena]] and [[Sheopur district\|Sheopur]] districts of Madhya Pradesh. The region is covered by an estimated half a million hectares of badlands. It drains the northwest of the Central Vindhya Plateau and the southeastern part of the [[Aravalli Range]]. Southeastern tributaries like the [[Kali Sindh River\|Kali Sindh]] and [[Parbati River (Madhya Pradesh)\|Parbati]] begin at the extreme south of the Vindhyas and flow north in deep valleys, forming a triangular alluvial plain at elevation of 240-270 m. Afterwards the Banas, a northwestern tributary of the Chambal draining the Aravalli Range, joins the Chambal after crossing the hills near [[Sawai Madhopur]] in southeastern Rajasthan. The valley of the Chambal is wider near the confluence of the Kali Sindh and the Parbati and narrower after the confluence of the Banas. The Chambal extends to the ravines of the [[Parbati River (Rajasthan)\|Choti Parbati]] in Rajasthan and the [[Kwari River\|Kwari river]] in northeastern Madhya Pradesh.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r3qLxQxgtjQC&dq=chambal&pg=PR5\|title=The Physiography of the Lower Chambal Valley and Its Agricultural Development: A Study in Applied Geomorphology\|last=Sharma\|first=Hari Shanker\|date=1979\|publisher=Concept Publishing Company\|language=en}}</ref>
			The Chambal badlands are part of the greater Vindhyan Basin.<ref name=":0" />

	== ~~Culture~~ ==		==Ravines of Chambal==
	~~[[File:Men with guns~~, ~~Jaura~~, ~~Chambal.jpg\|thumb\|Armed men in~~ [[~~Joura~~]]~~, MP - a town~~ in the Chambal]]		The ravines of Chambal were infamously known in India as a region favored by the lawless. Many renowned dacoits, or bandits, such as [[Phoolan Devi]] maintained hideouts in the ravines of Chambal. The reasons for dacoit activity in the Chambal valley are disputed. It may be feudal exploitation of those in the region prompted some to take to arms. The area was underdeveloped and poor, so banditry posed significant economic incentives. Yet many gangs operating in the valley were composed of higher-caste and wealthy individuals, suggesting that feudalism is only a partial explanation (Bhaduri, 1972; Khan, 1981; Jatar, 1980; Katare, 1972). Furthermore, traditional honour codes and [[blood feud\|blood feuds]] would drive some into criminality.
	In the ~~western part~~ of the ~~Chambal~~, ~~[[Harauti language\|Harauti]]~~, a ~~Rajasthani dialect~~, ~~is the main language and the region is dominated by the gurjar~~
	. ~~The eastern Chambal overlaps much with [[Bundelkhand]]~~, and [[~~Bundeli language~~\|~~Bundeli~~]] ~~is the language of the area. Most people live in villages and are involved in agriculture~~.

	~~The~~ Chambal ~~is infamous in India for its general lawlessness. The extensive systems~~ of ~~ravines and badlands have been home to various outlaws and dacoits for hundreds of years. Most agree that~~ the ~~continuing extreme poverty and slow encroachment~~ of ~~agricultural lands and villages by~~ the ~~ravine systems have caused great hardship to villagers and people. In addition, caste is still a strong identifier in the area.~~ [[~~Dalit~~]]~~s make~~ up ~~a quarter of~~ the ~~population~~, ~~and~~ the ~~[[Saharia\|Sahariya]] tribals also are a significant group. Historically dacoits like [[Phoolan Devi]] and Man Singh gained huge followings among the people~~ for ~~being robin-hood figures challenging~~ the ~~hegemony of the landlords~~. ~~To this day dacoit gangs are mostly organized along caste lines~~, ~~with [[Rajput]]~~,, [[~~Gujjar~~]], ~~Kurmi, Dalit~~ and ~~Brahmin gangs each having followings belonging to their castes and receiving political patronage. Dacoits of one caste generally target almost exclusively other castes~~.~~<ref>~~{{~~Cite web~~\|~~url~~=~~https://www~~.~~hindustantimes~~.~~com/india/pursuing-dalit-agenda-with-guns/story-M7M0gLsLO6FtSoWcXid3sL.html\|title=Pursuing Dalit agenda with guns~~\|date=~~2006~~-03-31\|~~website=Hindustan Times\|language=en\|access-~~date=~~2019-11-29~~}}~~</ref>~~		In Chambal, organized crime controlled much of the countryside from the time of the [[British Raj]] up to the early 2000s, with the police offering high rewards for the most notorious bandit chiefs. The criminals regularly targeted local businesses, though they preferred to kidnap wealthy people, and demand ransom from their relatives - cutting off fingers, noses, and ears to pressure them into paying high sums. Many dacoity also posed as [[Social bandit\|social bandits]] toward the local poor, paying medical bills and funding weddings.{{Citation needed\|date=February 2025}}One ex-dacoit described his own criminal past by claiming that "I was a rebel. I fought injustice."{{Citation needed\|date=February 2025}} Following intense anti-banditry campaigns by the Indian Police, highway robbery was almost completely eradicated in the early 2000s. Nevertheless, Chambal is still popularly believed to be unsafe and bandit-infested by many Indians. One police officer noted that the fading of the dacoity was also due to social changes, as few young people were any longer willing to endure the harsh life as a highway robber in the countryside. Instead, they prefer to join crime groups in the city, where life is easier.{{Citation needed\|date=February 2025}}

