Prajamandal Movement in Khandapara
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Orissa Review August- 2011 Prajamandal Movement in Khandapara Dr. Saroj Kumar Panda The name of the state ‘Khandapara’ implies The democratic organization, named that it was made of pieces (Khandas), ‘Prajamandal’, was first established in the originally consisting of several small villages. feudatory state of Nilgiri in June 1938. The state was situated between 20011’ and Sarangadhar Das, with a party of volunteers, 20025’ northern latitude, and 8500’ and launched the movement there for the 85022’, eastern longitude with an area of 244 achievement of the legitimate rights and the square miles. It was bounded on the north by prevention of the oppression dealt out by the the river Mahanadi, which separated it from ruling chief and also for the attainment of Narasinghapur and Baramba states. On the political rights.3 The Prajamandal Movement east, the state was separated by Cuttack and gradually spread to other feudatory states Puri districts, on the south by Puri district including the state of Khandapara. The and Nayagarh State and on the west by movement most actively continued for nearly Daspalla State.1 The outer periphery of the a decade to achieve the desired goal, which state was mostly formed by rivers, hills and meant, full responsible Government on forests which served as natural boundaries. democratic pattern. The state was naturally divided by the river During the first three decades of the Kusumi into two parts, viz. the western and 20th Century, the feudatory state of the eastern, the former being mostly Khandapara underwent socio-economic and mountainous and the latter low lying open tract. political deterioration. The misery of the people The western part had mostly hills and forests reached its height especially, in the thirties. of which the Kondhmal forests in Analapatta Extra illegal taxes were imposed on betel, bidi, hill were very thick. The eastern portions salt and sugarcane. Bethi and Begari were in comprised of large open areas. The northern vogue. There was no communication and good arable land extended lengthwise upto the bank transport facility in the state. On the other of the Mahanadi. The village sites were chosen hand, Harihar Singh Mardaraj Bhramarbar Ray, on high lands surrounded generally by Raja of Khandapara enjoyed life by spending sprinkling of Nim and Banyan and a lot of public money lavishly. People objected it and mango trees. The houses in a village were demanded for betterment of their social and never scattered. It was only the low-caste men economic status. such as Panas and Hadis who formed a Hundreds of educated people rose separate habitation at some distance from the against the oppression and misrule of the Raja village site. There were three rivers viz. the in August 1935.4 Two leaders from them were Mahanadi, the Kusumi and the Kuanria in the arrested and afterwards, sentenced to rigorous state.2 imprisonment. When vigorous measures were 44 August - 2011 Orissa Review adopted by the state authorities, large number administrative condition in the feudatory states, of persons, out of fear and panic, fled to the and the support of the British in repressing neighbouring British administered territories.5 the agitating people. 11 Prajamandal was formed in Khandapara Towards the middle of 1940, situation towards September 1938. People were very in the states changed. The refugees posed a much enthusiastic and active in the organization. great problem both for the states and the They vehemently opposed the monopoly British Government. H. K. Mahatab intervened licence of betel. Prajamandal workers all over in the affair. Consequently, the Khandapara the state attended political meetings in the refugees staying outside were induced to return Mugalbandi and for that they had to suffer to their homes. Their forfeited properties were punishment under section 107 by the state restituted. All cases of agitational activities of authorities. Nevertheless, the movement 1938 were withdrawn from the accused continued and the Prajamandal as per the persons except the leaders.12 Later the Raja programme, demanded civil liberty and self- was also obliged to grant some concessions government.6 to the people and formed four separate committees with popular representatives in it The state authorities in Khandapara to assist him in the state administration.13 arrested one of the leaders and sentenced him Things soon returned to normal at Khandapara. for six months imprisonment. In July 1939, the Prajamandal further demanded recognition References : of the Association of the elected representatives 1. Cobden Ramsay, Feudatory States of Orissa, of tenants. But the Raja did not yield to such (Calcutta, 1982), P.- 232. demand. As the agitation assumed serious 2. Final Report of the Survey & Settlement of form, the Raja applied all methods of Khandpara State 1928 - 31, P.- 2. repression including severe assault, rigorous 3. Orissa Records, Kalahandi Papers, Acc. No.- 38, 7 imprisonment and social boycott. To escape P.- 25. Resident, Chhatisgarh Agency to the persecution of the Durbar numerous Maharaja of Kalahandi, Proceeding of the Orissa subjects of Khandapara came out of the state States’ Peoples Conference, 3-4, 38, P.- 25. 8 and took shelter in Khurda. The ruler arrested 4. Deskatha, 18 October 1938. four Prajamandal leaders in a hurry, but had 5. Deskatha, 13 August 1938. to release them under the pressure of the 6. Deskatha, 24 January 1939. mob.9 Even the family members of the leaders who lived in British territories, were tortured 7. Orissa Records, W.W.C.C., Acc. No.- 38, P.- 56. and forcibly driven back to the state homes. 8. P.N. Pattanaik, Odisare Communist Partira Two police camps were established to show Janma, Cuttack, 1985, P.- 11. loyalty to the state authority under the point 9. C.S. Searle to H.A.N. Barton, 30 May 1935, Pol. of gun. Inspite of such repression the File No.- 6(18), P(S)/1939, II, NAI. Prajamandal carried on their struggle for 10. Ibid, Acc. No.- 32, P.- 1. independence in the latter half of 1939.10 11. Ibid, Acc. No.- 30, P.- 8. In early 1940, the Prajamandal of 12. Ibid, Acc. No.- 30, P.- 15 & P.- 65. Khandapara issued a Bulletin entitled ‘Judha 13. Pol. File No.- 46 (35) P (S)/1939, NAI. Nian’ (War fire) and distributed its copies in Cuttack. Two persons in charge of distribution were captured at Cuttack by the Police. The Dr. Saroj Kumar Panda, Principal, Gadibrahma College, Bulletin severely condemned the prevailing Delang, Puri. 45.