ISSN 0970-8669 Review

Freedom Fighters and their life in Prison – A Study of Bhanjanagar Jail

Dr. Sirisa Kumar Shadangi

Ghumsar is on the North Western part of the administrative unit under the Madras Presidency. district. It has well watered fertile valleys, It was named as Russellkonda jail; originally, it rich wild life and valuable forest resources. It’s was named as Hill Jail and functioning as the headquarters is at Bhanjanagar which was known district jail during the year 1894 to 955. But it as Russelkunda (Russel’s Hill) after Russel, the was reduced to a Sub jail in the year 1908. District then Special Commissioner in Ganjam1. Ghumsar jails were reduced in number owing to the has a long history since 9th Century AD. It formed reduction to the status of Sub Jails of the district a part of the dominion of the famous Bhanja ruling jail at Russelkonda under G.O. No: 927 – J dated dynasty of the Khinjali Mandala2. The Bhanja 4th July 19086. But during the later period it ruled over Ghumsar till 1835 AD. When it was received the status of Special Sub Jail.7 occupied by the British forces3. The patriotism of the people of Ghumsar during the British rule, the Though, primarily it accommodates to the resistance of its rebel, tribal leaders like Dora political and civil undertrials and convicted Bisoyi and Chakra Bisoyi from 1836 to 1854 AD prisoners, but this was mainly for prisoners to the British power, proved the great sacrifice suffering from leprosy. Leper prisoners from all and heroic nature of the people of Ghumsar. over the state are transferred to this prison for their medical treatment. There were separate came under the British wards in the jail for such prisoners8. occupation in the year 1766 AD. It was placed under the charge of a Resident4. Then it was There are eight wards and two cells for abolished in 1794 and the office of the collector male prisoners and two wards and one cell for was established. The collector acted as the highest the female prisoners in the Jail. judicial office of the district in respect of both civil There was no provision for imparting any and criminal cases. vocational training to the prisoners in the Jail. The The Ghumsar Jail system was like its prisoners were working in the firms and gardens English prototype, insanitary, demoralising and inside the Jail. A trained teacher was posted in non-deterrent. This jail has been functioning since the jail school for the education of the inmates. the time when the district of Ganjam was an There was a hospital attached to the jail. One

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Assistant Surgeon and one Pharmacist constituted Prisoners were sentenced to public labour. At the medical staff of the hospital in which ailing night they were fastened by a chain passing prisoners were examined medically for treatment. through the rings of their fetters.

The history of prison and its use as a place The woman prisoners also suffered a lot. of detention for the condemned persons is not There was no separate ward for female undertrial of recent origin. Kautilya, Ashok, the Jetakas, prisoners15. They were kept in the most degraded Harsha Charita, Hiuen Tsang make a mention of companions and often under hurried prison life in ancient .9 Imprisonment as a conditions16. Men do move about within the form of punishment was introduced in India by goal in going to and fro in connection with their the British Government in 199310. But work, they had their movement which was helpful imprisonment as a form of punishment in modern in refreshing their minds to some extent. Women sense came to be applied on uniform basis though given lighter work were closely confined throughout India in 186011. in a small place and led a horrible monotonous existence. In Odisha, during the early days of British rule no regular prisons were there. So also in the The expenditure of the British case of Ghumsar. The entire legal history of British Government on the maintenance of prison was period is the penumbra of Jail mal administration quite negligible. A large number of prisoners were and prison injustice. A legal survey of undertrial suffering every year from tuberculosis, cholera, prisoners at the time of British rule in India had dysentery and various epidemics. Even lavatories shown illegal detention, ignoring the principles of and bathrooms were not available for them. The natural justice12. diet supplied to them were of poor standard17.

There were numerous freedom fighters Sometimes the freedom fighters had to of Ghumusar who had undergone prolonged undergo severe punishment like flogging and durations of incarceration. They accepted the whipping18. For example, Dibakar Pattnayak, a inevitability of Jail interludes in the conduct of their leading freedom fighter of Ganjam protested Satyagrahi struggle13. As a prisoner they had against the atrocities and punishment against varied experiences of prison life. The object of prisoners, he was cruelly flogged by the British the prison labour was to harass the convict. The authorities19. The jailer is a stern old soldier, with prisoner was to be frightened and broken into precise military ideas of duty and work.20 blind submission. The idea was that they should 21 carry away from prison a fear and a horror to it. In 1920 prison was just like a hall . The So that he might avoid crime and return to prison prisoners were bearing the dress of sack which 22 in future.14 was made of jute . The system “Ghana” was there by which the prisoners were forced to stand The internal administration and in the place of bullocks to turn it round to squeeze management of the jail was in the hands of the out oil. This was a piece of human labour, endemic District Magistrate. In the matters of prison labour in all jails. The humiliating and provocation custom profit was made subordinate to punishment. of “Sarkar Salam” was there. It required a

