Hin: बस्तर bastar
‘Bastar’ – District, Chhattisgarh
From Basta(ha), the name of a clan
The name Bastar is believed to have originated from the Basta or Bastaha clan, an ancient ruling lineage of the region. Some scholars suggest that it is derived from Skt: vastra, ‘cloth’ possibly referring to the traditional attire of the local tribal communities.
Bastar was historically inhabited by tribes including the Abujhmaria, Bison Horn Maria, Hill Maria, Muria, Bhatra, Halba, Dorla, Dhurwa . It was part of various regional kingdoms before being ruled by the Kakatiya dynasty of Warangal in the 12th century.
In 1324, Annam Deo, a prince of the Kakatiya dynasty, fled after the fall of Warangal and established the Bastar Kingdom. The ruling family governed the region for centuries, maintaining autonomy even under the Mughals and later the British.
The British annexed Bastar in the 19th century, but it remained a princely state until 1948, when it merged with Madhya Pradesh (later Chhattisgarh).
Today, Bastar is known for its rich tribal culture, forests, and the unique 75-day Dussehra festival, the longest in the world.
However, it has also faced serious challenges as many tribal peasants have resorted to armed struggle by aligning themselves with the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency. This is despite brutal state repression and a conflict that has destroyed lives, homes and communities [see Roy (2011), Sundar (2016)].
For related place names see Indian Place names and Chhattisgarh place names.
