British Relations with the Princely States of Odisha (1905-1947)

Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 The princely or feudatory states, their evolution, therefore, in spirit were the part and parcel of the contact with the British, internal administration and British Empire in India. The people of the princely the movements emerged there known as the states were completely ignorant about the day to Prajamandal movement formed an important day happenings of the outer world. The ruler had aspect of the colonial history of Odisha. Without unrestrained power over the public revenue for referring to them, the history of Odisha during the personal use. The people of the princely states British or the colonial rule would be incomplete. were subjected to some obnoxious systems like During the British rule, there were 26 princely bethi (free / forced labour), begari (free carriage states (Garjats) in Odisha which were spread of luggage of raja or his officers), magan (free / over such a vast area that they constituted more forced contribution both in cash and kind), rasad than half of the present state of Odisha. These (free supply of ration/ food), suniya bethi (new states were situated mostly in hilly tracts and were year gift), abwals (gifts and presents made to the inaccessible. The British did not prefer to intervene palace on different occasions of feasts and in the internal affairs of these states; as a result, festivals) etc. All these hardships consequently British Relations with the Princely States of Odisha (1905-1947) Sunita Panigrahy the political development in these states has a led to growing discontentment and opposition from characteristic of its own. The local Rajas or the the people not only against the autocratic princely princely rulers, ruling over the princely states, rulers but also against the British imperialism which however, were responsible for their own internal became popular in history as Prajamandal administration to the British. A Political Agent was Movement. In the present paper, an endeavour appointed by the Viceroy for a large state or a has been made to trace out and analyze the group of states to advice the ruling prince /princes evolution of princely states, their relation with the and supervised the day to day business of the British government, autocratic rule of the local state/states, though the British laws and regulations rulers and emergence of Prjamandala movement were not implemented in the states. The princes in historical perspective. were always required to consult with the Political Agent or the British officers on all important The British conquered Odisha in October matters. The British Government also guaranteed 1803. By that time Odisha, was geographically the princes against any threat to their autocratic divided into two parts- Mughalbandi and the power, external or internal. The princely states, Garjats. The British, after occupation directly APRIL - 2018 33 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review took the administration of the Mughalbandis into of improving their lot. But their revolts were their hands. The Mughalbandi areas comprised ruthlessly crushed by the chiefs with the help of the regulated districts of Cuttack, Puri, Balasore, the British government. However, the Koraput and Ganjam and were directly ruled by discontentedness was going on among the people the British Government. On the other hand, the of the feudatory states throughout the British rule Garjat states were ruled indirectly by the British in India. During the period up to 1905, there was through the princes of the respective states.1 The no-cooperation and good relationship between British rules and regulations were not applicable the feudatory states and the British Government. to these states. These states were ruled by the princes according to their sweet will and pleasure. The main concern of the present paper is But most of the princes during this period were to analyze the political, administrative and neither enlightened nor competent enough to run economic aspects of the history of the princely the administration. As a result, their administration states (Garjats) of Odisha and their relations with grew up with unsound and corrupt practices. The the British from 1905 to 1947. During this period British administration, on the other hand, did not there were 26 Garjats or the feudatory states in take proper care of these states and their Odisha. They are as follows: Anugul, Athagarh, supervision over the affairs of the state was Athamalik, Bamra, Banki, Baramba, Baud, ineffective and inadequate. The British policy Dasapalla, Dhenkanal, Gangpur, Hindol, aimed at placating the princes rather than Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Khandapara, Mayurbhanj, protecting the interests of the people.2 The Narasinghapur, Nayagarh, Nilgiri, Pallahara, feudatory princes instead of undertaking Patna, Rairkhol, Ranpur, Sonepur, Talcher and benevolent works for the benefit and development Tigiria.3 of their subjects of the states demanded exorbitant rents and a number of cesses from the people. It is difficult to trace the origin of the The bulk of the state revenue was spent on feudatory states of Odisha as they rarely have an personal luxuries of the princes. Developmental authentic history and very often their origin is 4 works of the states were not taken into shrouded in legends. According to tradition, these consideration. Agriculture became stagnant. Trade hilly inaccessible lands were originally ruled by and commerce was carried on in an extremely the tribal chiefs and they were never brought under limited scale. There was complete absence of the a central government. In course of time, the tribal machine industries. The overall condition of the headmen were driven out of their seats of power princely states of Odisha during the initial phase by the Aryans.5 Many of the later ruling families of the British administration was very miserable even claimed Rajput origin.6 Whatever may be and it expressed a sorry state of affairs. The their origin, one thing is clear that during the British investigation shows that extreme poverty and period they shared a common culture, social destitution among the over-whelming majority of system, religious beliefs and manner of living with the people were the main factors responsible for their neighbours of British Odisha, except in the this condition. The grim poverty and the growing sphere of administration. Most of the Garjats dissatisfaction of the people made them desperate were run as unmitigated autocracies with absolute and led them to revolt several times in the hope power concentrated in the hands of the ruling chief, 34 APRIL - 2018 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 or his favorites. There was complete absence of when Saraikala and Kharswan were transferred the rule of law, and civil and political liberties. to his control he became the in charge of 26 Whenever internal revolts took place, the British states.8 In 1922, with a view to bring these states Government came forward to provide protection in closer relation with the Governor-in Council, to the rulers. The system of taxation was the powers enjoyed by the Commissioner of unbearable and the peasants were burdened with Odisha Division, with regard to feudatory states, numerous taxes. The land revenue was even higher were transferred to the Political Agent and he was than that of the British Odisha. The ruler had designated as the Political Agent and unrestrained power over the public revenue for Commissioner, Odisha Feudatory States. An personal use. In the words of D.P. Mishra “The Assistant Political Agent was appointed to assist conditions of the people under princely states him in administration. 9 were very bad and deplorable. The rulers did not care for the welfare of the subjects. By and large On the recommendation of the Butler they did not undertake any social activity... The Committee which gave its report in 1929, on 1st officers in the States used to be very corrupt and April 1933, the Eastern States Agency was neither honour nor property of the people was established in 1933, which consisted of 26 Odisha safe. They all lived at the mercy of their rulers… states and 14 states of Central Provinces. The The administration in the states was personal and states were taken out of the Provincial arbitrary in nature.”7 All these hardships very often Government and kept directly under the Central led to growing discontentment and opposition from Government. The Governor General exercised his the people. The British government in addition to control over these states through the Agent to the their help to the princely rulers, appointed Political Governor General, who had his headquarters at Agents to maintain peace in the princely states Ranchi. The two groups of States- States of and to supervise them. Odisha and States of Central provinces were under the charge of two political agents, the one 1905 onwards, the British Government, had his headquarters at Sambalpur and the other however, followed specific policies towards the had his headquarters at Raipur. Later on, when princely states. Initially, after their conquest of the Bengal states- Tripura and Cooch Behar- were Odisha, the British accepted the internal added to the Eastern States Agency, the independence of the feudatory states recognizing headquarters of the Agent to Governor General them as tributaries. They followed a policy of non- was shifted from Raipur to Calcutta and his interference towards the princely states. But after designation was changed to that of Resident. 1905, when the princely states became conscious and tried to resist the local rulers, the British, In 1936, the Eastern States Agency was through different ways interfered in the internal further split-up into three different agencies under affairs of the feudatory states. In 1906, a Political the same Resident-Odisha States Agency, Bengal Agent was appointed under the Commissioner States Agency, and Chhatisgarh State Agency. of Odisha who was named as Superintendent of According to this system now the Odisha State Odisha Feudatory States.

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