Role of Khariar in the Freedom Struggle
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Orissa Review According to G.C. lake of Rajasthan. In the Orissa Praharaj2, Kaisar-i-Hind State Gazetteer5 this place has Role of (Silver Medal) the following been mentioned as Khadial. explanation of the word Khalia During the British period Khariar in the are found in his compiled work Kharial has been mentioned as "Purnachandra Odia Bhasa- Khariar, Thereafter, still it is Freedom kosha" (A lexicon of the Oriya being used in all purpose as language). He stated that, due "Khariar", which is within 82'/ Struggle to the condition of clay and 83' longitude and 20'/23' sticky, gravely (soil) cattle latitude. The shape of the suffer from stringhalt. It also territory is like an English letter Mohammed Yamin means a low marshy land unfit "L".6 for cultivation, slippery Brief Political History of condition of the ground owing Khariar It is a strenous task to trace the to the accumulation of water. A history of freedom struggle in small pool at the foot of a hill The present Nuapada terms of a small principality like where water is left in summer. district (formed after the Khariar. The tremor of freedom This locality was named bifurcation of Kalahandi district struggle was felt in Khariar Khaliapali and afterwards it on 1st April, 1993) comprises region. This paper seeks to the area of Khariar principality highlight the role of this region came to be known as Kharial, Kharialaya and Khadial. alias state. It was reduced to in the freedom struggle. the status of an estate in 1865 Origin of Khariar Some interpret "Khadi" A.D. by the British authority. It meaning chalk and therefore, had its capital at Komna. Then Very scanty explain the word "Khadial" information is available about the state was known as Tonnote means living place for learned state. This state was separated the origin of the name of people.3 Khariar. Very few records have from Patna in 1590 A.D. and come to my notice which are We have also traced its Raja ruled independently. placed here after careful the origin of the name Khariar Within 1751-55 A.D. the whole scrutiny. Near Badadadhi- from a report written by area fell into the hands of the baban temple, one of the oldest Sibanarayan Deo.4 He stated Maratha of Nagpur, but it temples of the area, the first that during the reign of Ratan appears to have been ceded to living settlement or housing Singh (1818-1842 A.D.) he the British Government by the restoration had been made and had shifted his capital from Treaty of 1803 A.D. with the that settlement might have been Komna to Khadial. The name Maratha.7 It can be called with some name about Khadial owes its origin to a corroborated by the records of which nothing substantial is river of Rajasthan named T. Mottle, the first European to known. In course of time Khariar which falls into visit Sambalpur (1768 A.D.) tradition believes this housing Sambhar lake, Menda, for trade in diamond clearly settlement was called Khadial, Khandel, Rupanagar reveals the political instability in "Khaliapali".1 and Aral rivers fall into Sambhar Sambalpur region due to 50 August - 2010 Orissa Review struggle between the British and Bhonsale territories because the Maratha for supremacy the Bhonsale troops had killed towards the close of the 18th the adopted son. In century." Again in 1806 A.D. consequence Pindari spread Maratha regained their into Chhatisgarh. From a supremacy. Towards the end of report written by Sibanarayana 1817 A.D. It was once more Deo,11 Pindaris had plundered reverted to British and it finally the Khariar region. It is known in 1826 A.D. ceded to East that Bhonsale Government had India Company. It appears taken Ratan Singh to Nagpur from "Aitchison's Collection of for non-payment of arrear Treaties, Engagements and Takoli and kept him there for Sanad" that Khariar was finally 14 years. It is known that ceded under Article-5 of the Majhi Priest and local leaders treaty between the East India the Central Province (C.P.) of had collected funds and had British India. Company and Raghuji gone to Nagpur for payment Bhonsale-III, dated 1st and finally released Ratan Khariar Supported the December, 1826 A.D. This Singh. After that Ratan Singh Cause of Surendra Sai was further confirmed by a became Raja in 1818 A.D. and Veer Surendra Sai, the subsequent Treaty dated 26th ruled upto 1842 A.D. Raja most illustrious Chauhan of December 1829 A.D. By article Ratan Singh died in 1842 A.D. Khinda in Sambalpur region of the Treaty. Chhatisgarh was and was succeded by his son with all his strength was striving given back to the Nagpur Sunder Singh. He was to oust the Britishers from