August - 2016 97 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review separate kind of salute to every jail official visitors, latrine and one urinal. The small prison room had violation of this was followed by punishment23. no proper ventilation i.e., no door and windows. Better food, better medical attendance, better In the night the cells were full with bed smells. In dress and utensils were a dream to the prisoners. this way the prisoners were spending twelve hours from 6 PM to 6AM. The prisoners were getting two under wearers, one Banian and a small cloth. They were In the morning when they were going for not getting any oil for use. Sugar or molasses was latrine, a rope was bound around the waste and available to them only during disease stricken the prison staff drew the rope if some delay was period, mirror was not provided to them. Even made in the latrine38. Every prisoner was given a years together they were not getting any chance cap where the number of prisoner was written on to see their face on the mirror24. bold letters.

Each prisoner was getting two pots, made The British inflicted a very rigorous and of iron. They would have their food, drink water inhuman punishment known as “Danda Bedi” and they also used it for latrine25. Sometimes the Bearing this Danda Bedi they had to make jute pots were stained which was bad for health. So from the leaves from the Murga tree. The juice of in order to remain in prison, the Satyagrahis Murga leaves was very injurious to health. It underwent special rigorous training like taking half creates wound if it falls on the body39. boiled rice, not to take ghee or oil in their food, sleep on the ground etc.26 At that time electric Many freedom fighters spent their life in light was not there. One lantern was hanging at Ghumsar jail. They have written their horrible life the top of the room. In prison there was no in Jails. The story of freedom movement in arrangement for recreation. They were Ghumsar is a great saga of patriotism, sacrifice completely remaining aloof from the society27. and dedication. Their heroic deeds, daring acts had puzzled and bewildered the British Raj. During In 1930, the prisoners were getting food freedom movement Ghumsar remained in a state three times per day. Its expenditure was limited of continuous rebellion and raised a standard of within five Annas per a prisoner. Besides the jail revolution to liberate their motherland. Many superintendent would get his percentage from the became martyrs and numberless men and women contractor. So the diet system was quite poor. went through endless suffering for the cause of Instead of dal the prisoners were getting bark the country. portion of dal. Besides small pebbles were there in the rice. So several times the prisoners were DIBAKAR PATTNAYAK going on strikes for not taking food. But the British th Government did not pay any heed to them28. Dibakar Pattnayak was born on 6 October 1899 at in Ganjam district31. His The prisoners were not provided any father was Madan Mohan Dewan Boxi Pattnayak mosquito net and they were sleeping on the and mother was Sradhamati. He had completed ground. Sometimes they were provided a his middle school education in and blanket. Forty to fifty prisoners were using one Icchapur. For High School education he had

