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Home , Jharsuguda, Jharsuguda district, Odisha, Sambalpur

Orissa Review

Sambalpur was occupied by Bamra, Trilochana Rai of the British in 1817 from the Paharsiriguda, Abdhut Sing of Marathas. In 1827, the Bissikella, Medini Bariha of Freedom Chouhan ruler Maharaja Sai Kharmura, Jagabandhubabu (a died and Rani Mohan Kumari, discharged amala of the Rani), Movement in widow of the Chouhan ruler Biju a discharged Duffadar of was installed on the Gaddi of , Shickru Mohanty Sambalpur. During her reign, (formerly a Namadar of the Zamindari of Jharsuguda Barkandazee), Balaram Sing, District was created in 1829, which Balbhadra Sing Deo of was assigned to one Ranjeet Lakhanpur and many Gond Sing, a near relation for leaders. Govind Sing could Dr. Byomakesh Tripathy maintenance of his family. muster the support of the total Ranjeet Singh was a son of Siva people and thus the movement Sing, grandson of Haribans for freedom in Sambalpur Singh and great grandson of began in Jharsuguda as a The district of Jharsuguda has Chatra Sai, seventh Chouhan protest against British a special niche in the history and ruler of Sambalpur. Ranjeet highhandedness. Thus before culture of Orissa since early Sing and his successor lived 30 years prior to the first war times. Findings of prehistoric with Rajas of Sambalpur and of Independence of 1857 AD, tools, rock shelters of stone age he was in the hope that he might Govind Sing raised his sword period with earliest rock succeed the Gaddi. When the to drive away the British from engravings in at British appointed the widow Sambalpur. The resistance Vikramkhol and Ulapgarh, Rani on the throne of movement of Govind Sing could ruins of early temples, sculptural Sambalpur. Ranjeet Sing was not be successful due to strong art of medieval period etc. disappointed and that’s why the measures of the British. provide an idea of the Rani sent him to Jharsuguda as However, credit goes to him for flourishing culture in the area. Zamindar granting in his favour initiating militant nationalism in In early historical period, 13 villages by way of the area which was later on Jharsuduga area was included consolation. Subsequently sustained by . in the territory of Dakshina Ranjeet Sing along with his Kosala. With the establishment The British government brothers Bhupal Sing and successfully dealt with Gobind of Chouhan rule in Western Bhawani Sing opposed the rule Orissa, Jharsuguda became a sing. Govind Sing was spared of the Rani. Consequent upon and kept in confinement. part and parcel of the Chouhan the confinement of Ranjeet Sing kingdom of Sambalpur. Ultimately the British realized in the fort of Sambalpur, his son that so long as Rani remained The year 1803 was a Govind Sing took up the case in power, there would be turning point in the history of of rebellion. Govind Sing was endless trouble and accordingly Orissa when the British supported by Rai of in 1839 Narayan Sing, the th occupied on 14 , Thakur Ajit Sing of Zamindar of Barpali was made October, 1803. Subsequently Kodbaga, Chandra of the of Sambalpur. This

58 August - 2010 Orissa Review was opposed by Surendra Sai Vijayaraghava Charier adopted target was in order to achieve of Ranipur Khinda a village a resolution in favour of Swaraj to collect one crore of located hardly at a distance of adopting non-violent non- for the fund and one 20 kms from Jharsuguda. cooperation movement. A good crore of enrolment of the Surendra Sai was a descendant number of delegates from Congress. In this aspect, of Aniruddha Sai, son of Orissa attended the session. Anantaram Behera was in Madhukar Sai, the fourth Non-cooperation movement charge of Jharsuguda and Chouhan Raja of Sambalpur was launched in various parts Ambika Madhav Prasad and had a claim for succession of the district including, Patnaik, Mahavir Sing and to the throne at Sambalpur in Jharsuguda, Talpatia and Janaki Agarwal for the absence of a direct claimant several other places. Laikera. It was with the efforts to the throne as per the Jharsuguda became an of Mahavir Sing in several traditional rule of succession. important centre and Nrusingh, panchayats, use of Charkhas With the active support of his was in charge of the centre. To was popularized. Bhagirathi uncle Balaram Sing and his six support the movement students Pattanaik also took active part brothers Udanta, Druva, Ujjala, of the zilla school, Sambalpur in the opening of a Chabila, Jujjala and Medini, called for a complete Hartal Khadarboard with its Surendra Sai successfully and in response to it, strikes headquarters at Jharsuguda. enlisted the support of the like took place at Jharsuguda and Further, at the initiation of minded Zamindars and Bargada. Trilochan Sah Deo of Chintamani Pujari, Panchapara Gauntias and organized a , Laxmi Narayana and Bhalupatra in Laikera rebellion against the British. The Mishra, Chandrasekhar Police Station became two Zamindar of Kolabira a Panigrahi and Arun Das took important khadi centers. powerful tribal leader active role in spreading the Mohan Sing of supported Surendra message of non-cooperation in showed a great zeal to wholeheartedly and on his the rural areas. During this time, popularize the non-cooperation taking up the rebel cause, many Mahavir Sing, a contractor of in his locality. Congress others followed. Surendra Sai Jharsuguda became a staunch members were recruited from was successful in organizing a supporter of the movement and different parts of Sambalpur rebellion during 1857-1858, in his quarter was converted into and out of a total of 4,800 the area, which became Congress office. His quarter some 2000 were recruited only forerunner for the freedom became the meeting point of all from Jharsuguda area. movement in Orissa. the Congress leaders and On 17 December, Throughout the workers. 1921, the crown prince of National Movement, the people In 1921 it was decided England was supposed to visit of Jharsuguda took active part by India and the All India congress by supporting the Indian that all efforts would be made committee made no stone National Congress. The to raise funds for Tilak Swaraj unturned to have a complete Session of the fund and to prepare Charkha hartal on the eve of his visit. Congress; held in December for augmenting the non- Mahavir Sing was arrested on 1920 under the presidentship of cooperation movement. The 14th December at Jharsuguda.

