ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review The Role of R.N. Singh Deo in the State Politics of Odisha in the Pre and Post-Independent Political Scenario : A Critical Study Dr. Suresh Prasad Sarangi Abstract: This article has been divided into two parts. In the first part of the article a detail description has been given about the administration of ex-Princely State of Patna under the dynamic leadership of Maharaja R.N. Singh Deo and the second part deals with the work and achievement of Sri R.N. Singh Deo as a Chief Minister of Odisha during the period of 1967-71. Late Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo, the last Maharaja and Ruling Chief of Patna State of Bolangir, Odisha, was one of the best known personalities of the state for many years prior to our independence. Since then, he has dominated the state politics for many years and made rich contribution to the socio-economic and cultural development. Though born in a royal family, he identified himself with the mass and made great sacrifices for the cause of nation. He came in contact with the top leaders of the freedom movement including, Mahatma Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel. All the Gandhian principles like “Simple Living and High Thinking”, “Patience and Tolerance” were found This great personality was a genius. He was a in him. He was a firm believer in democratic set great scholar, a sportsman who played football, up and secularism and maintained the principle of great patron of art and culture and above all, an equality. As a ruler of Patna State, he used to exponent of the world famous Sareikella Chau visit the poor and downtrodden family of his dance.1 He was an efficient politician and able empire to know the real plight of his subjects. parliamentarian, an outstanding Chief Minister 28 April - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 having great popularity and was an exceptional on the north by Sambalpur District and the prominent leader of Odisha. In his capacity, he Sonepur State; on the east by the Sonepur State, had to play an important role as a Ruler of Patna the Boud State and the Kalahandi State and on State, as the Chief Minister of Odisha and also the west by the Sambalpur District. The state as the leader of Opposition Party in different had an area of 2530 sq. miles according to the periods of time.2 Census of 1941 and it had a population of 6,32,220.7 Bolangir was the headquarters of Birth and Background of R.N. Singh Deo: Patna State.8 Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo was born In the past, Patna State was identified with on 31st March, 1912 at the royal family of the the ancient Dakshina Kosala. It was a very princely state of Sareikela as the second son of powerful kingdom which was ruled by Kusha, Raja Aditya Pratap Singh Deo on the sacred day the second son of King Ramachandra. It had a of Mahavir Jayanti.3 He was adopted as son by glorious past. The modern history of Patna state the sonless king of Patna State Late Maharaja began from the reign of Ramai Deo who founded Prithviraj Singh Deo. Rajendra Narayan Singh the Chauhan dynasty of Patna in the year 1159 Deo was recognised as heir at the age of 12 by A.D. During the early period of Chauhan rule, it the British Government after the death of was a very powerful kingdom and had as many Maharaja Prithwiraj Singh Deo in 1924.4 But as as 72 states under its control; until the growth of R.N. Singh Deo was minor, the Patna State was British Supremacy in these parts, the state of placed under court of ward till 1933 till he attained Patna was the fountain head of a cluster of maturity and assumed the full charge of the Ruler confederacy of states known as Athara Gadajats of Patna.5 (18 forts).9 In the time of Moghul emperors as Singh Deo had his education in well as during the ascendancy of the Maharattas, Intermediate Science. He studied at St. Patna State enjoyed its independence and Columbia’s College, Hazaribagh and then at sovereignty. The territory of Odisha was Mayo College, Ajmer.6 He was a very brilliant captured by the Britishers from the Maratha in student who stood first class in all the examinations 1803 and Sambalpur and Patna State came under he appeared throughout his life. In the All India the control of the British India. Then, the British level Diploma examination he stood first in the authority had exercised full control over the State country and received gold medal from the then of Patna and they regarded Patna as their Governor General Lord Irwin. At the age of feudatory state. The State of Patna, from the time twenty he married Kailash Kumari Devi of of Ramai Deo, had as many as 33 rulers and the Patiala. last ruler was Maharaja Rajendra Narayana Singh 10 Political History of Patna (Ex-Princely State): Deo. The Role of R.N. Singh Deo as a Ruler of Patna State or Patna Estate was one of Patna State: the premier states of the Eastern Agency. It was located in the Mahanadi Valley of Sambalpur area Even under the British rule, Maharaja and occupied a part of the modern Bolangir Rajendra Narayana Singh Deo could establish a District of the State of Odisha. It was surrounded popular government in his princely state of Patna. April - 2017 29 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review A complete democratic set up was found in the different types of dance and drama were Patna State. The three organs like, legislative, performed by different artistes. He also executive and judiciary were working in the State. established the “Dalaganjan Press” where Various administrative machineries like the different literary works and “Patna Dipika” and cabinet, High Court, Secretariat, Civil Service, “Patna State Gazetteer” were published. The Local self-government were constituted to provide Kalinga Historical Research Journal was also good governance to the people of Patna State. published from the Patna State and eminent The various function of the government was historians of that time Sri Purna Chandra Ratha, divided among different departments which Dr. Satya Narayan Rajguru, Balamukund Hota, remained under the charge of ministers. The entire Sri Manabodh Sahu and other writers from state was divided into different divisions to outside Odisha contributed their valuable articles 12 provide better administration. Maharaja R.N. to this journal. Singh Deo himself supervised all the work of the Singh Deo had taken a number of steps state. for the spread of education in the Patna State. Singh Deo as a Ruler of Patna State took The government constructed school building to a number of welfare measures for the improvement provide primary, secondary and higher education of socio-economic and educational status of the to his people. The High School as well as almost people. He established a network of Cooperative all rural schools had got library facilities for Banks and Cooperative Societies to make credit students. The students were also given financial facilities available to his peasants for their assistance to pursue technical education. Singh agricultural operation. Patna Transport Deo had also established George Sanskrit Tol to Corporation was also created to provide Bus provide Sanskrit education. It imparted services to the people. He also initiated the knowledge in Sanskrit literature (Sahitya), enactment of land reforms and adopted brilliant Vyakarana (Sanskrit Grammar), Karmakanda policies of collection of revenues for the larger and Dharma Shastra (Scripture). A wing for interest of his peasants. A number of Ayurvedic teaching of Jyotish (Astrology) was also Dispensaries were also set up in the remote introduced in the Tol in 1940.13 With a view to villages at government cost to improve the health provide higher education in Patna State, Singh of the people. The public health department Deo had established an institution named consisted of five branches—medical, leprosy, “Rajendra College” in 1944. At that time, it was vaccination, sanitation and child welfare. X-Ray affiliated to Utkal University and the first session and Electro Therapy Institute and maternity relief of the college was started from 3rd July, 1944. facilities were also provided to the women. A This college has been elevated to the state of an separate ward was created in the hospital for TB autonomous college by the Department of Higher and leprosy patients for their treatment and proper Education, Government of Odisha and it has attention. A Veterinary hospital was also in become a post-graduate college having the existence at Bolangir for the treatment of subjects of science, commerce and arts. 11 inoculated cattle. In order to facilitate Hindi education one To promote art and culture in the Patna Hindi Middle English School at Bolangir and one State he constructed “Koshal Kalamandal” where Hindi School at Titilagarh were established. A 30 April - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Guru (Teachers’) Training School was established legislature and the other one was nominated by in Patna State to impart training to the teachers to the Maharaja himself. 15 make teachers competent in the teaching During the reign of Maharaja R.N. Singh profession. It was abolished in 1937, with effect Deo in Patna State the system of Village st from the 1 January as majority of the teachers Panchayat and Gram Sabha was introduced with had been trained. An Industrial School was also a view to decentralising the power from the grass opened in the state in 1938 to impart vocational root level.