98 August - 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 entered into Victoria High English School, District. There he worked for the congress along and Iswara Chandra Vidyapith of with Radha Krushna Biswasroy, Sadasiba Calcutta. While he was continuing his I.A at Tripathty, Radha Mohan Sahu. Hence again the National High School of Calcutta at the call of British Government arrested him and sent him to Mahatma Gandhi he left his studies and entered Visakhapatnam jail37. But after one year most of into freedom movement32. the freedom fighters were released due to Gandhi- Irwin pact. However Dibakar Pattnayak was not In order to make the people aware of released. So Niranjan Pattnayak, the other great freedom movement in South Odisha he freedom fighter of South Odisha immediately established “Akhand Liberty” and one “Akhand communicated the matter to Mahatma Gandhi. 33 Girls School” at Chikiti. In 1922, the National Then Gandhi requested to Lord Irwin and he was Congress Committee decided for the released. disobedience of the excise rules and regulations and picketing before liquor and Ganja Shops. In 1932 he came to Berhampur and Dibakar Pattnayak made individual Satyagraha became the Secretary of the Congress committee. against the excise auction. So he was arrested Several Congress centres were opened in and put in Berhampur jail34. Berhampur, Balipadar and Sheragada. The Congress volunteers violated 144 in Ganjam At that time Government had district. In the meantime Dibakar Pattnayak came implemented 144 at Ichhapur in Andhra Pradesh to Aska. There he was arrested and was sent to a few kilometers away from Berhampur. Dibakar Rousselkonda Jail38. Then the British Government Pattnayak went against the 144 declaration for sent him to Berhampur jail. After spending three which he was awarded for six months rigorous months there he was sent to the Vellore jail. In 35 imprisonment . By that time Sarat Chandra Vellore there was horrible scarcity of water. The Mahapatra and V.V. Giri the former President of prisoners were provided water in glasses to furnish India from Berhampur, Bira Raju and Jagannath their routine work. Rao from Aska violated 144 and wore a peculiar dress with a iron ring in their legs. Since termed In 1939, Subhas Chandra Bose elected under rigorous imprisonment, they were asked as the President of the Congress. Mahatma to prepare rope, break stones and prepare iron Gandhi and his followers vehemently opposed it. works. Then Dibakar Pattnayak was sent to So on moral ground Subhas Bose tendered his Kedloor jail and was released on 14th September resignation. And he himself established “Forward 1922.36 Bloc”. Dibakar Pattnayak also criticized this undemocratic principle of the Congress. So he In 1924 Flag Satyagrah had begun at came and took the leadership of the Forward Bloc. Nagapur. Dibakar Pattnayak was going to attend Its main centre was at Berhampur. He became the meeting. But on the way the police arrested the Vice-President of the “Forward Bloc” him and later on he was released. Dibakar Pattnayak remained bachelor During the Salt movement in 1930, throughout his life. He was responsible for the all Dibakar Pattnayak went to of round developmental works in Ganjam district of

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South Odisha. While he was going Chikiti to months, where he was flogged by the British attend the land development meeting Dibakar authority42. Pattnayak met an unfortunate motor accident on 1st March 1976 and died. UMA CHARAN PATTNAYAK

MAGUNI DAS Uma Charan Pattnayak was born in 1902. His father was Abhimanyu Pattnayak who Among the notable freedom fighters of was serving as a Deputy collector under the South Odisha, Maguni Das is one of them. He Madras Presidency43; He had completed his high was born on 1st January 192039 in Jagannath school education in Russelkonda44. Then he Prasad of Ganjam district. His father was Ananta entered into the Madras Presidency College and Das and mother was Rebate Devi. completed his B.A degree. After this he obtained the M.A degree from Ravenshaw College, From his school career Maguni Das was Cuttack. attracted by the Congress activities like the Salt Movement and the boycott of foreign goods. As He started his political career in 1931 and a Satyagrahi young Maguni entered the Congress joined as a member of ‘Utkal Sammelini’45. He in 1939 as an active member. His main task was joined the Indian National Congress in 193546. to collect money for the Congress, moving from In 1936 he was appointed as the “First Public village to village. Prosecutor”47 of Ganjam district and also appointed as the Commissioner of “Boys In 1940, he became the Secretary of the School”. Congress committee of Ganjam district. For these activities on 25th January 1941 he was arrested Being, influenced by the prevailing socio- at Panchabhuti of Ganjam and imprisoned in political condition of South Odisha, and at the Russelkonda jail for four months40. Later on the call of Mahatma Gandhi, he resigned from the famous freedom fighters of South Odisha like Uma post of Public Prosecutor in 1939 and joined the Charan Pattnayak, Madhab Routa and Shyama Congress. Sundar Padhy also joined with him at Russelkonda Jail. In 1941 he resorted to individual Satyagraha at Bellaguntha which was five miles During the Quit India Movement of 1942, away from Russellkonda. And in consequence he Maguni Das with some of his followers spread was arrested. For this he was imprisoned at the massage of Mahatma Gandhi in the remote Berhampur and Russellkonda Jail for six months48. areas of South Odisha. During this period he tried his best to destroy the main bridge connecting To achieve the Indian independence he from Aska to Berhampur. For that he collected followed the path of Gandhiji’s method of non- dynamite and kept it secretly with R. Rammurty41. violence and truth. These two weapons he thought But however, the British Government could know were not enough. Further he realized that it and arrested and imprisoned him in the violence can be adopted as a medicine to Russelkonda Jail. There he remained for six restore non-violence.

