Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

Nayagarh Prajamandal Movement

Dr. Saroj Kumar Patnaik

The Prajamandal Movement in the Garjat States, ‘Suryamani’ was the founder of the state. basically a peasant movement was an epoch- He named his new state at and had his making struggle that considerably influenced the capital at ‘Gunamuti’ and subsequently, the ninth politics of the province as well as the nation. The Bagha Singh established the capital at movement which initially was directed against the Nayagarh Old Town. Since that date till merger misrule and autocracy of the rulers, subsequently of the state in on 01.01.1948, his demanded responsible government and the successors were continuously ruling the state. merger of the states with Odisha. After the death of Raja Narayan Singh in 1919, his son Krushna Chandra Singh was to succeed Prajamandal movement in Odisha was th raised on 24th June 1937. ‘Prajamandal’ was him as the 26 Raja. But as he was a minor, the constituted by 26 princely states (Garjats) against state was put under Court of Wards and was being the absolute power exercised by the British administered by Abdul Satar Khan as supported Kings. The garjat residents of Superintendent. During his period Mr. Khan had Nayagarh, Athagarh, Talcher, Dhenkanal, Nilgiri revenue settlement, constructed village roads and States took the lead of the movement. During this introduced compulsory primary education and movement twelve years old Baji Rout of many other reforms. Raja Krushna Chandra Singh Dhenkanal became a victim to the police bullets. took charge of administration in 1933. In Ranpur state the youth named Raghuanth In 1931, there was an attempt to unite Mohanty and Dibakar Parida who took the lead the people of the Odisha states, under the of Ranpur Prajamandal Movement were leadership of Sri Radhanath Rath, Sri sentenced to death on false allegations. Balunkeswar Acharya and Sri Govinda Mishra. Nayagarh was one of the Garjats or Accordingly, ‘Odisha Garjat Jana Sammelan’ feudatory states out of 26 in Odisha which was was held at under the Presidentship of being governed by the Resident and Political Sri Bhubanananda Das, in which it was decided Agent of the Eastern State Agency, during the to form Congress Committee in all states. The British regime in . illegal collection of Magan, Bhetti, Rasad, Bethi (forcible labour without payment), bribery and The area of the state was 590 sq. miles other illegal acts of the Raja’s were severely surrounded by dense forests with various kinds condemned and it was proposed to demand the of valuable timbers, bamboos and many other withdrawal of those acts. Thereafter, ‘Odisha forest products. Garajat Praja Sammelana’ was held on 20.7.1937

April - 2017 49 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review at Cuttack under the able leadership of Sri Thereafter, the Prajamandal workers Sarangadhar Das. This encouraged the people started boycotting the use of Pana (betel) as a of different states to form Prajamandal in their protest against state monopoly. This was started states. throughout the state and the action of boycotting Accordinly, in Nayagarh State, a public was willingly carried out and people forgot to take meeting was held at Kumpapada (Ganjam ‘Pana’. As the ‘Pana’ monopoly was a failure, District) on 29.06.1938. Sri Narayan Nanda of the Raja with a revengeful attitude tried to harass Orgaon was elected as the Interim President of the Prajamandal workers by initiating false cases the Proposed Nayagarh Prajamandal with Sri for which some of them were severely assaulted, Kuber Sahu as the Seretary and Sri Laxman imprisoned and had to pay fine. This illegal torture Moharana, Sri Sridhar Dash, Sri Banchhanidhi of the Raja on the leaders and workers was widely Senapati and some other as members of the condemned by the Prajajmandal. Grazing fees working committee. Nayagarh Prajamandal was were also imposed on them who had cows, goats, duly formed at Orgaon on 09.09.1938 amidst buffalows and other domestic animals. At the loud cheers of thousands of people and workers. instance of Prajamandal people boycotted to pay Inspite of several threatening by the Durbar the grazing fees as a result of which the State Administration people from different parts of the authorities illegally put the animals in local kine state willingly participated under the leadership houses and if the owner didn’t pay the tax his of Sri Laxman Moharana and Sri Narasingh cattles were put to auction sale. Despite that the Nanda. The conference began in the evening in protest couldn’t be suppressed by the authorities. which Sri Laxman Moharana was elected as the President of Prajamandal and he presided over The Raja formed a ‘Praja Bandhu Samiti’ the meeting. It was proposed to place different with some of his henchmen to curb mass agitation legitimate demands of the people before the Raja of the people by threatening and distributing for the welfare of the people. Those historic leaflets. To counter this harsh action of Raja, the demands of Nayagarh Prajamandal are : Prajamandal divided to establish Panchayats in each and every village which was immediately (i) Right of citizenship, (ii) withdrawal of carried out. In almost many important villages like Bethi, Magana, Bhetti which were in vogue long since, (iii) to give tenants their right over the land Orgaon, Godipada, Itamati, Mahipur, Nuagaon (iv) to allow people to get forest production like and Bahadajhola people offered ‘Satyagrah’ timber, bamboo etc. for their use free of cost, against the illegal action of the Darbar tyrant (v) withdrawal of illegal grazing fee levied on the administration, for which some of the leaders and people, (vi) to allow the people to cut and use workers of the agitation were assaulted and the standing trees from their own land without any seriously injured by the police. Collective fine was payment, (vii) to withdraw monopoly of the state illegally imposed in many villages. On the advice in selling of betel leaves (Pana), license on forest of the Odisha Garjat Praja Sammilani ‘Garjat products such as : Tola, Mahula and others and Dibas’ was observed throughout the state on also the fees for growing sugarcane, (viii) to impose 29.10.1938 as a protest against the inhuman ban for using wine, ganja and opium etc, (ix) to action of Nayagarh Durbar. It was duly observed establish a full responsible government with due throughout the state by organising meeting, hartal representation of the people. and procession etc.

