Vikram Dev Verma
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November - 2013 Odisha Review Vikram Dev Verma Er. Nirakar Mahalik Vikram Dev Verma was born on 28th June 1869 by Telugu Culture. He was a prolific writer in in Parvatalapeta of Srikakulam Taluk on the right Telugu language. His creative contribution in side of the river Vansadhara about 3 km from Telugu literature had honoured him variously. Mukhalingam in Andhra. He was the son of Rekha Some of his Telugu books were also prescribed Devi and father Krushna Chandra Deb. as text books in the colleges of Andhra University. Unfortunately he lost his mother at the age of nine He was a founder father of ‘Odia Samaj’ and father at the age of fifteen. He was adopted (Utkal Samaj) at Vishakhapatanam in Andhra in when he was only eight years old by the Madugula 1886 AD which subsequently played a vital role Raja family and since then known as “Madugula in safeguarding Odia culture and the interest of Raju”. His adoption was challenged in 1881 in the Odia speaking people of Vishakhapatanam the court of law. Invalidation of his adoption area in the then Madras Presidency. He compelled him to back to his father again. He established a permanent drama pandal named had to run from pillar to post in quest of his own “Jagannmitra Hall” there and donated ten thousand livelihood and finally settled at Visakhapatanam. rupees to furnish the pandal. Telugu dramas were He had learnt Telugu, Odia and Sanskrit from his staged there by the ‘Jagannmitra Samaj ’where father, a Telugu teacher Buchi Raju and his he was the chairman. He formed an Odia Samaj Purohit's brother Raghunath Rath previously. He and staged the first Odia drama ‘Sangeet Shree learned English from Mr J.S. Bard (Baudi Saheb) Radha Madhab’ written by him. Afterwards many at Visakhapatanam. He married daughter of queen Telugu dramas like ‘Shree Nivas Kalyan Natak’, Sulochana of Nawarangapur who happened to ‘Krushnarjuna Charitam’ and ‘Manavati be a prince of Chouhan family of Patna during Charitam’ written by him were staged there 1908 AD and blessed with a daughter Mani Devi successfully. He also formed one Ramalila team after two years. Mani Devi got married to to perform ‘Shree Rama Lila’ there. Bidyadhar Singh Deo, son of Sureswar Singh He was the undisputed leader of the Deo in royal family of Ichhagarh in Singhbhum Odias. He never hesitated to put forth their claims district. and grievances before Municipalities, District Vikram DebVerma had spent his Board and other authorities of Madras childhood and youth in Andhra particularly in Government as Jeypore is the part of Visakhapatanam where he was much influenced Vishakhapatanam district at that time. Government 65 Odisha Review November - 2013 of India (Madras) was pleased with him for his worked for five years. He was praised by the recognition of charities and gave a Sananda general public as well as Govt of Madras for his (certificate) as under - sincere work. Madras, He violently reacted against the decision 12th December 1911. of the Simon Commission as its recommendations By the command of His Excellency the went against the interest of the Odias as under- Viceroy and Governor-General-in-Council, this (Manaswi Vikram Deb Varma- N.Mahalik – 122) certificate is presented in the name of his most Madras Odias and the Simon Commission gracious Majesty, King George-V, Emperor of The recommendations for a boundary India on the occasion of his Majesty’s coronation commission along with a few words of sympathy Darbar at Delhi. (Manaswi Vikram Dev Verma in the report of the Simon Commission seems to Nirakar Mahalik – P-126) have caught the imagination of some of our friends. To x x x x x x x x x We cannot allow scattered limbs M.R.Ry Sri Vikram Deo Verma Garu, of Orissa to be turned as under in the way son of Sri Krishna Deo Garu in recognition of his proposed by the Commission which never waited charities and encouragement of scholarship. to slove the problem. The proper course for the Oriyas, therefore is not to accept the Sd/- A.Stewart recommendations, unless the Oriya speaking Ag. Chief Secretary to the Govt of Madras tracts of the Vizagapatanam Agency are included Vikram Dev Verma was a life-member in the proposed Oriya Province. of the prestigious ‘Utkal Sammilani’. He presided Sd/-Sree Vikram Dev Verma the tenth session of Utkal Sammilani held at Paralakhemundi in 1914 as president. His Vizagapatanam eloquent presidential address on this session was 