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Home , Gajapati district, Government of Odisha, Krushna Chandra Gajapati

Odisha Review April - 2012

Maharaja : The Architect of Modern

Dr. Prafulla Chandra Mohanty

The in Odisha lies between 180 whose destinies swirled through the mighty arms 46’ N and 190 39’ North latitudes and longitudes of the Gangas, The Gangas, and the Gajapati of 830 48’ East. The district of Gajapati comprises from about 6th century. Krusha Chandra one sub-division, three Tahasils and seven Blocks, Gajapati Narayan Dev, one of the real heroes of two Towns, one Municipality, one N.A.C, making the modern Odisha, belongs to the great hundred six Panchayats and Ganga dynasty. He was born on 460 inhabited villages. The 26th April 1892. His father was district is bounded in the North the king Goura Chandra Gajapati East by the district, on Narayan Dev and the mother was the North by the Kandhamal Radhamani Devi. He had his early district in the West by the education at home under the , in the South direct supervision and guidance of by Srikakulam, a district of his father and mother. During his . Now early education, Apanna, a Parlakhemundi is the district reputed teacher and author of Headquarters of the Gajapati many books was his private tutor. district. Parlakhemundi Syama Sundar Rajguru, the first Zamindari estate presently Oriya graduate of the then called Gajapati District presents was also his tutor. a most colourful historical and W. Taylor, the ex-Secretary and cultural panorama, spanning manager of the kingdom, had also over several centuries since it guided Krushna Chandra sprang in to existence as “Prabala Khemundo” Gajapati Narayan Dev during his early education. later corrupted in to Parlakhemundi means the To his misfortune Krushna Chandra lost his father ‘coral headed’. was the core and in 1905, his uncle Padmanava Dev in 1904 and honeycomb of the glorious ancient kingdom of his family teacher Syama Sundar Rajguru in 1909. Kalinga known to history from the days before Anyway, Krushna Chandra received his Ashoka and Kharavela (2nd Century B.C). It was secondary education in the Parlakhemundi extending from the Gangas to beyond Nellore, Maharaja’s High School. After completion of

6 April - 2012 Odisha Review matriculation he went to Madras to prosecute his He felt disappointed due to the alienation higher studies and joined in the Newington of his own estate Parlakhemundi and also the Residential College, an institution of special entire Ganjam district from political Odisha and category to educate the sons of kings and landed decided to work for bringing them together. At aristocrats. Mr. Cameran Morrison and Mr. Dela that time , Sri Ramachandra Hay were appointed as his tutors at Madras. Due Dev, the Raja of Khallikote and some of the to the un-time death of Maharaja Goura Chandra leaders of Odisha, started organising Odiyas to Gajapati, the father, Krushna Chandra was only unite together under a banner of Utkal Union of 12 years of age, a minor, so the zamindar went Conference. The Utkal Union Conference served to Court of Wards for administration and the best purpose of infusing a new light basing on remained till 1913. On 26th April, 1913 the nationalistic inspirations in the minds of Odiyas. coinciding birthday of Krushna Chandra, the Harihara Mardaraj, the Raja of Khallikote laid coronation ceremony was held in a very traditional the seed of or (Union pomp and exuberance. He became the Raja of Conference) in the Rambha Palace in the year Parlakhamundi estate since then. 1902 A.D, which was really working for the awakening of Odiyas. Since 1902, the Utkal Parlakhemundi zamindari was one of the Union Conference were organized at different eighteen ancient zamindaries of Ganjam. The places for proposed Odisha in different times. The zamindars of Parlakhemundi, Peda-khemundi and important leaders were Madhusudan Das, China-khemundi claim descent from the Gajapati Ramachandra Bhanja Dev, the Maharaja of kings of Odisha. It is to note that both the Mayurbhanja, the chiefs of , Khemundi estates originally belong to Keonjhara, Athagarah and Talacher, Sashibhusan Parlakhemundi in the name of Vijaya Nagar and Rath, the Raja of Surangi Biswanath Beborta Pratapgiri respectively. In 1835 A.D., the Patnaik and Baikunthanath Dey and many others. Gajapati Palace was built. Krushna Chandra On joining of Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati had great wisdom in administering his Gajapati after his coronation, the Conference took estate. It was a very critical time for the Odiyas a separate shape. The tenth session of the Utkal as they remained divided under four divisions such Union Conference was held at Parlakhemundi for as in Bengal, , Central Province and the two days in December, 1914 under the . He realized that unless the presidentship of Shri Vikram Dev Varma, who Odiyas are united under one Government there later on became the Maharaja of . The could be no use in crying for their development. Conference was well attended by Odiyas of all Right from his coronation, he had determined to Odiya-speaking tracts. The leading personalities do all possible good to his subjects as well as to of the Conference were Madhusudan Das, Fakir unite the Odiyas under one administrative head. Mohan Senapati, Gopabandhu Dash, Nilamani He utilized his full time and resources for Vidyaratna, Radhakrushna Das, Babaji, accomplishment of the ends. Sri Krushna Sashibhusan Ray and Rajas and Rajkumars of Chandra Gajapati selflessly wanted to awaken Madhupur, Tekilli, Manjusha, Tarala, Kanika and and unite the Odiyas, from the date of his host of others. Krushna Chandra Gajapati being coronation he earmarked a substantial amount the chief host of the Conference spent more than from his exchequer for the purpose. rupees ten thousand for organizing the Conference.

