April - 2013 Review

Majestic Maharaja : A Gem of Humanity

Dr. Narayan Panda

Amidst the unique destiny makers of Odisha, the stewardship and they sent the prince to Neungton Gajapati of Sri Krushna Chandra College at Madras for higher education. He Narayan Dev is an unblemished personality in the attained educational excellence under the annals of history. The chieftain in the crusade for guidance of educationist Marison. On his return carving out unified Utkal Pradesh by way of to Paralakhemundi on successful completion of engineering the amalgamation of the truncated and education, Krushna Chandra was anointed in disintegrated parts of the state, the artisan par- 1913, with traditional pomp and pageantry excellence of nascent Utkal, the patronizer beyond accompanied by the enthusiastic congregation of comparison of Utkaliya language, literature and crowd. In 1924, he was married to the princess culture, befitting Prime Minister of the unified Utkal, of Kharsuan state and embarked on ushering in upholder of princely paramountcy, innovation in administration. uncompromisingly patriotic, the Maharaja is From the very beginning of his reign, lavishingly lionised and the trajectory blazed by Krushna Chandra was pre-occupied with his exemplary trend and tradition will make him imbroglio of unification of the balkanized Utkal. eternally immortal. To subserve their narrow selfish interests, the Krushna Chandra Gajapati was born on Britishers disintegrated and amalgamated Odisha April 29, 1892 when Paralakhemundi was with the neighbouring Bengal, and Madras convulsed in British conspiracy to eliminate the on the plea of administrative convenience, Gajapati dynasty from the princely state. The Paralakhemundi was under the Madras contemporary ruler Gaurachandra Gajapati and principality. The Odias were oppressed and queen Bishnupriya Devi was fortunate to get the humiliated; they were deprived of employment in blessed child in their arms during this critical government jobs inspite of qualifications and juncture. He was brought up by the Gajapati with competency. an humble beginning. By the time his high school The people of were hand-twisted education was completed, his father breathed his to accept Telugu their lingua franca. Telugu last when Krushna Chandra was thirteen teachers were appointed in Odia speaking Paralakhemundi meandered through a fresh crisis. , Kashinagar, Tekli and Manjusa to teach Since prince Krushna Chandra was under-aged, Telugu in Odia schools in place of Odia. Such the state was brought under the court of wards plight of people in dismembered parts of Odisha

63 Odisha Review April - 2013 hurt the Maharaja. He explored ways and means and cherished the seemingly distant dream of as to how to achieve the practically unseemingly unification of Odisha. impossible goal of unification of all the Odia In 1917-18 Montague-Chelmsford principalities, parts and segments amputated and Reforms Commission recommended for the added to other states. formation of states on the basis of language. There was an upsurge in the dormant Krushna Chandra Gajapati rose to the occasion feelings for unification especially amidst the elites. by way of arranging a meeting of Odia In the context, the congregation in 1901 at Samaja in 1920 wherein the procrastinated policy in Ganjam at the behest of Harihar of the government in forming a united Utkal Mardaraja, the Rajasaheb of blew the Pradesh inclusive of all the Odia-speaking region trumpet of the unification of Utkal. The laudable was vehemently reiterated through the strong organization under the gutsy support of the king of Kanika. guidance and leadership of Utkal Gaurav Gradually the political scenario in the took inception in 1903. context of unification of Odisha was getting Krushna Chandra Gajapati was its prime mover. complicated due to heterogeneous elements Exploiting the opportunity of Madras Governor raising heads like monsters that painted the horizon Pentlend’s visit to Berhampur, Krushna Chandra with pessimistic colours. Meanwhile, put up fervent advocacy for the amalgamation of Madhusudan Das was sworn in a minister in the whole of the southern Odisha with the Bihar-Odisha Government in 1922 which mainland Utkal during his sojurn for a short while brightened the prospect of bolstering up the at Paralakhemundi. question of unification. Maharaja Krushna At the time of the First World War in Chandra played the unique role of calling the 1914, Krushna Chandra came up voluntarily to attention of the central government to the burning tender coalescence with the Britishers with a liberal problem through repeated reminders and donation of one lakh to the war fund with the petitions. In the long run, the Britishers appointed covert motive of exercising a moral impact on C. L. Phillip and A. C. Duff, a two-member them to accelerate unification of Odisha. Commission to come on a fact-finding mission in 1924. The Phillip-Duff Commission collected The most significant development during opinions from different sections of people and the War was the organisation of Utkal Sammilani zamindars of the disintegrated parts. At the on 26 Dec. 1914 at Paralakhemundi. It was a instigation of Krushna Chandra, the politicians, mammoth gathering of almost all the prominent leaders, students and youth met the Commission personalities of Odisha like Madhusudan Das, and pressed their supplications in support of Utkalmani Pandit , Sashibhusan unification. Rath and the kings of Manjusa, Parala, Tekli, Madhupur, Jayapur. Maharaja Krushna Chandra The Commission in its report put up the studied temperament of the people of the southern mooted the proposal of consolidation of all the parts to come under the yoke of Bihar-Odisha. Odia-speaking regions for carving out a full- fledged Utkal Pradesh about which Madhusudan In 1928, the whole of absolutely Das was apprehensive; but right from the denounced the Simon Commission as there were convocation, Krushna Chandra got the inspiration no Indian members in it. At the behest of Krushna

