The White Tiger City REWA m.p
In the 13th century AD, the Baghels/ Vaghelas who are believed to be originated from Solanki or Chalukya clan from Gujarat came to this area and ruled from Bandhavgarh under the first ruler Raja Vyaghradev. In the mid 1550s, Raja Ramachandra Singh Baghela maintained a musically talented court, including the legendary Tansen. In 1617, Maharaja Vikramaditya Singh moved his capital to Rewa. Maharaja Martand Singh was the last ruler of Rewa who acceded to the Union of India after the country became independent.
Birbal was born in Rewa Kingdom. The Emperor Sher Shah Suri, died fighting with Ruler of Rewa Vir Singh at Fort of Kalinjar.
Mohammed Jalaluddin Akbar, or Akbar the Great, grew up in Rewa after his father, Humayun, was driven in exile. [Akbar received same education and upbringing that prince Ram Singh received. Maharaja Ramchandra Singh and Akbar stayed friends. Two of the Navratnas of Akbar, Tansen and Birbal (original name Mahesh Das.) were sent from Rewa by Maharaja Ramchandra Singh once Akbar became the Emperor of India.
Rewa is also famous for its white tigers, the first one, nicknamed Mohan, was caught in Rewa.
Sitar Virtuoso Pandit Ravi Shankar studied music from Alauddin Khan of Maihar, also in Rewa.
Rewa is the first princely state in India to declare Hindi as a national language in times of Maharaja Gulab Singh. He is also credited for declaring the first responsible government in modern India, providing citizens of Rewa state a right to question monarch's decision.
In February 2007, the most extensive book on history of Rewa was published by Oxford University Press, New Delhi. It is named "Baghelkhand, or the Tigers’ Lair" and is authored by Dr D.E.U Baker, ex H.O.D, Department of History, St. Stephen's College, New Delhi after 12 years of gruelling research in which the author consulted numerous sources of information for Rewa's history like the state and national archieves as well as old records of Rewa state
