BIJAWAR, a state of Central India, in the Bundelkhand agency. Area, 973 sq.m.; pop. (1931) 115,852. Forests cover nearly half the State, which is believed to be rich in minerals, but lacks transport facilities The State takes its name from the chief town, Bijawar (pop. in 1931, 5,748), founded by Bijai Singh, one of the Gond chiefs of Garha Mandla, in the i7th century. It was conquered in the i8th century by Chhatarsal, the founder of Panna, a Rajput of the Bundela clan, whose descendants still hold it. It was confirmed to Ratan Singh in i8ri by the British Government under the usual sanad. In 1857 Bhan Pratap Singh helped the British during the Mutiny, being rewarded with certain privileges and a hereditary salute of guns. In 1866 he received the title of maharajah, and the prefix sawai in 1877.