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On the eve of the “Quit India Movement” childhood she was very much influenced by in 1942 most of the National leaders were thrown Ramadevi, Sarala Devi, Kuntala Kumari Sabat into the prison. As Uma Charan was the prisoner of Odisha.56 Besides she was encouraged by among the freedom fighters of South Odisha he Bairagi Misra of Cuttack who fought against social was arrested on 9th August 1942.49 inequalities and untouchabilities in the society. Champa Devi also tried her level best to remove He along with other leaders of South untouchability from the society. Besides she took 50 Odisha were arrested . Three political institutions much interest for the betterment of the backward of Ganjam district of South Odisha named class of the society. Ganjam Zilla Congress Committee, Gurandi Sevashram and Kullada Ashram were seized51. In 1932 she founded an Ashram at Ichhapur to serve the helpless women in the He took the leadership of the Non- society.57 Cooperation Movement of Ghumusar of South Odisha. So the British Government arrested him Besides these social and philanthropic at Russelkonda and later transferred him to activities she had also joined the freedom Berhampur Jail52. While in the prison he wrote movement. She raised her voice against the British pamphlets against “British Raj” and preached the Government and organized the women of South idea of Swaraj among the co-prisoners53. Odisha against them.

In the freedom movement of South In 1942, a meeting was organized at Odisha, Uma Charan Pattnayak was a luminous Russelkonda (Bhanjanagar) of Ganjam District. star. His zeal and sincerity to the cause of freedom Hundreds of people gathered round the place. In movement brought him to the pinnacle of fame that meeting Champa Devi delivered her speech among political leaders not only to South Odisha with great eloquence which inspired the people but also in the nation. Further his honest and true against the British Government. So she was spirit of nationalism his style of functioning brought arrested and sent to Russelkonda Jail and was for him an unchallenged popularity in South imprisoned for six months.58 She was th Odisha. This great soul passed away on 14 accompanied with other Freedom fighters like 54 February 1961 in New Delhi . Maguni Das, Madhu Sudan Patra, Satrughana CHAMPA DEVI Behera, Raghunath Panda and Rama Chandra Behera etc. The next towering personality was Champa Devi. She was a prominent woman In the jail, Champa Devi was the only leader of the freedom movement and famous woman freedom fighter. In the Jail she was not social worker of Ghumusar. All her life she carried provided full meal. She was only getting sixty tolas on the struggle to eradicate child marriage and of rice, a little of Dal and curry. Nevertheless she encourage widow remarriage55. was happy in that dark cell of the prison.59

Champa Devi was born at Dura of Champa Devi was a widow from her very Ganjam district in the year 1904. From the very childhood. So she realized the gravity of

August - 2016 101 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review widowhood and tried her best for the widow 16. Jawaharlal Nehru, An Autobiography, New Delhi, remarriage. She established an Ashram at 1962, P. 344. and took the care of many helpless 17. Ibid, P. 80 children. Her Eventful career came to a close when she died of cancer in 3rd March 1975.60 18. R. N .Datir, Prison as a Social System, Bombay, 1928, P. 233. References : 19. Basanta Charan Swain and Pradip Kumar 1. T. J. Maltby, The Ganjam Dist. Movement, P. 43 Mahapatra, Berhampur Saharar Aitihasik Edited by G.D.leman (Madras) Bhitibhumi (Odia), P. 27, 1994, Berhampur. 2. B. Mishra. Dynasties of Medieval Odisha, P. 52 & 66 and 59 E. I, Vol, xx vii P. 276 ff. 20. Annual Administration report of the Jail Department of the Bombay Presidency 1892, P. 6. 3. T. C. Rath, A Short History of Ghumsar, Utkal Sahitya, Vol 13, No. 9, 1319 Sal. P. 215 Nos. 11 and 21. Surendra Nath, Karagara Kahani, P. 1, Opcit. 12 P. 303; Vol. 14, 1318 Sal. , Nos, 1,2 and 3, P. 39, No. 6 P. 141 Nos. 7& 8, PP. 186 ff. 22. Ibid. 4. N.Ch. Behuria, Odisha District Gazetteers, Ganjam, 23. B C. Ray, The Journal of historical and Social Cuttack, 1995, P. 520 OSA, BBSR, Analysis, 1996, ,

