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 Nayagarh 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 Raja 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 Odisha 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 Cuttack 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 India. 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. 50 April - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 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.