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Thus, the fight between the Prajamandal On 09.01.1939 the Raja declared to workers and the Durber administration began to form an Advisory Committee which was turned grow up gradually day by day. down by the Prajamandal, as that was powerless. Subsequently in an agreement with Prajamandal The Prajamandal workers decided to leaders, the Raja ordered to release the meet the Raja at Nayagarh on 24.06.1938 for Satyagarhis and also to withdraw false cases discussion with him. Accordingly 10 thousand started against them. But the proposed Advisory people of different areas of the state under the Committee formation was not accepted in spite leadership of the President Banchhanidhi Senapati of the fact that the committee was formed on assembled at Nayagarh but the Raja didn’t pay 15.04.1939 and was inaugurated by the Raja and any heed to their legitimate demands. he announced to grant some concession in grazing Being unable to suppress the agitation, fee, and use of forest products by the people. the Raja promulgated “Nayagarh State Being unable to suppress the growing Disciplinary act (1938 Ragulation) on power of the Prajamanal, the Raja tried to create 10.12.1938, prohibiting to hold public meetings, differences among leaders by various allurements. procession, reading of newspapers. It was termed The leaders and workers were put under house as ‘Black Act’ by the Prajamandal and it decided arrest and many false cases were initiated against for the violation of the provisions of the Act. theM. But they were released in the 1st week of Ninteen Satyagrahis including Bhobani Adhikari, July, 1942. Maguni Panda and others were arrested for violations. As the capital town was packed with During historic ‘Quit-India’ movement, thousands of Satyagrahis, the Raja was forced to the leaders and workers of Prajamandal took invite the leaders Laxman Moharana, Sridhar active part in agitation which was declared by Dash, Sukura Behera and others for discussion Nayagarh Raja as unlawful. Thereafter, the on 31.12.1938. Thereafter he ordered release of prominent leaders were arrested. Some of them all Satyagrahis and withdrew false cases started were severely assaulted and their houses at against them. After that, a sub-committee was Orgaon and other places were looted by the formed under the leadership of Sridhar Dash and Durbar Administration through police and Udayanath Prusty to propagate about the goondas. The leaders and workers were ill- proposal of merger of Nayagarh with Odisha. treated in the jail. They were not given proper food or medicine for their treatment. One of the The committee formed in 1937 to enquire prominent leader Kusti Dakua was killed at about the oppression of the rulers of different Nuagaon Police Station by police bullet on states was reconstituted in 1938, with 10.10.1942 during the agitation. Eighty year old Dr. Harekrishna Mahatab as the Chairman and worker Kanduri Parida, Daya Behera and Budhi Sri Balbant Ray Meheta and Lalmohan Parida died inside the jail without proper medical Pattanayak as members. Sri Sarangadhar Dash treatment. Many leaders and workers were became the Secretary. This Committee had its released from jail in the middle part of 1943. camp at Bolgarh on 28th January 1938 in which II Nayagarh Prajamandal leaders and workers gave their evidence against the illegal action of Smt. Malati Choudhury, the president of Nayagarh Ruler. Odisha Congress along with Sri Banamali Patnaik