5. Report on the administration of the Madras 24. Binoda Kanungo, Jnanmandal. P. 143 (Odia) Presidency, 1989 – 1900, Chapter III, P. x/ii, 1900 Govt. Press Madras, Apsa, Cuttack 1984. 6. ibid, P. 1 25. Biswanath Pattnayak, Utkal Prasang (Odia) Special issue for Republic 1993, P. 19. 7. Ibid, 8. N.Ch. Bahuria, P. 652, Op. cit 26. Manoj Kumar Mahapatra, Odisara Sanskritika Itihas (Odia) Cuttack 1992. 9. (a) Sukla Das, Crime and punishment in Ancient India, New Delhi, 1977, P. 3, (b) K.V.R. Aiyanger, 27. Dharitri, A daily Newspaper, Odia, P. 7, Dated: Some Aspects of Ancient India, Madras 1935, 22. 6. 1975. P. 34 10. Amqrendra Mohanty & Narayan Hazari, Indian 28. Sangrami Sri Purusottam Singh, Swadhinata Prison System, New Delhi, 1990, P. IV Sangramara Banara Sena (Odia) Part. I, P.A. 11. G. R. Maden,Indian Social Problems, Vol. I, New Cuttack. Delhi, 1982, P. 126 29. Ibid, P. D. 12. Ibid, 30. Abhaya Mahapatra, Jungle Bhitaraku Rasta (Odia) 13. Surendranath, Karagarara Kahani (Odia) Cuttack, P. 103. Bhubaneswar, 1989, P. 102 31. Padma Charana Sahu, Jeevani Mala (Odia) P. 52, 14. Jawaharlal Nehru, An Autobiography, PP. 96-97 New Delhi 1962, PP. 96-97 1995, Berhampur. 15. Amarendra Mohanty and Narayan Hazari, Indian 32. Maguni Das, Ganjam Swadhinata Sangrami Jevani Prison System P. 35, Op. cit, Smaranika (Odia) P. 5, Berhampur 1985.

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33. Padma Charan Sahu, Jeevani Mala , Odia PP, 53- 49. Basanta Charan Swain and Pradipa Mahapatra, Berhampur Saharar Aitihasik Bhitibhumi, Vol. I, P. 54, Op. cit. 355, 1994, Berhampur. 34. Ibid, P. 54. 50. J.N.Pattnayak, Landmark of Quit India Movement 35. Maguni Das, Ganjam Swadhinata Sangrami in Odisha, 1992. Cuttack. Jeevani Smaranika, P. 5, Op. cit. 51. Ibid, 36. Balaram Parida, Swargiya Dibakar Pattnayak, (Smaranika) year not mentioned. P. 13 52. Basanta Charan Swain, Pradipa Mahapatra, Berhampur Shahrar Ayatihasik Bhitibhumi, Vol. I, 37. Ibid, P. 25 P. 356. 38. Ibid, P. 38 53. Collected from the Diary of Late. Dibakar 39. B. N. Panigrahi, Kruti O’ Krutitwa Abhinandanika Pattnayak, a co freedom fighter of U. Ch. Pattnayak

40. An Interview with Maguni Das, A Great freedom 54. S. C. Palo, A Study of the contribution of Sri Uma fighter of Ghumsar, Dated, 7.5.1996 Charan Pattnayak to the political, social and cultural development of the nation and the state 41. B. N. Panigrahi, Kruti O’ Krutitwa Abhinandanika of Odisha, Ph.D Dissertation P. 22. Op. cit. P. 19, Op. cit, 55. Maguni Das, Ganjam Swadhinata Sangrami 42. (a) Maguni Das, Ganjam Swadhinata Sangrami Jeevani Smararnika P. 86, Op. cit. Jeevani Smaranika, P. 66, Op. cit (b) An Interview with Maguni Das, Op. cit, 56. Bina Kumari Sharma and V. Rajendra Raju, Swadhinata Sangramara Utkaliya Nari, (Odia) 43. Maguni Das, Ganjam Swadhinata Sangrami P. 100 Op. cit. Jeevani Smaranika, P. 62, Op. Cit 57. Ibid, P. 101 44. Ibid 58. Maguni Das, Ganjam Swadhinata Sangrami 45. S. C. Palo, A Study of Contribution of Sri Uma Jeevani Smaranika , P. 86, Op. cit. Charan Pattnayak to the Political, Social and Cultural development of the nation and the State 59. Ibid, of Odisha, P. 40, Ph.D, Dissertation, Berhampur University 60. Ibid.

46. Ibid.

47. Ibid.

48. Maguni Das, Ganjam Swadhinata Sangrami Dr. Sirisa Kumar Sadangi, Lecturer in History, Anchalika Jeevani Smaranika, P. 64, Op. cit. Mahavidyalaya, Jagannath Prasad, Ganjam.

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