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Chandra Gajapati prominent Odisha leaders discover the dismaying fact that Paralakhemundi extended wholehearted co-operation to the and Jaypur weren’t included in the projected Commission and for that matter the Odisha unified Odisha but he wasn’t disappointed. He Congress heavy-weights incurred ire and scathing was optimistic of attaining the goal in the long run. criticism at the Calcutta National Congress On September 18, 1931, a committee under O' Convention which couldn’t perturb Krushna Odnnel was constituted for the demarcation of Chandra. He did the contrary to the Congress boundary of Odisha which had Krushna Chandra dictates soley for the sake of integration of Odisha Gajapati as a member and the later came up to by way of earning the good-will of the British co-operate with the committee. Unfortunately its Government. report published on 18 April 1932 didn’t include The year 1930, was replete with ordeals, Singhbhum, Paralakhemundi, Jayapur and odds and obstacles in the life of Krushna Chandra. Ichhapur of Odisha. He was elected to the Madras Assembly from On 12 April, 1933 a Joint Selection Paralakhemundi Constituency with a landslide Committee consisting of 16 members under Lord victory. He was determined to materialize his Linlithgow was constituted to finalise the cherished dream of unification as far as practicable unification of Odisha. Krushna Chandra put up a to the unease of Telugu Tamil members. representation for inclusion of the excluded parts Maharaja Krushna Chandra was invited of Odisha which was accepted and corroborated to attend the Round Table Conference at London by the chairman on the basis of the Joint Selection commencing on 19 Jan. 1930. There he was Committee Report, the 1935 Act was introduced st shocked to learn that the agenda for the and passed in the British Parliament and on 1 conference didn’t contain any proposal on the April 1936, Odisha emerged a separate state in unification of Odisha. Steadfast in determination, the map of India. The Odisha Assembly had sixty Maharaja Krushna Chandra drafted a manifesto constituencies. In 1937, Krushna Chandra incorporating therein all aspects and facets of Odia Gajapati was sworn in as the Chief Minister of culture, language, history, legacy and tradition of Odisha. After a short sojoun, the ministry rd Odisha. It evoked wild enthusiastic response from collapsed and on 3 Nov. 1941 Krushna Chandra rd the members of the conference. It was a glaring became the 3 Chief Minister of Odisha. He was testimony to the Maharaja’s undaunted daring and the harbinger of reforms, renovation and uprightness that yielded unexpected results. renaissance in the annals of Odisha. Due his efforts the Utkal University came into existence on 27th On the conclusion of the Round Table November 1943 as a pioneering prerogative for conference on 31 Jan 1931, the Secretary of State educational empowerment of Odishan people. for India Sir Samuel Hoare published a white Furthermore, his initiative culminated in the setting paper on behalf of the British Government that up of Orissa High Court on 26 July 1948. The stated the acceptance of the demand for SCB Medical College of today is the constitution of the united Odisha Province by the reincarnation of the Medical College established British administration. The news created by Krushna Chandra Gajapati. Higher education unbounded joy and jubilation throughout the length in Odisha was bolstered up due to Gajapati’s and breadth of Odisha. Suddenly the exhilaration relentless endeavour in the direction. In 1986 he of the Maharaja vanished into nothingness to elevated the Parala Junior College to a Degree

