THE REGION
ESTABLISHED:1434 AD
The earliest known settlements date back almost 700 years to the year 1434 when Kathiwada was officially established. The regions history is well documented and archived.
GEOGRAPHY
Kathiwada (Pin Code 45788) is an area of *714 square kilometers. Bordering the state of Gujarat, Kathiwada is the western most tip of Madhya Pradesh.
NAME & PHONETICS
Kathiwara: British-India spelling
Katthiwada: Pronounced in Hindi
Kathiwada: Pronounced in English
TERRAIN
Kathiwada is surrounded by the Vindhyachal (also known as the Vindhya) range of hills with a peak of 630m above sea level. This gorgeous flat land valley was coined ‘Mini Kashmir’ by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi for its breathtaking natural beauty. Surrounded by wildlife in its lush jungle atmosphere which hosts the Indian leopard and sloth bear is also home to a wide variety of indigenous tree species as documented by experts.
*District Census Handbook (Alirajpur) by the Ministry of Home Affairs www.censusindia.gov.in
Ratanmaal Sloth Bear Sanctuary is a reserve that Kathiwada shares with the bordering state of Gujarat. Rich in cultural heritage, Kathiwada is home to some of the oldest Bhil Tribe communities and erstwhile Rajputs whose traditions and heritage are well documented and celebrated. The region is also famous for its natural organic mangoes which produces a particular record breaking variety called the Noorjahan that can weigh-in at almost 4 kilos per mango.
AREA & POPULATION
Kathiwada spread across its 714 square kilometers is home to *105,982 people (2011 Census Report*) which is a combined force of 149 villages comprising 49 panchayats. Sources say the population census of 2023 will show figures closer to 1,50,000. Largely populated by the indigenous adivasi (Bhil Tribe) who form the backbone of the farming community in the region. *District Census Handbook p.32/63.
LAND USES IN INDIA
Forest Cover, Area Under Non-Agricultural, Barren and Uncultivable Land, Grazing Lands, Waste-Land & Fallow Lands, Irrigated Lands, Deemed to-be Irrigated Lans, Unirrigated Lands.
DEFINITION OF A "WORKER" IN INDIA
India's population is divided into three categories, “Main Workers” is a person who works for at least 183 days in a year, “Marginal Workers” is a person who works for less than 183 days in a year and “Non-Workers” is a person who does not work for his/her livelihood.
DEFINITION OF LITERACY IN INDIA
“A person aged seven and above, who can both read and write with understanding in any language, is treated as literate.” Alirajpur districts ranks amongst the lowest in the country.
CLIMATE
The climate (in Celcius) where winters are pleasant with temperatures ranging between 18-24 degrees in the day and nights being as cold as 8-9 degrees or lower from late November to end of March. Monsoons are lush in Kathiwada with over 60-80 inches of rainfall annually. Summers are hot with temperatures in the high 30s, early 40s during the day and mid-20s at night.
CULTURE & FESTIVITIES
Dussehra is the most important day for the Rajput community with traditionally hold the role of the protectorate. Diwali is celebrated as the Hindu new-year and widely accepted as India’s most auspicious annual festival. Eid is the most important event for the minority muslim population in Kathiwada. Holi is celebrated as the Bhaguria festival which is the most auspicious day for the Bhil Tribe community. Republic Day on 26th January every year marks the united spirit of a nation and the people of Kathiwada gather to pay homage to the Republic of India. Khel Maha Utsav is an annual sports festival that culminates on Republic Day.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Raaj Mahal Kathiwada built in 1895 is Kathiwada's historic emblem and pride. The natural fauna and flora of Kathiwada has one very popular attraction which is the local water-fall and lovely coined 'Jholia' by the local people, meaning "in the cradle of nature." The Noorjahan Mango is a record-breaking organic mango geo-tagged to the Kathiwada region and is famous for its large size weighing-in at almost 4 kilos per mango. DSK Sports Club with its inception in 2014 attracts sports loving personalities from neighboring villages and districts offering unparalleled views of the Vindhya mountains. Dongri Mata Temple is a popular place of religious worship as is Bharateshwar mandir atop the hills of Kathiwada, each with very unique folklore. Ratanmaal Bear Sanctuary is home to the sloth bear and Indian leopard.
KEY STAKEHOLDERS
Rajputs, once the ruling clan and protector group, still occupy vast lands and wield influence both politically and otherwise. The Bhils, are the largest segment of society and form the indigenous agriculture backbone of the region. Government Officials are appointed administrative representatives in the region. The Department of Forestry is responsible for the vast land bank (70%) occupied under “Forests” and are crucial to the eco-stability of the region. Traders form the economic backbone of Kathiwada and are largely responsible for commodity trade and employment generation in Kathiwada.
