Sailana is a town in the Malwa region of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Sailana is from Ratlam city and away from Banswara district of the neighboring state of Rajasthan. Sailana was once the capital of the Sailana State before it merged into India. A fort belonging to the former royal family still stands tall in Sailana. The Kedareshwar temple, situated from Sailana is a notable shrine.
Demographics
As of the 2011 Census of India, Sailana had a population of 1,34,959. There are 226 villages in Sailana block. Sailana has an average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the state average of 69%: male literacy is 93%, and female literacy is 78%. In Sailana, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. The sub-district has a high population of Scheduled tribes (81.77%).
Geography
Sailana is located at . It has an average elevation of 479 metres (1,571 feet).
Foundation of Sailana
Raja Jai Singh wanted to shift his capital from Raoti to a safer location, he ordered the construction of his new capital close to the Kedareshwar temple and named it Jashnagar. While Jai Singh halted there with the intention of building a town, the god Kedareshwar appeared in his dream and told him that his temple was just below the hill on which Jashnagar stood, and the sewage of the new town would flow over the temple and defile it and he must therefore move east, selecting the spot on which he should kill and bury game. The god promised him that the town founded there would be healthy and prosperous. Accordingly, Raja Jai Singh rode out eastwards until he found a hare which he pierced with his spear and buried on the spot where the great Palace gate called Suraj Pole now stands. Raja Jai Singh named his new capital "Sailana" from its location at the foot of the hills (in Sanskrit, anana means mouth and shaila means hills).
History
Sailana State was founded by Raja Jai Singh Rathore (), great-grandson of Maharaja Ratan Singh Rathore. In 1716 Jai singh took revenge against his uncle for the murder of his father, he killed him in a pitched battle at sagode and secured Ratlam for his elder brother. The two brothers then divided the state between themselves. Jai singh's capital was initially at Raoti. He built Sailana town as his new capital in 1736. He fought 22 battles in his lifetime, turning Sailana into an independent state. Jai Singh was succeeded by Jaswant Singh I, Ajab Singh, Mokham Singh and Lakshman Singh. The state was able to remain independent until it was invaded by Gwalior State, the ruler Raja Lakshman Singh of Sailana initially opposed the incursions however in 1819 he approached the British for protection of his state. Sir John Malcom mediated a peace between Gwalior and Sailana and an agreement was signed according to which Gwalior promised not to interfere in the state of Sailana and Lakshman Singh promised to pay tribute to the British. Lakshman Singh was succeeded by Ratan Singh, Nahar Singh, Takhat Singh, Duleh Singh and Jaswant Singh II. Major improvements took place during Raja Jaswant Singh II's reign, which turned Sailana into a model state. Jaswant Singh II built schools, hospitals, roads, the clock arched gate, Kirti Stambh, a permanent court and organised the state police. Jaswant Singh II advocated temperance and vegetarianism and received many honours, which included the gold kaiser-I-hind medal, which he received for his work in the 1900 famine. The state would be further developed by his son Dilip Singh. Dilip Singh would improve the infrastructure of the state by building modern schools for both sexes and a hospital with a big maternity ward. Education was made free and compulsory, while medical aid was also provided free of charge during his reign. He took part in religious organisations and built the Krishna temple in Thanesar. He was also responsible for giving a democratic constitution to the local municipality. On 15 June 1948, Raja Dileep Singh signed the accession to the Indian Union.