Sagar, Madhya Pradesh

The original name 'Saugor' (Hindi: सौगढ़) is an amalgamation of two words: sau meaning Hundred (100) and garh meaning forts; there were countless small-forts in this region. With time the name changed from Saugor to Sagar.[2][3]

The ancient Indian kingdom of Chedi had its capital at Suktimati, which is located in Sagar in contemporary times. The history of Sagar District before 1022 A.D. is generally unknown; after that, records are available. Sagar was under the rule of Ahir Rajas and their capital was at Garhpehra. In 1660, Udenshah, founded the present town of Sagar.[4]

After 1735, the city came under the rule of the Peshwas. In 1818, a large part of the Sagar district was ceded by Peshwa Baji Rao II to the British East India Company. Administratively, the position of Sagar and the neighbouring territories underwent frequent changes.

The Saugor territory was, first of all, placed under the superintendent of Political Affairs of Bundelkhand. Later, in 1820, this area, called the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories, was placed under the administration of an agent to the governor general. The region fell under the North-Western Provinces following its constitution in 1835. In 1842 occurred the Bundela rising, the quelling of which demanded a more direct attention by the Governor-General. But order was restored in the following year, and the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories were again placed under the political control of an Agent to the Governor-General. The arrangement however, was not found to be satisfactory and these territories were once again restored to the North-Western Provinces in 1853. Thereafter in 1861 the Saugor and Nerbudda territories, along with the Nagpur state formed a Commissioner's Province called Central Provinces.[5]

Sagar has humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa) with hot summers, a somewhat cooler monsoon season and cool winters. Very heavy rain falls in the monsoon season from June to September.

As of the 2011[7] India census, Sagar had a population of 2,378,458 of which male and female were 1,256,257 and 1,122,201 respectively. In the 2001 census, Sagar had a population of 2,021,987 of which males were 1,073,205 and remaining 948,782 were females. Average literacy rates of Sagar in 2011 were 76.46 compared to 67.73 of 2001. Gender-wise, male and female literacy rates were 84.85 and 67.02 respectively in 2011. For the 2001 census, the rates stood at 79.41 and 54.35 in Sagar District. The total number of literates in Sagar District were 1,545,719 of which male and female were 908,607 and 637,112 respectively. In 2001, Sagar District had 1,118,993 literates in its district.

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