15.01.1930 unique and unprecedented which touched the Rama Chandra Deb-IV (1920-1931 hearts of all the national leaders of the then Odisha. AD) the king of Jeypore Raj family died on 20th He felt greatly anguished to state the plight of Odia Feb 1931 at Prayag while he travelled Allahabad living scattered in different parts of Madras having no issue behind. On his death Vikram Deb, (Andhra), Madhya Pradesh (C.P.), Bihar and the son of Krishna Deb, the last surviving member West Bengal. He pleaded strongly that the Odias of Jeypore Raj succeeded to the Gaddi of should be brought under one rule on the basis of Jeypore throne at the age of sixty-two. The widow language. He highlighted the demand of political, queen of Maharaja Rama Chandra Deb-IV administrative, education particularly female entered into a family settlement with Vikram Deb- education, health, industries for Odia state and IV. At the fag end of his life he became the Raja First World War problems and solutions. of Jeypore on 5th June 1931. He dedicated himself In 1914 AD the Govt. of Madras whole-heartedly to the service of the neglected appointed him a Magistrate first class at tribals and the people of Jeypore. Though a king Vizagapatnam for his loyalty, experience in political he lived the simple life of a sacred man. He is field, patron of art, learning and culture. He rightly called a royal saint. 66 November - 2013 Odisha Review In 1932 the Govt of India appointed a an Industrial Museum at Vishakhapatnam. He Boundary Commission under the Chairmanship donated one lakh thirty thousand for the S.C.B. of Sir O’ Donnel to enquire into the amalgamation Medical College at Cuttack and rupees ten of different Odia speaking tracts. Vikram Deb thousand for Post graduate scholarship to Utkal produced witness from Jeypore before the University. He had also donated necessary funds Commission for amalgamation of Vizagpatanam for the publication of the book entitled the Hill Agency tract particularly the whole of Jeypore Tribes of Jeypore written by Laxmi Narayan with Odisha. He loved Odias deeply and tried Sahu. his best for their well being. A separate province In 1934 he bore all the cost of publication st of Odias was formed on 1 April 1936 including of Purna Chandra Bhasakosa- IV volume and the Jeypore Agency. R.C.S. Bell, I.C.S. became donated ten thousand to Gopal Praharaj for the the first Collector of Koraput. publication of its V volume. Vikarm Deb Verma was a scholar, a poet, Sri Vikram School of Arts and Crafts a patriot, a play- wright, a leader with multi Jeypore was established in 1946 by the late dimensional personality. He was a prolific writer Maharaja Vikram Dev Verma. This school is now being proficient in Telugu, Odia, English, Hindi maintained by the Govt. of Odisha. Next year he and Sanskrit conferred with literary epithet started Jeypore college with 49 students on Sahitya Samrat for his outstanding contribution 01.07.1947 and afterwards its name is changed to literature. He was awarded D. Lit and Sahitya to Vikram Deb College Jeypore. Samrat by the Andhra Bharati Tirtha Research University in 1933 May 6th. He was the Kulapati Vikram Dev Verma ruled Jeypore only (Chancellor) of this University previously. He was for a span of two decades. In 1935 he adopted one of the main writers of newspapers and the second son of his only daughter Rama Krishna Jounrals such as Nav-Bharat, Sahakar, Navin, Deb as heir and successor to Jeypore throne as Shishir, Dainik Asha, Pradeep, Mukur, Utkal he had no male ussue. Maharaja Vikram Dev th Sahitya, Sambalpur-Hiteishini etc. ‘Bhagabata Verma died at the age of 82 on 14 April 1951 Gita Mahatmya’ is the first writing in Odia and the estate was taken under the management language of Vikram Dev. He wrote ‘Sarasa of court of wards as his adopted son Ramakrishna Gitavali’in his youth and wrote many strotras Deb was a minor. In 1952 the Estate Abolition Kabacha and Chautisha etc. afterwards. act was passed and the Estate Jeypore was taken over by the Government of Odisha. Largehearted Vikram Dev Verma was a great Philanthropist. He donated one lakh of rupees annually to the Andhra University, Waltair. His donation both in cash and kind for setting up various institutions in Andhra and Odisha is commendable. He was the founder father of Jeypore College of Technology and Science at Waltair (Andhra) and provided to women Er. Nirakar Mahalik, N1/82, IRC Village, dispensary, a Theatre Hall (Jagannmitra Hall) and Bhubaneswar-15. 67.