Madhya Pradesh has a long and diverse history, having been ruled by many empires and dynasties over the centuries. This included the Mauryan Empire, the Mughals, and later the British. During the rule of the Mughals, the famous musician Tansen hailed from Madhya Pradesh and served at the court of Emperor Akbar. Madhya Pradesh is also the birthplace of the renowned poet Kalidasa. After independence, Madhya Pradesh was formed in 1956 by merging several princely states and provinces. Chhattisgarh was later carved out as a separate state in 2000.