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College and the Maharaja Library therein has education and getting the youth employed in attained the highest watermark as a dependable different walks of life. He doled out free boarding institution for research. For the uplift and upkeep scholarships and cost free higher education to of ante-diluvian foundation of culture and language poor deserving scholars. Myriad lawyers, Sanskrit, he founded Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya at engineers, scientists et al were set up in life thanks Parala. Christ College established in 1944 to his largesee. improved its status, affluence and efficiency owing Realising that communication was sine to the Maharaja's liberal patronage. Truly quanon for trade, commerce, connectivity, he speaking, he brought about an unprecedented constructed 57 mile long railway track from revolution in the field of education not only in to Gunupur at a cost of 18 lakh rupees Odisha but outside the State. In recognition of which stupefied the contemporary India. He his unparalleled contribution to the uplift of played a major role in the supply of electricity education, he was conferred on LLD both by the and providing wire connection to people. Utkal University and Berhampur University. The Maharaja brisking with progressive It goes without saying, the personality of ideas wasn’t lacking in providing health service Maharaja was for all intents and purposes for people and animals. He was instrumental in incomparably par excellence during the somber setting up Medical Colleges and veterinary hours of vicissitudes. Krushna Chandra, rendered centres. He was the champion of girl’s education. fatherless by the destiny, he was undeterred by He converted his palatial mansion into girl’s the adversities and early seemingly school. unsurmountable obstacles; he trudged along the On the whole, the Maharaja was a rare slippery path of struggle with fortified strong-will, specimen of humanity, above narrow selfish determination, indomitable ventures, profound interest, audacity and arrogance, he was a self-confidence. The exuberance of royality didn’t philanthropist par excellence. His charismatic induce him to live a life of comfort and luxury in personality triumphed over all and sundry, friend gay abandonment of princely audacity. Rather he and foe and cast a magic spell on whoever came was an indulgement worshipper and custodian of across him. He was the stainless, sanctimonious the philosophy, idiosyn crasies and traditional and crystal-clear manifestation of feudal royality historic precedents of the glorious dynasty. and idiosyncrasies. Because of his mundane Although he shouldered the arduous responsibility inception, not only Paralakhemundi but also of masterminding the administration of mother Utkal felt elevated and glorified. Paralakhemundi, he dedicated himself heart and soul to the service of people. References : The service sensitive, Maharaja attached 1. Mohapatra, Satyanarayan : Gajapati Krushna Chandra Dev : 1st Edition - 2011, Publisher : exceptional importance to the uplift of agriculture Vidyapuri , Cuttack - 753002. for he realized that their lies the economic 2. Acharya , Bimal Chandra : Krushna Chandra prosperity of destitute and backward Adivasis. Gajapati : 1st Edition - 1997, Publisher : He heralded green revolution in the drought prone Rath, Binod Bihari, Cuttack – 753002. Parala by way of excavating canals. His 3. Amarchand, Mittal : An Early History of Odisha : endeavour with top priority was the spread of 1st Edition – 1962.

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4. Patel, C. B. Dynastic History of the Nalas : 1st 15. Mansingh (Dr) Mayadhar : A History of Odia Edition – 1990. literature : 1st Edition – 1962, Publisher : Central Sahitya Academy : New Delhi – 110001. 5. Ganguly, D. K. : Historical Geography and Dynastic History of Odisha : 1st Edition – 1975. 16. Mishra (Dr) Surendra Kumar : Odra Deshara Itihasa : 1st Edition – 2008, Publisher : Roopambica, 6. Pattnaik, J : The Feudatory States of Odisha : VOl CDA, Cuttack – 14. – II , 1st Edition – 1988. 17. Mahatab (Dr) Harekrushna : Odisha Itihas : Part – 7. Tripathy, S : Early and Medieval coins and 1, Revised Edition – 1996, Publisher : Dr currency system in Orissa : 1st Edition – 1978. Foundation , Biharibag, 8. Sahu, J.K. : Orissa History : 1st Edition – 1988, Cuttack – 753002. Publisher : Nalanda, Balubazar, Cuttack – 2. 18. Mishra, Krupasindhu : Utkal Itihas : Revised 9. Panigrahi : K.C. : History of Orissa : 1st Edition – Edition – 2010, Publisher : Grantha Mandir, 1981. Balubazar, Cuttack - 2. 10. Mishra, P.K. and Samal, J.K. : Comprehensive 19. Panigrahi (Dr) Krushna Chandra : Itihas O History and Culture of Orissa : Vol – 1, 1st Edition Kimbadanti : 1st Edition – 1962 : Publisher : Utkal – 1997. University, Vanivihar, . 11. Mitra, R. L. : Antiquities of Orissa : 1st Edition – 20. Sahoo (Dr) Yajnya Kumar : Odisha Itihas : Part – 1, 1875. 1st Edition – 1991, Publisher : Nalanda : Balubazar, 12. Banerjee, R. D. : History of Orissa : Vol – 1, 1st Cuttack - 2. Edition – 1930. 13. Das, M. N. : Sidelights on the History and Culture of Orissa : 1st Edition – 1977. 14. Mishra, Prabodha Kumar : Odia Jatira Itihas O Sanskruti : 1st Edition – 2008 : Publisher : Viidyapuri, Dr. Narayan Panda, P.G. Deptt. of Odia, F. M. University, Balubazar, Cuttack – 753002. .

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