	==References==		==References==
	~~<references />~~		{{reflist}}

	{{coord missing\|India}}		{{coord missing\|India}}

	[[Category:Regions of India]]		[[Category:Regions of India]]

2409:4052:248F:6F9F:20A1:A96B:65B5:FB34 at 08:24, 18 June 2021

2021-06-18T08:24:42Z

New page

[[File:Chambal map.svg|thumb]]
The '''Chambal''' is a geographical and cultural region in north-central India. It lies along the [[Chambal River|Chambal]] and [[Yamuna]] river valleys, in southeastern [[Rajasthan]], southwestern [[Uttar Pradesh]] and northern [[Madhya Pradesh]]. It is well-known for its badlands and extensive ravine systems, that have hosted an untold number of [[dacoit]]s.

== Geology ==
The Chambal badlands are part of the greater Vindhyan Basin.<ref name=":0" />

== Geography ==
It covers the districts of [[Baran district|Baran]], [[Kota district|Kota]], [[Sawai Madhopur district|Sawai Madhopur]], [[Karauli district|Karauli]], and [[Dholpur district|Dholpur]] districts of Rajasthan, parts of [[Agra district|Agra]], [[Firozabad district|Firozabad]], [[Etawah district|Etawah]], [[Auraiya district|Auriya]] and [[Jalaun district|Jalaun]] districts of UP, and [[Bhind district|Bhind]], [[Morena district|Morena]] and [[Sheopur district|Sheopur]] districts of Madhya Pradesh. The region is covered by an estimated 5 Lakh hectares of badlands. It drains the northwest of the Central Vindhya Plateau and the southeastern part of the [[Aravalli Range]]. Southeastern tributaries like the [[Kali Sindh River|Kali Sindh]] and [[Parbati River (Madhya Pradesh)|Parbati]] begin at the extreme south of the Vindhyas and flow north in deep valleys, forming a triangular alluvial plain at elevation of 240-270 m. Afterwards the Banas, a northwestern tributary of the Chambal draining the Aravalli Range, joins the Chambal after crossing the hills near [[Sawai Madhopur]] in southeastern Rajasthan. The valley of the Chambal is wider near the confluence of the Kali Sindh and the Parbati and narrower after the confluence of the Banas. The Chambal extends to the ravines of the [[Parbati River (Rajasthan)|Choti Parbati]] in Rajasthan and the [[Kwari River|Kwari river]] in northeastern Madhya Pradesh.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=r3qLxQxgtjQC&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=chambal&ots=N4HtAaqc0m&sig=6uW_QjQzVcYfiEo9M9p4RKwOfFo#v=onepage&q=chambal&f=false|title=The Physiography of the Lower Chambal Valley and Its Agricultural Development: A Study in Applied Geomorphology|last=Sharma|first=Hari Shanker|date=1979|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|language=en}}</ref>

== Culture ==
[[File:Men with guns, Jaura, Chambal.jpg|thumb|Armed men in [[Joura]], MP - a town in the Chambal]]
In the western part of the Chambal, [[Harauti language|Harauti]], a Rajasthani dialect, is the main language and the region is dominated by the gurjar
. The eastern Chambal overlaps much with [[Bundelkhand]], and [[Bundeli language|Bundeli]] is the language of the area. Most people live in villages and are involved in agriculture.

The Chambal is infamous in India for its general lawlessness. The extensive systems of ravines and badlands have been home to various outlaws and dacoits for hundreds of years. Most agree that the continuing extreme poverty and slow encroachment of agricultural lands and villages by the ravine systems have caused great hardship to villagers and people. In addition, caste is still a strong identifier in the area. [[Dalit]]s make up a quarter of the population, and the [[Saharia|Sahariya]] tribals also are a significant group. Historically dacoits like [[Phoolan Devi]] and Man Singh gained huge followings among the people for being robin-hood figures challenging the hegemony of the landlords. To this day dacoit gangs are mostly organized along caste lines, with [[Rajput]],, [[Gujjar]], Kurmi, Dalit and Brahmin gangs each having followings belonging to their castes and receiving political patronage. Dacoits of one caste generally target almost exclusively other castes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/pursuing-dalit-agenda-with-guns/story-M7M0gLsLO6FtSoWcXid3sL.html|title=Pursuing Dalit agenda with guns|date=2006-03-31|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-11-29}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

{{coord missing|India}}

[[Category:Regions of India]]

Chambal (region) - Revision history

JewelWoodcock19: update intro for accuracy and corrected details

2409:4052:248F:6F9F:20A1:A96B:65B5:FB34 at 08:24, 18 June 2021