People's Movement in Nayagarh (1938-39)

August - 2015 Odisha Review People¶s Movement in Nayagarh (1938-39) Prasanta Kumar Narendra The State of Nayagarh is situated between 190531 was confirmed for the post.6 Land Records and 200 201 northern latitude and 840481 and 850 Tahasildar was Babu Akshaya Kumar Ghose.7 151 eastern longitude with area of 588 square Tahasildar was Babu Udayanath Patnaik, B.A., miles. On the north the state is bounded by the Inspector of Police Abantinath Santara, forest states of Daspalla and Khandapara, on east by officer babu Fakir Charan Panda, Deputy Ranpur state. On the south it is linked with British Inspector of schools babu Mahadev Das, Chief Indian Subdivision of Khurda under Puri district medical officer Dr. Brindaban Chandra Biswal whereas on west it is bounded by Ghumusar Taluq MBBS, Veterinary Assistant Munshi Mahmad of Ganjam District under Madras Presidency. Baig, Overseer babu Binod Bihari Mohanti, According to 1901 census the population of the Debottor Manager babu Krishna Chandra Lalla, state was 1,40,779 out of which only 9 were Headmaster, Brajendra Secondary school- babu Christians and 585 Muslims.1 Out of the total Lingaraj Mishra, B.Ed.8 Most of these officials area, about 217 square miles were cultivated or of the state were outsiders. Even if the ruler otherwise occupied and remaining portion of the wanted to employ the local people in those posts, state comprised of forests, hills, shrubs, jungles the Dewan and others wanted to employ persons and other wastelands.2 Total Revenue of the state from outside.9 It proved the high-handedness of was Rs.4,36,842.3 The state paid Rs.5525-4-1 the Dewan who could easily cajole the ruler that as Jumma to the British government.4 fittest persons were not available in locality. That Raja Krushna Chandra Singh Mandhata was partially true in some cases but in other cases who was invested with ruling powers in 1933 at like the post of a teacher could have been filled the age of 22 completed his 28th year in 1939. up by an educated man from the state. So that The younger brother of the ruler Kumar the problem of underemployment would have Brindaban Chandra Singh a diploma holder in been solved to a certain extent. Discrimination in Agriculture was put in charge of agricultural farm employment was a factor for people¶s discontent. at Mahipur.5 Dewan of the state was Babu Hare The miserable economic condition of the Krishna Samanta who was on a long leave on people of Nayagarh was a strong factor for health ground and finally retired and then the people¶s discontent. Like other states Nayagarh Assistant Dewan Babu Janardan Nanda, B.A. was basically an agricultural state. There was no remained in change of Dewan from the beginning industry in the state. The chief source of revenue of the year upto 3rd December 1939 when he was land and forest. The cultivators had no 70 Odisha Review August - 2015 proprietary right over their land. Occupancy right petty forest officers and peons often took could not be alienated without the permission of advantage of those laws to exact illegal the ruler which could be obtained at a very heavy gratifications from the people.13 fees.The rate of transfer fees fixed by the state The education and health systems of the varied from Rs.90/- to Rs.5/- per acre according 10 state was not in good condition.There were 2 to the quality of the land. The Dewan of the dispensaries one at headquarters and another at state continued to remain in charge of the Odagaon. There were one High School,one M.E administration of land till the end of December school, 3 U.P. and 71 L.P.Schools in the state.14 1942. The land revenue of the state was realized 11 Still the state collected cess of 6 pies in rupee for on 2 equal Kist viz; each service of education and health from the 1st kist- 1st January people. Moreover the artisans such as black- 2nd kist- 15th February smith, goldsmith, carpenters etc. had to pay a professional tax of one rupee per year. It seems, The burden of taxation on the people in therefore, the only important work of the people different forms was heavy. The rate of rent on of Nayagarh was to pay and pay to the state. agricultural land was much higher in comparison with the neighbouring district of Ganjam and Puri. Besides, there were a number of forced For same class of land for which the people of exactions from the people. µmagana¶ or Ganjam had to pay only Re.1/- while those of compulsory contributions was being levied from Nayagarh had to pay Rs.3/14/-. People of the people on certain occasions like the marriage Ganjam did not pay any rent for homestead land, ceremony of the ruler or the silver jubilee of the people of Puri paid rent of Rs.4-6-3 per acre Raja. It was compulsory and failure to pay led to whereas the people of Nayagarh paid Rs.12 to heavy fines. The system of µrasad¶ or compulsory 15 per acre of homestead land. Besides they had supply of provisions to Raja or his officers or guests while on tour was in practice in the to pay 3 annas as local cess, one anna as school 15 and hospital cess and one anna as forest cess on state.