April - 2017 51 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review and Sri Gouranga Charan Das came to Nayagarh On the request of prominent leaders of on 16.01.1946 to look into the inhuman treatment different Garajats, Sri Sarangadhar Das, President of Nayagarh Durbar Administration. During their of the Zonal Committee convened a meeting of two days stay, they visited Itamati, Godipada, the council at Cuttack on 23.06.1946 which was Orgaon etc, where they were given hearty also attended by Dr. Mehtab. It was finally welcome by the people and they addressed in resolved there to merge these 26 Garjats with public meetings. This visit created an awakening Odisha State. This action of the Zonal Council among the leaders and the People as a whole. was a death blow to who wanted to form Thereafter, Nayagarh Raja wanted to have some an Independent Rastra Sangha. administrative reforms and on 16.02.1946 As the Panchayat in Nayagarh State was declared to form an Assembly. This was also not working vigourously and doing a lot of reforms it accepted by the Prajamandal and their leaders being an eyesore to the State authorities, the Raja tried to openly protest against illegal action of the promulgated 1938 Ordiance on 06.12.1946 to Raja. This was an eyesore to Raja’s curb the powers of the Panchayat administration administration. Thereafter, the Raja promulgated which was a complete failure. an order U/s 144 of Cr.Pc. prohibiting public The 4th session of Nayagarh Prajamandal meetings, procession etc., which encouraged the was held at Itamati on 01.06.1947 in which more Prajamandal leaders to a great deal to proceed than 50,000 people from different states including in their mass agitation. Nayagarh, attended. Sri Sarangadhar Das The third session of Prajamandal was presided over the meeting. It was decided to form held at Godipada on 25.03.1946 at Nehru Nagar, Prajamandal organisation in all states. In another in which Smt. Malati Choudhury, Sri Surendranath resolution, the Raja of Nayagarh was requested Dwibedi, Sri Biswanath Pandit and many other to declare a full responsible government with duly leaders of different Prajamandals practicipated. elected representatives. It was resolved in that Conference to merge all Thereafter, the Raja invited Sri Sridhar small states having less than 10 (Ten) lakh Dash and other leaders for discussion on population and annual income less than 50 lakhs 20.06.1947. After discussion he was willing to (as per the resolution of All India Gujurati Lok form a responsible government. As per his Parishad’s Indore Conference of 1939 and declaration on 25.08.1947 an interim government confirmed at Jeypore Conference) should be was formed with Sri Brundaban Chandra Singh merged with the neighbouring states. Accordingly, (Raja’s brother), Sri Sridhar Dash and Sri the Enquiry Committee under the chairmanship Banchanidhi Senapati as ministers. Raja himself of Dr. H.K. Mehtab, suggested for the merger of was the Chief Minister. The new ministry took 26th Garjats of Odisha with Odisha State. charge of the administration on 10.09.1947. Godipada Conference also resolved to form a During their short term office they had some parallel govt. in Nayagarh State. These resolutions necessary reforms in Revenue, Health, Education, were unanimously passed and the copies of the Forest and other departments for the welfare of resolutions were sent to the Resident of the the aggrieved people. Eastern State Agency and also the Prime Minister The role of students in this mass movement of Odisha, Dr. H.K. Mahtab. was no less. The students continuing their higher

52 April - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 studies at Ravenshaw College, Cuttack during According to the above decision, the 1946-47 were united and formed “Nayagarh interim government of Nayagarh resigned on Students Congress”. Sri Narasingh Patnaik was 31.12.1947 and Odisha Government took charge the Chairman of the reception committee. of the administration on 01.01.1948. A meeting Sri Artabandhu Mishra and Sri Udayanath Patnaik of the Nayagarh Prajamandal was held on were the joint secretaries of the committee for 16.05.1948 at Orgaon in the presence of the said conference. With the kind patronage and Dr. Harekrishna Mehtab. In that meeting it was assistance of the Prajamandal Ministers, the decided to merge Nayagarh Prajamandal with student leaders organised a huge Student’s Odisha Congress, after its long 11 (eleven) years conference at Nayagarh Town on 13th and 14th of strenuous heroic struggle for a democratic of December 1947 in which thousands of students government. The present “Prajamandal Mahila from different states participated. Sri Pradipta Mohavidyalay” at Nayagarh is now standing as a Kishore Das, Sri Gourang Charan Das, Miss sacred monument in memory of the defunct Shyamali Lahidi, Shanti Devi and some other Prajamandal Organisation for times to come. Odisha Student Congress leaders also joined In this historic people’s movement many them. Sri Surendra Nath Dwibedi, Sri workers had been seriously assaulted, injured. Sarangadhar Das and some Nayagarh Some of them were illegally penalised in paying Prajamandal leaders addressed the meeting and fines and undergoing imprisonment. Many enthused the students. It was a great source of valuable properties of the workers have been help and inspiration to the Prajamandal looted by the police under the Durbar organisation to achieve their goal for having a Administration out of them the following persons people’s representative government at Nayagarh. have sacrified their lives for the cause of the people Nayagarh didn’t see such a big student rally and have become matyrs. They are Kasti Dakua before. of village Kusabida, Kanduri Parida, Budhi Sardar Ballav Bhai Patel (The Iron Man) Parida, Daya Behera and Gati Sahu of village as Deputy Prime Minister of India visited Cuttack Thuabari and Sadasiva Sarangi of village on 13.12.1947. He invited all the Rajas of Odisha Gothabana. States and after a long discussion with them, one agreement of accession was signed on The Raja of Nayagarh Krushna Chandra 14.12.1947 by each of them for merger of their Singh Mandhata who lost his paramount power states. The agreement was made with certain after merger on 01.01.1948 is dead since long conditions to give the Rajas some monetary leaving his two sons Brajendra and Amarendra. benefits and other privileges. After that, the But his costly palace at Nayagarh is lying in a Government of India empowered Govt. of Odisha dilapidated condition, as a symbol of his illegal to take charge of those states alongwith Nayagarh action and torture upon his own innocent subjects. State. Nayagarh was kept under the Puri district as one Subdivision which included Khandapara, Daspalla and Ranpur States. Later on Nayagarh became a separate district during the tenure of as the Chief Minister of Odisha and Dr. Saroj Kumar Patnaik, 64A, Kalpana Area, BJB Nagar, Bhagabat Behera as Minister. Bhubaneswar.

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