Seoni

Seoni district lies in the south of Madhya Pradesh, on the Satpura plateau, and has long been a land of forests, hills and tribal communities. For centuries the area was dominated by Gond and other Adivasi groups, living in scattered villages, practicing shifting cultivation, hunting and forest-based livelihoods. In early and medieval periods, Seoni stood on the margins of larger powers in the Narmada and Deccan regions; authority of far-off dynasties was often nominal, while real control rested with local Gond chiefs.

From the 17th–18th centuries, Maratha influence from Nagpur and the Bhonsle rulers gradually extended into the region. New revenue systems, small forts and officials appeared, but the interior remained largely tribal and forested. After the defeat of the Marathas in the early 19th century, Seoni came under British rule as part of the Central Provinces. The British introduced reserved forests, basic roads, and later rail links, which brought in traders, officials and some settlers, but large parts of the district stayed sparsely populated and heavily wooded.

In the 20th century, Seoni’s identity became popularly linked with “The Jungle Book” setting, as the forests of Seoni and nearby Pench inspired Rudyard Kipling’s tales. Post-Independence, the district has remained largely rural and tribal, with agriculture, forestry and Pench-related eco-tourism shaping its modern history.