µSunia¶ or New year¶s Day Bheti was not every rupee of rent.12 The Sarbarakaras were realized from the people but from the Sarvarakaras collecting land rent from the people,for which they and Jagirdars. µBethi¶ or upaid forced labour was were enjoying rent-free Jagirs. in vogue in the state till 1932 when it was replaced by a Bethi cess of anna three each rupee of rent. Forest rules were very strict and Since then that bethi cess had been renamed oppressive. People were forbidden to cut 32 ³Road Cess´ and bethi in several forms had again varieties of trees.Even,as per the forest rule they been demanded from the people for which a could not cut trees from their holdings. People nominal wage was sometimes paid. The could not kill wild animals who often destroyed Sarvarakaras and police officers used to snatch the crops. People had to pay grazing fees whether away a portion of what was paid to the people or not the cattle graze in their villages. The cess by state. They were doing a lot of hard work like was levied on each cow and buffalo. Besides that carrying stones and metals from distant places for there was a fee of Re.0-8-0 per cow, Re.0-4-0 construction of roads and bridges. They were for calf and one rupee per buffalo for grazing in forced without payment to extinguish forest fires. reserved forests. Fines for breach of grazing and Even during the time of harvesting people were forest laws were very heavy. The unscrupulous, forced to do bethi. 71 August - 2015 Odisha Review Moreover the ruler exacted heavy frequently visited Puri and Calcutta and stayed salamis for appointing castes headman, for for good number of days.19 The expenditure for granting permission for social feastings and unnecessary tour of the chief had been borne by processions on the occasion of marriage or his innocent subjects. The state, on the other hand, funeral. For using palanquins, sabaries and masals did nothing for the welfare of the common people. (country torch) in procession, pre-permission was People did not get drinking water in summer necessary and salamis were paid by the people. season and had to go miles together for that The money collected was not going to the state purpose. In the rainy season the rivers overflowed treasury but to the privy purse of the Raja. because of the torrential rain and the flood The Durbar also levied succession fee on destroyed the paddy and houses of the people. the heirs on the death of the owner of the land. People did not even get a single straw to thatch their house and feed their cattle.They had to live Fees were collected for granting permission to 20 adopt a son.16 That was the worst part of the in open air under the sky. To the appeals of relief state¶s policy of taxation. People¶s condition got for flood and drought, the administration always deteriorated day by day. After paying several paid a deaf ear. Sometimes due to shortage of kinds of taxes to the state the people were left a rainfall, crops failed and people had no food to survive. Persons having acres of land had to go meagre amount to sustain their families for a year. 21 Aggrieved people were in the lookout of an for cooli work on streets. Even many of them occasion for long to do away with the exploitation left for Calcutta or Rangoon to earn their and oppression meted out on them. livelihood. Police atrocities on the people had crossed all the limits. It seemed that people had Civil liberty of the people in Nayagarh no freedom of speech or expression.One Lingaraj was non-existent. The system of law and justice Behera of Saranakula was beaten mercilessly for was not well organised. Appeals filed in the court reading a newspaper called ³Krushak´.22 of Raja against the judgment of Dewan remained pending for long as the ruler was not holding his If anybody wanted to express his view court regularly.

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