Although Orissa’s role in the nationalist movement is not well-chronicled many fiery nationalists have earned a place in the pages of history, and those who still get a footnote treatment certainly deserve better. It is a fact well established that the Paika rebellion that preceded the ‘First War of Independence’ of 1857 was a flashpoint in the history of nationalist struggle in the state and the brave rebels who defied, what British Marxist historian VG Kiernan has called, ‘the lords of humankind’, were patriots and martyrs who
inspire pride. Himanshu Shekhar Guru pays the rebels a tribute ahead of 69th Independence Day
THE 1817 REBELLION
Buxi Jagabandhu, the former Buxi or commander of the forces of the Raja of Khurda, rebelled against colonial rule. The Paikas were separated by the British regime, who took over the hereditary rent-free land granted to them after the conquest of Khurda. The land revenue policy of the British was the primary cause of the rebellion of 1817. The rent-free land tenure provided to soldiers for the military service they rendered on a hereditary basis were taken away in the settlement by Major Fletcher as their services were not required anymore. This policy resulted in the deprivation of Buxi Jagabandhu from his estates and he was forced to depend on the voluntary contributions of the people of Khurda. This policy affected the zamindars as well as the ryots. As a result, Buxi Jagabandhu led the tribals of Banapur and Ghumsur and bravely marched towards Khurda – the seat of colonial power. It quickly spread to other parts of the state such as Puri, Pipili and Cuttack and to several remote villages including Kanika, Kujang and Pattamundai. The Rajas of Kanika, Kujang, Nayagarh and Ghumusur aided Jagabandhu and Dalabehera Mirhaidar Alli of Jadupur was an important Muslim rebel. The rebellion received extensive support from the masses. The zamindars of Karipur, Mrichpur, Golra, Balarampur, Budnakera and Rupasa pitched in with valuable support and the Kandhas of Banapur tasted success in their revolutionary activity. The armed rebellion continued for a long time. However, the meagre number of Paikas was unable to defend the well-equipped British forces and receded to the jungles. In the operation that succeeded bands of Paikas were hunted down and brutally murdered. In May 1817 the British posted judges to Khurda to sentence the captured rebels. The rebels were awarded sentences of death, transportation and long-term imprisonment.
BUXI JAGABANDHU
Buxi Jagabandhu was the leader of the Paika rebellion. Also known as Paika Buxi, his full name was Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mohapatra Bhramarbar Rai. He had got the title of Buxi as an inheritance from his ancestors who were commanders of the forces of the King of Khurda. It was a rank second only to the King. His family was provided with jagirs (grants of lands and other requisites) and the estate of ‘Killa Rorang’ for generations by the King of Khurda.
VEER SURENDRA SAI
Surendra Sai led an uncompromising war against the Britishers. He rebelled against colonial rule in 1827 when he was only 18 and continued his political activity till 1862 when he surrendered, and even after that until he was finally arrested in 1864. He suffered imprisonment in Hazaribagh jail for 17 years in course of his revolutionary career and after his final arrest for another term of 20 years including his detention of 19 years at the remote Asirgarh hill fort where he breathed his last. Sepoy mutiny collapsed by the end of 1858 and law and order was restored by the British throughout India. But Surendra Sai could not be suppressed. The military resources of the British were pulled up against him and generals like Major Forster, Capt. L Smith and others who had earned credit in suppressing the rebellion elsewhere in India were brought to Sambalpur to stamp out Sai. Major Forster was discredited and removed by the imperial authorities in 1861 after three years of service in Sambalpur. His successor Major Impey abandoned the idea of violent war and cautiously followed the policy of peace and goodwill. He, however, suddenly arrested Surendra Sai and all his relatives, friends and followers. Veer Surendra Sai and his six followers were subsequently detained at Asirgarh hill fort.
SAHEED BAJI ROUT
Baji Rout, a young ferry boy from Nilakanthpur village of Dhenkanal, was the youngest freedom fighter and martyr. His death shook the nation and added fuel to the ongoing freedom struggle. British police arbitrarily arrested some people of Bhuban village October 10, 1938 and took them to Bhuban Police station. Leaders of the Prajamandal gheraoed the police station protesting against injustice and demanding immediate release of those arrested. The British police instead fired at the agitators killing two people, but subsequently out of fear fled the scene. They opted to go to Dhenkanal via Nilkanathpur Ghat since it was the shortest route. On the wee hours of October 11, they reached the ghat as it was pouring hard. The 13-year-old Baji was on guard of a country boat at that time. He was ordered by the troops to ferry them across the river Brahmani. Baji had already heard details of the brutality of the troops. He knew if the British troops were to be obstructed they needed to be stopped from going across to the other side. He refused to ferry them across. The troop threatened to kill him if he dared to disobey. Baji, however, stood his ground. One of the British soldiers hit him on the head with his gun that fractured his skull severely. He collapsed mumbling he wouldn’t carry them across as long as he was alive. A soldier pierced his bayonet into the soft skull of the brave boy even as another started firing ruthlessly. The incident shook the entire nation. People from within and outside the state lauded the supreme sacrifice of the brave martyr. The funeral procession of Saheed Baji Rout started from his native village of Nilakanthpur to Khan Nagar in Cuttack.
