Etymology

proof to support the theory that the name of the village comes from the acronym. The village near Mhow was called Mhow Gaon in the pre-​British​ era, when English was not used in India. The Cantonment which came up in 1818 came to be known as Mhow Cantt after the name of this village. ​Sir John Malcolm​ spelt the name of this town as MOW in his writings. The 1918 edition of Encyclopædia Britannica also mentions 'MAU'. However, the Cantonment was referred to by British officers as Mhow at least as early as the end of 1823 (letter from Lt Edward Squibb to his father in London).

DEMOGRAPHY

As of 2001 India ​census​,​[3] Mhow had a population of 85,023. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Mhow has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 65%. In, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. ​Hinduism​, ​Islam​, ​Buddhism​ and Jainism​ are four major religions in Mhow with 47.0%, 45.0%, 5.0% and 2% of the population following them. And others are 1.0% As its 52.5% of Mhow's population is in the 15–59 years age category. Around 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

THE INDIAN ARMY AND MHOW

The Army has been here since 1818. Up until World War II, Mhow was the headquarters of the ​5th (Mhow) Division​ of the Southern Army. According to local legend ​Winston Churchill​ also spent a few months in Mhow when he was a subaltern serving with his regiment in India (a local shop still boasts of him as its customer). The house on the Mall where he is supposed to have lived has gradually crumbled due to neglect and age. It has been pulled down and a jogger's park has been built on its grounds by the Infantry School, Mhow.