the region. After the death of succeded by Krushna Chandra Motherland, but by the later Raghuji Bhonsale III, the British Singh Deo. part of 1858 A.D. Surendra fully lapsed the dominion status Sai found Sambalpur region of Nagpur Raja. It is said that During his period of reign from 1852 to 1867 A.D. unsafe and made his stronghold this territory was wild, rugged in the hills of Khariar. was a crucial period of revolt and mountainous covered with Manikgarh the traditional against the British for he dense forest, difficult to access, bastion of the Chauhan in this supported the cause of and of course, thinly part of country, provided 9 Surendra Sai. populated. Surendra Sai greater protection During the period of Khariar formed a part and safe mobility in 1861 A.D. Prataparudra Singh Deo of the Chhota Nagpur Division Raja Krushna Chandra Singh (1792-1818 A.D.) the capital in British record until it was Deo and the people of Khariar was at Komna. There was a transferred to the jurisdiction of region did not pay any heed to Pindari raid in this area in 1806 the superintendent of Tributary the frequent warning of the A.D. according to Raipur Mahals, Cuttack, and in 1861 British authority to drive District Gazetteer.10 The leader A.D. Khariar state was again Surendra Sai away from the of the Pindari Chittu, was transferred as a part of state. Instead, K.C. Singh Deo determined to devastate the Sambalpur and incorporated in helped Surendra Sai with men August - 2010 51 Orissa Review and money. He gave him shelter cause of Veer Surendra Sai. members left the Sabarmati and maintained secrecy of his The injustice meted out to Ashram on foot and reached whereabouts.12 That had Surendra Sai was a climax to the sea at Dandi on 5th April invoked the British authorities one of the most gross forms of 1930. As scheduled Gandhiji and they regarded K.C. Singh political chicanery practised by broke the Salt law on 6th April Deo, the Raja of Khariar as the British (East India 1930, this had great significance dangerous.13 Company) for grabbing Indian all over India.15 Raja K.C. Singh Deo territories. In the inaccessible During this period, as did not receive proper area of Sambalpur Surendra already observed Khariar state treatment from the British. Sai waged a sustained war by was incorporated in Raipur Despite that, when the 32 Guerrilla tactics in order to district of Central Province. The Regiment of Madras Native espouse the cause of the mute first Civil dis-obedience Infantry under Captain Swiney tribal peasants who had flocked Movement of 1930, led the passed through Khariar to join under his banner without any Forest Satyagraha in Raipur 14 the Regiment at Kamptee. He fear to the British troops. district. We get this information gave them valuable logistic During this journey of heroism from Raipur District assissance without which and time of urgent necessity Gazetteer16 which narrated thus Captain Swiney would never Veer Surendra Sai got valuable : "The forest Satyagraha started have reached his destination support and assistance from in the district led the arrest of safely. Instead the Raja helped Khariar which still remains a large number of persons on the Britishers to capture some statement for posterity and has 29th April 1929. Waman Rao of the camp followers of Veer been a historic testimoney for Lakhe asked the audience to Surendra Sai. At the same time all freedom lovers. break laws and destroy the the Raja of Khariar used to help Civil Disobedience Government on 18th May Surendra Sai with men and Movement 1929. He suggested social money inspite of all this hiccup. Within the formation of boycott of bureaucracy. The Raja of Khariar never got the Indian National Congress Consequently he was Surendra Sai arrested and saw by A.O. Hume and during the convicted on 25th June 1930 that no harm was done to him. time of Lord Dufferin in 1885, and had to undergo one year Because of this fact, he was the Indian freedom struggle got simple imprisonment. On the called a dangerous Chief in new shape and energy. The same day car of the Police British correspondence. He is whole country was agog with Superintendent was stonned also regarded as mere over the Civil Di-obedience and two policemen were Zamindar in the letter of Acting Movement decided upon by the assaulted by the people. Commissioner R.N. Share of working committee of Raipur District Sambalpur district dated 23rd Congress on the Lahore Gazetteer further elaborated January 1862 A.D. session in 1929. The Civil that sporadic violence Despite the above Disobedience Movement continued unabated in the hurdle, Khariar Raja and the began on 12th March, 1930. former Khariar Zamindari.