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In Panchapara also, the people area. Gandhiji’s clarion call for improve the social and organized by Chintamoni Pujari prohibition and removal of educational sphere. A Harijan supported the cause. On 20th untouchability had its effect in temple was constructed at January 1922, Gopabandhu the area. Meetings were Pandupathar in Jharsuguda Das arrived in Jharsuguda. organized for the upliftment of police station. Both Ambica Madhab Patnaik the untouchables at Panchpara, Laxminarayan Mishra and secretary, District Congress Turekela, Panpali and several Bodhram Dube attended the Committee of Sambalpur, other places. On 13th April opening ceremony. The Anantaram Behera, a teacher 1922, a Harijan (Ganda) of National Flag was hoisted with of National school and many Kulabira Zamindari was national song. Both the leaders others received him at the organized at Panpali. The addressed the people and railway station. He visited people were appealed to give impressed them to take Panchapara and was satisfied up liquor. The meeting resolved spinning with right earnest. to see the activities there to prohibition of drum beating When Amritlala Thakur , undertaken by the Congress for untouchables and forbate to Harihar Das and leaders. Though Gopabandhu take beef etc. In 1923 one Laxminarayan visited was served with a notice of Mina Goura was outcaste by Harijan localities of Sambalpur 144, the moment he reached his caste men as he had touched and Jharsuguda in 1936 they Jharsuguda, a conference was the Gandas and had used pan were satisfied with the work st organized on 21 January supari (betel) from his hands. undertaken in the area. under the presidentship of A meeting was convened on Mohan Birtia, where the The Lahore session of 18th October, 1923 at his message of Congress in December, 1929 native village Panchapara, was read out. adopted the creed of Purna where about 200 Gandas were Swaraj. The Congress decided The Khadi and assembled. The Gandas asked to observe 26 January, 1930 as Charkha movement attracted the better class Hindus to follow the Purna Swaraj Day all over many members of the the example of Mina Goura and India. The day was observed depressed classes into the fold. remove untouchability. The non with all enthusiasm in the Many Gandas (Harijan) cooperators like Laxminarayan district. With the beginning of enrolled themselves as Mishra and Bhagirathi Pattnaik the salt campaign in March 12, congress members. They were attended the meeting and raised 1930, the Civil Disobedience moved by the spirit of the their voice against untoucha- Movement was started. Four Khadi. A Ganda named bility. The anti untouchability batches of Satyagrahis were Kastaram took part movement gained ground in a sent by the Satyagraha actively in organizing the Khadi big way. Subsequently a Harijan committee of Sambalpur to and Charkha in rural areas. He home came at the village defy the British laws and to was well supported by Panchapara at the initiative of prepare counter band salt at Sukharam Tanti, Kaidram Tanti Laxminarayan Mishra. In 1935 different places of the coastal and others. even a sum of Rs.728.00 was districts of Orissa, Mahavir Social movements did sanctioned by the Provincial Sing and others toured a not lag behind in Jharsuguda Harijan Sangha for utilization to number of villages and

