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Dahod district

Overview

Dahod district is an administrative district in the eastern part of the state of Gujarat, India. It lies in the hilly tract along the border with Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and forms part of the tribal belt of central-western India. The district headquarters is the town of Dahod, which is historically associated with the birthplace of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Key facts

Country India
State Gujarat
Region Eastern Gujarat
Headquarters Dahod
Formed 2 October 1997 (carved out of Panchmahal district)
Official language Gujarati

Geography

Dahod district is situated in the easternmost part of Gujarat. It shares its borders with Madhya Pradesh to the east and Rajasthan to the north-east, with Mahisagar district lying to the west and Panchmahal district to the south-west. The terrain is largely undulating and forms part of the southern fringe of the Aravalli system, with patches of forest and agricultural land. The Anas, Machhan and Panam are among the rivers that drain the district.

History

The area corresponding to present-day Dahod district has long been part of the wider Panchmahals tract, which came under Mughal, Maratha and later British administration. Under British rule, the Panchmahals were administered as part of the Bombay Presidency. After the reorganisation of states and the formation of Gujarat in 1960, the area continued as part of Panchmahal district. Dahod district was constituted as a separate district on 2 October 1997, when it was bifurcated from Panchmahal district to improve administrative reach in the predominantly tribal eastern zone.

The town of Dahod is traditionally identified as the birthplace of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who was born there in 1618 while his father, Shah Jahan, was governor of the region.

Administration

The district is administered by a District Collector and Magistrate, with development functions overseen by a District Development Officer through the Zilla Panchayat. Dahod is divided into several talukas, including Dahod, Garbada, Dhanpur, Limkheda, Devgadh Baria, Fatepura, Jhalod, Sanjeli and Singvad. The district elects representatives to the Lok Sabha through the Dahod parliamentary constituency, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

Demographics

Dahod district has a predominantly rural population, with a high proportion of Scheduled Tribes, particularly the Bhil and related communities. Gujarati is the principal language, alongside tribal dialects such as Bhili and Wagdi. Hinduism is the majority religion, with significant Muslim and smaller Christian and Jain communities.

Economy

The economy of the district is largely agrarian, with maize, wheat, paddy, pulses and oilseeds being important crops. Animal husbandry and forest produce supplement household incomes in tribal areas. Dahod town is a regional trade and service centre and an important railway junction on the Mumbai–Delhi main line of the Western Railway. A railway workshop established in the colonial era continues to operate at Dahod, and the Indian Railways has developed it as a centre for the manufacture of locomotives.

Transport

Dahod is well connected by rail, lying on the Vadodara–Ratlam section of the Western Railway, which forms part of the Mumbai–Delhi corridor. National Highway 47 (formerly NH 59) connects Dahod with Godhra and Ahmedabad to the west and Indore to the east. State highways link the district headquarters with Devgadh Baria, Jhalod, Limkheda and adjoining areas of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Culture

Tribal culture is a defining feature of Dahod, reflected in its fairs, music and dance forms. The weekly haats (markets) held in different towns are important social and economic gatherings. Festivals such as Holi and Diwali are observed widely, and tribal celebrations including the Gol Gadhedo and Chul fairs draw participants from surrounding regions.

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