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Madhusudan Das eulogized the Maharaja Philip Duff Committee for enquiring on the Oriya Krushna Chandra Gajapati for his organizing speaking tracts for unification in 1924. On 2nd ability, for the success of the Conference and for Nov, 1924, the Committee headed by Mr. C.L. his patriotism. Phillip, the then Political Agent of Orissa State On 28th Jan, 1914 the young Maharaja and Mr. A.C. Duff, the then collector of married the princess Nalini Devi, the daughter of Vizagapatnam visited Vizagapatanam and Raja of Kharsuan, Mahendra Narayan Singh Ganjam, and met the Raja of Parlakhemundi and Deo. During the First World War in 1916, he was all other landlords of Ganjam district, for a detailed made the Honarary Second Lieutenant of His enquiry. After the enquiry, the Committee came Majesty’s Indian Land Forces and was promoted to the conclusion that Odiya speaking areas of to the rank of a Captain subsequently. In 1918, Madras including Ganjam Agency and the title of ‘Raja Sahab’ was conferred upon him Vizagapatnam Agency should be amalgamated and was made hereditary in 1922. He was the with Odisha. The Committee members were of recipient of a rare Sanand in 1920 from the then the opinion that , Tarala, Tekkali, Viceroy and General of , in Budarsingh, Jalantar and Parlakhemundi estates recognition of his services rendered to the Indian of Ganjam district should form a part in Orissa. Army during the Great War and as a mark of Krushna Chandra Gajapati had plunged in to the approbation. The title of ‘Maharaja’ again was Odia movement by organizing popular opinion, awarded to him, as a personal distinction by H.E. and had convinced the Philip Duff Committee of Lord Willingdom, the Viceroy and Governor the desire of the people of Ganjam to merge with General of India, in the year 1936. He was a Odisha. In the face of stiff national protest against member of the Royal commission on Agriculture the Simon Commission, Krushna Chandra under the chairmanship of H.E. Lord Linlithgow. Gajapati ventured to open dialogue with the He was also a member of Madras ledgislative Commission and made a special appeal at the Council. Honorary Doctorates were awarded to Commission for the creation of a separate state him by the Utkal and Universities. The for Orissa. The members of Simon Commission prestigious knighthood award of K.C.I.E. was were so much impressed with the claim of Odisha also conferred on him by His Majesty, the king of and so appointed a sub-committee headed by England. He was one among the founding fathers Major Atlee to look after. Accordingly, the report of Indian Constitution, being a member of of Simon Commission published on 27th May, Constituent Assembly of India as well. His 1930 with the recommendations of making a contribution to horse-racing and his separate province, in 1930, Krushna Chandra encouragement for horse breeding in India are Gajapati contested the election of Madras notable. He was the proud owner of the celebrated Legislative Assembly from the Ganjam and champion English race-horse, Rock of Constituency and declared elected. He also Gibraltar and the famed Indian-bred, Balchand, became sole leader of Landholder’s Association the winner of the Indian Derby in 1957, to name of Madras. He represented Odisha in the 1st just a few. He was a senior member of the leading Round Table Conference in London and placed Race clubs as well as social clubs in the country. the demand for a separate Orissa Province on On the demands made by Utkal Union 12th Nov, 1930 and thus conference had its sittings Conferences, the British Government appointed up to 19th Jan, 1931. The Government of India