60 August - 2010 Orissa Review collected a group of volunteers from the society. An amount of Dubey also visited Jharsuguda for the movement. The people Rs.405/- was collected for the in June 1938 and urged the of Jharsuguda accorded warm welfare of the Harijans. No people to get rid of their mind ovation to those Satyagrahis on doubt, the coming of Gandhiji of provincialism and to keep in reaching Jharsuguda, from was a great boost to the view the goal of complete where they proceeded by train. Congress leaders and workers independence. During this With the arrest of important of Jharsuguda area for period, Laxminarayan Mishra leaders, the civil disobedience sustaining the movement against could propagate successfully movement could not get much the British. the Congress creed among the momentum. However from For popularizing the masses of the area, for which August 1932, the programme Congress work, the leaders of he received recognition and was revived in a big way. the Congress arranged a appreciation of the provincial Kastaram Ganda worked Peasant Conference at congress leaders of Orissa. It vigorously along with other Jharsuguda. A meeting was was at his initiatives in March political workers under convened on 5th May 1937 1938 an Exhibition of Charkha Mahavir Sing. Leaflets were under the presidentship of B.M. was held at the village Talpatia distributed in the market of for preparation of the and resolutions were passed to Talpatia, near Jharsuguda. coming conferences. A remove untouchability between These leaflets were published reception committee was different classes of the Harijans, from the Revolution Bulletin formed for the purpose with to open a cotton Depot at Press, Cuttack and it incited the Bodhram Doube as the Talpatia, to move the public to boycott foreign chairman. The district Political Government to include the goods, British clothes and held conference and peasant Harijans amongst the panchas out a threat to picket the shops th conference were held at etc. On 17 May 1939 under of those who were dealing in Jharsuguda on 9th and 10th may the leadership of Sradhakar British goods. Kastaram and 1937. The conferences were Supkar, a Political conference Mahavir Sing were arrested attended by congress stalwarts was held in the village of and persecuted. like Rabisankar Sukla of Telenpali under Jharsuguda The civil disobedience , Biswanath Das of police station. The Congress movement was withdrawn in , Harekrishna Mahtab leaders remind the people to May 1934. Gandhi of Cuttack, Abdul Rauf of present a united front against commenced his Harijan tour in Raipur and others. These the oppression of the Orissa in May, 1934. Gandhiji conferenes in fact went a long Government. along with Laxminarayan Sahu way to boost moral of the The district did not lag and Rajkrushna Bose reached Congress workers. behind in the Quit India Jharsuguda at first and travelling Harekrishana Mahatab and Movement. On 14 July 1942, through Sambalpur, Biswanath Das the first Chief the Congress Working reached . Gandhiji was well Minister of Orissa visited Committee passed the quit received by the people at Jharsuguda on 20th and 24th India resolution, which was Jharsuguda and emphasized the October 1937 respectively and endorsed by the All India need to remove untouchability addressed the public. Bodhram Congress Committee which met

August - 2010 61 Orissa Review in Bombay on 7th August 1942. Jharsuguda under the It is often argued that On August 8, 1942, the police presidentship of Nandakishore India’s freedom struggle was arrested Gandhi, Azad and all Das who happened to be the basically a middle class other eminent leaders of the president of Utkal Provincial movement, and confined to Congress. Hartals were Congress Committee. This urban centers and elite group, organized in protest against the meeting was attended by But at a glance at the arrest of congress leaders in stalwarts like Biswanath Das developments in the district Bombay. Bihariram Tanti and Malati Choudhury where amply reflects that the national and Sukhdev Prasad of the leaders exhorted the people movement became a Jharsuguda were arrested for to fight unitedly for complete movement of the people. The having joined the movement of independence of India. Fakir illiterate, the poorest, the lowest 1942. Pandit Laxminarayan Satpathy organized a labour and lowly living in remote Mishra who had been to movement under the Congress villages came forward in a big Bombay to attend the meeting Flag and convened a meeting way to oppose the British rule of All India Congress of labours on 8 July, 1947 in to make India free. It is Committee was arrested on his the Mazdoor Sangh office of heartening to see that the way back to Sambalpur. the Congress and pledged to peasants, workers, the tribal However, the movements in the fight for the amelioration of their and the common people of the area was sporadic. Sri grievances. area actively participated in the Prasad Guru, a Congress movement for which the leader actively participated in With the passing of movement could be a fighting the cause of the orient India Independence Bill there successful one. paper mills at Jharsuguda. The was a great enthusiasm in the Quit India day was observed district. In the freedom on 9th August at Sambalpur and movement not only the male Jharsuguda. On August 18, leaders but also a number of 1942 students of Jharsuguda females contributed to the cause and in this aspect the observed a hartal. No much Dr. Byomakesh Tripathy is a activity is reported during name of Tulasi , Umarani Professor, PG Dept. of History, 1943-46. On June 1947, a Guha, Sabitaben Joshi and Rajiv Gandhi Central University, political conference was held at many other are noteworthy. Itanagar.

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