JAYEE RAJGURU
Jayee Rajguru was the first martyr in the national freedom struggle from Orissa. Born to Chandra Rajguru and Haramani Debi October 29, 1739 near Puri his original name was Jaykrushna Rajguru Mahapatra. His forefathers served the king of Khurda as his legal advisors and spiritual teachers. They were thus bestowed with the title “Rajguru”. In his time the Britishers issued a notice stating that the rulers of all the smaller kingdoms had to accept subjugation. Taxes were also levied on them. However, Jayee Rajguru rejected the notice. He requested all the residents not to bow down before the British but to fight for the honour of their motherland. He was also successful in gathering the support of the people of the neighbouring kingdoms. He gathered support and carefully planned a defensive strategy against the British. In 1804 he along with his troops attacked the British forces on the banks of the Mahanadi. It resulted in a serious setback for the British. Hence more soldiers from Chennai were brought to reinforce the rebellion and the final Battle of Barunei took place on the foothills of Barunei where the British army constituting of 7000 soldiers had to accept defeat. The British officials resorted to Divide and Rule policy. They offered a few local fiefs large tax free holdings and in return asked for information on Jayee Rajguru and his battle plans. Rajguru was thus captured and arrested. He moved the King to a safe hideout and himself surrendered to the British. After his arrest the British officials took Rajguru to Medinipur and after a prolonged trial he was accorded capital punishment for disobeying the state. He was killed in a brutal manner December 6, 1806. His legs were tied to two branches of a banyan tree and the branches were let off splitting his body into two.
The 13-year-old Baji was ordered by the troops to ferry them across the river Brahmani. Baji had already heard details of the brutality of the troops. He knew he needed to stop them from rowing across to the other side. He refused to ferry them across. The soldiers threatened to kill him if he dared to disobey. Baji, however, stood his ground.
CHAKHI KHUNTIA
Born to Raghunath Khuntia alias Bhimasen Hajuri and Kamalabati in 1827 Chakhi Khuntia was named Chandan Hajuri since the child was born when his father was dressing Lord Jagannath with sandal paste. Later, he came to be known as Chakhi Khuntia. He helped Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi in her revolt against the British and played a crucial role by fomenting resentment among Indian soldiers and organising a mutiny which subsequently took a violent shape. He breathed his last in 1870 in Puri.
BHABANI CHARAN PATNAIK
Freedom fighter Bhabani Charan Patnaik started his nationalistic political career at the age of 10. We met the 94-year-old freedom fighter at his Ashok Nagar residence in Bhubaneswar. “In 1932 when I was a 10-year-old child and was studying in a primary school in Nimapada, George V was the Emperor of India. We students were taken in a rally from the school December 12, 1932 and were asked to sing the lines ‘Sri Jaja panchama purusha uttama aji rajraj re…’ We were crossing the police station when we were asked to shout ‘hail the British’. We did accordingly but I also shouted ‘Mahatma Gandhi Ki Jai’ and all the students shouted ‘Jai’. It was an embarrassing situation for the teachers as well as the police. Although there I did not get any punishment after reaching the school others got sweets and I got whipped with a ‘Kaniar’ stick mercilessly. It was the first day I raised my voice against colonial rule,” he said.
“At that time Mohan Das organised meetings. I used to attend his meetings as a high school student. In this way I continued my services to the motherland. In 1942 Mahatma Gandhi raised the slogan ‘Do or Die’. Accordingly, the famous August revolution initiated and Gandhi was arrested August 8. Many freedom fighters decided to take over the police station and unfurl the Tricolour September 16. We rebelled but the British troops tried to subdue us with an iron hand. They fired and Uchhab Malik of Dihabari was killed and 20 others injured. I was arrested along with Lokanath Senapati of Bhilli gram, Somnath Panda of Antia Sahi, Maheshwar Mohanty of Chanrapada, Padma Charan Samantsinghar of Manijangha, Prahllad Sahu and Banchanidhi Seth of Hansapada among others. We were taken to Puri jail. At that time there was no proper road connection. Thus we had to walk from Nimapada to Pipli and took rest there. The next morning we were taken to Puri in a bus. In the jail I came into contact with people like Acharya Harihara, Nabakrishna Choudhury and others. Then I was transferred to the Central jail in Cuttack. It was then the main jail in Orissa. I was released from prison in 1946,” he added.
When asked about his experience on the night of August 15, 1947 Patnaik said, “It was a historic moment not only for me but for every Indian. We were waiting with sankirtana groups and a huge number of people to celebrate. Then we got information from the police station. After the news was announced we shouted ‘Swadhin Bharat ki jai’, ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’, ‘Bande Mataram’.”