8 April - 2012 Odisha Review appointed a Committee under the chairmanship were not included in the said province. Following of Sir S.P.O’ Donnell, for the determination of this along with other leaders for amalgamation boundary of Orissa Province on 18th Sept, 1931. Maharaja was greatly disappointed and Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati was immediately called the 23rd Session of Utkal Union included in the team for Odisha among others to Conference to defend and in the Conference, guard the work. The Boundary Committee of O’ passed a resolution for integration of all the Odia Donnell received a memorandum from the Utakal speaking areas under the presidentship of Union Conference and also from various other Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati. Maharaja local Associations. The Committee recommended Krushna Chandra Gajapati, heading a seven the creation of Odisha State and this was felt member team again submitted a memorandum to possible only by the endeavour of Maharaja the Joint Parliamentary Committee at London Krushna Chandra Gajapati. Though the report demanding the amalgamation of Jeypore Agency, of the Committee favoured a separate state for the Parlakhemundi Estate and other Oriya Odisha but to our misfortune it excluded speaking areas in the new proposed province and Parlakhemundi, Midnapur and Singhbhumi areas. argued strongly on 3rd July, 1933, for the cause. Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati mobilised Being assured by the members of Joint Select all forces again to counteract the recommendations Committee, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati of exclusion. In this context, there was an returned home from London on 13th Aug, 1933. emergency meeting of Utkal Union Conference Maharaja received a great shock on the passing held at Berhampur on 21st Aug, 1932 and a away of the great patriot Madhusudan Das, on committee was constituted under the ledership of 3rd Feb, 1934 who was fighting for the cause of Krushna Chandra Gajapati to meet the Viceroy Odias and for the formation of separate new on delegation on 17th Sept, 1932, a Committee province ‘Odisha’. Accordingly to review the led by Krushna Chandera Gajapati met the boundary question for Odisha, consequently a Viceroy Lord Willingdon at Simla for the creation Committee headed by major Atlee was formed of a Odia Province on 17th Nov, 1932 Raja to take evidence from the Odias as well as from Ramchandra Mardaraj of Khallikote estate with the Telugus of Madras Province. Maharaja of his Secretary again went to attend the Round Table Parlakhemundi on behalf of Odias and G.V. Conference which took place during the period Sitapati on behalf of Telugus appeared before the from Nov,17th to Dec, 24th , 1932. Our Krushna Atlee Committee at London. The Committee after Chandra Gajapati sent a telegram to Raja hearing from both sides awarded their Ramchandra Mardaraj to put-forth the demand recommendations for amalgamation of majority for inclusion of Parlakhemundi in the proposed Odia speaking portions only. Hence, the province. Again on 12th Jan, 1933, Maharaja Parlakhemundi estate was divided into two parts. Krushna Chandra Gajapati participated in the First part including town area of Parlakhemundi Third Round Table Conference in London and was added in Odisha and the remaining part was stressed for the separate province after taking in left out. Moharaja tolerated great grief of dividing to all the Odia speaking areas in consideration. of his own estate for the creation of new Odisha On 17th March, 1933, a White Paper was State. On April, 1934, the map which was published for the creation of the new province persented by the Maharaja was accepted by the but the estates of Parlakhemundi and Jeypore Secretary of States, London and accordingly, they

9 Odisha Review April - 2012 were incorporated in the Section, 289, invited Krushna Chandra Gajapati to form the Government of India Act, 1935. Ministry and so Maharaja became the First Prime Minister of the State of Odisha. The Ministry had Maharaja continued his fighting to resume th the rest of his estate land which still marked as to resign on 13 July, 1937 due to inevitable Bichhinanchal. The long dream of Gourchandra circumstances. In 1938 Krushna Chandra Gajapati, the former Prime Minister of Odisha Gajapati, the father and Sri Padma Nabha became a member of the indo-British Trade Narayan Dev, the father and paternal uncle were negotiation. Again on 3rd Nov, 1941, a coalition also in the fight for the unification of their Ministry was formed with the Chief Ministership motherland Odisha but the Odia movement came of Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati. into the real picture by the hard and sincere Maharaja was also nominated as a member of endeavours of Maharaja Krushna Chandra the Indian Defence Council in the years 1941- Gajapati along with other front line leaders of the 42. Later on Maharaja as a brought state. On the 1st April, 1936, the long desired a Bill in the Legislative Assembly for the separate new province ‘Odisha’ was formed. The establishment of Utkal University and as such, the inauguration ceremony was commenced with the University was inaugurated on 27th Nov, 1943, Darbar held in the Ravenshaw College Hall at during his tenure. Due to the political differences, . Sir Courtney Terrel, the Chief Justice of he resigned from the Office of Chief-Minister- Patna, administered the oath to sir John Hubback. ship of Odisha on June, 1944 and handed over As the first Governor of Odisha, Sir Samuel the charges to the then Governor of the State. greeted the people of newly formed Odisha. People of Orissa accepted their portion of the The philanthropic deeds of Sri Krushna land constitutionally given to them out of the Chandra Gajapati were so vast that it could not country long claims having a part in other portions be in record. He made liberal donations to the of Madras Presidency, Midnapur to , Pasteur Research Institute at Conoor, the Singhbhumi to Bihar, etc. Anyway, the Odias now Coimbatore Agricultural University, the Indian Red got a homeland of their own and it was possible Cross Society. It was due to his persistent efforts only by the efforts and sacrifices of mainly two that the Central Rice Research Institute at Odias like Madhusudan Das who sowed the seed, Bidyadharpur of was founded. laid the foundation and another Maharaja Krushna The Cuttack Medical School was upgraded to a Chandra Gajapati of Parlakhemunidi who Medical College during his tenure. He generously organized, took the matter to round Table contributed Rupees Five Thousand to Gopal conference for fruition. Chandra Praharaj, the lexicographer of the Purna Chandra Odia Bhasakosh for the publication of In the wake of the formation of Orissa the fifth volume of it. He also donated rupees five Province, Krushna Chandra Gajapati started a hundred in fovour of the Satyabadi School at political party named ‘Odisha National Party’ on Sakhigopal. He also liberally donated to Utkal 1st April, 1937; the provincial autonomy was Sahitya Samaj of Cuttack, which was a leading accorded to Odisha in accordance with the literary institution of Odisha for the development Government of India Act, 1935. Election was held, of and literature. He spent a lot to though the Congress Party got the majority but extend the narrow gauge railway line from refused to form the Ministry. Sir John Hubback Parlakhemundi to Gunupur. After independence

10 April - 2012 Odisha Review of India, Maharaja remained aloof from direct Gajapati, the former Yuvraj of Parlakhemunidi was controversial politics and intended to serve his a keen sportsman and acemarksman with his rifles estate and Odisha people through different public and shot-gun. His younger son, late Madhaba and social welfare services. He spent all the time Sundar Gajapati, the former Rajkumar of for the development of agriculture, industry, Parlakhemundi, a graduate from Madras culture and . He was one of the University, was a reputed sportsman and had the directors of Hindusthan Steel Ltd. after being destination of representing India in the game of nominated by the Central Government in the year gulf. Krushna Chandra Gajapati passed away 1954. He contributed generously for the very peacefully leaving behind him countrymen, development of Odia language and literature. He relatives, friends, admirers to mourn on the had given donations for printing of Odia Glossary irrepairable loss. He was accorded a State ‘Purnachandra Bhashakosh’ Gopalkrishna Funeral by the and was Padyabali, Jagabandhu Singh’s ‘Prachin Utkal’, cremated with hunour. In accordance with the Pandit Gopinath Nands’s Odia Sabda Tatwa primogeniture, he was succeeded by his eldest Bodh Abhidhan, etc. He also spent for the grandson Shri Gopinath Gajapati, formerly a development of Odia language in the Singhbhumi Chemical Engineer later became a Member of and other Odiya-speaking tracts. He established Parliament for the past two consecutive terms of Parlakhemundi Government. College, Sanskrit . The Birth Anniversary is celebrated College, Model Agricultural Farm House at on 26th of April every year in the State and the Parlakhemundi and also a theatre/drama stage for Government of India issued a postage stamp on the development of art and culture. The credit of the occasion of his birth centenary in 1992. establishing Utkal University, High Court, Medical Since then, the inhabitants of Odisha are College & Hospital at Cuttack and many other very much emotional in remembering their beloved institutions in Odisha goes to him. Krushna Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, the hero, Chandra Gajapati donated the whole amount of the pride of Odisha for his dedication to the his pay and travelling allowances, which he unification of Odisha and for various philanthropic, received as Prime Minister to the funds of Utkal welfare works in every corner of his motherland. University for the development of higher education. To our ill-luck, such personality who gave everything to us, the land, the language the identity through his sacrifices passed away on 25th of May, 1974 at the age of eighty two in his palace. The enlightened light not only of the Parlakhemundi Estate but the illuminated light of the whole State had gone out. His wife Maharani of Parlakhemundi left him since long. Maharaja was blessed with two sons and two daughters, all of whom, alas, are no more. The famous words “the old order Dr. Prafulla Chandra Mohanty, Sanskruti Sadan, Village changeth, yielding place to new” could not have Boiyali, P.O- Mantridi, Ganjam -761008, E-mail : been more true. His eldest son, late Ram Chandra [email protected].

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