Orissa Review * September-October - 2008 Manikagoda : The Village of Gandhi's Dream Sibasundar Pattanaik Our India consists of the people of different castes, forget that God does not take His birth - He only sects and religions. There are several hamlets, appears or descends). The animal instinct in our villages, towns and cities named after the sects, mind is enhanced by the political leaders for which castes and religions where we use to reside we develop enemity amongst us. So it is advisable according to our groups. Out of these habitants to narrow minded political leaders and the Manikagoda, a village in Panchagada Pragana and innocent people who are guided by them to go to Bolagada Block of Khurda district of Orissa which Manikagoda and to ditermine their objectives. is a dazzling jewel on the head of "Bharat Mata" Manikagoda consists of five habitable (Mother India). Mouzas - Hatasahi, Ramachandrapur Patna, To clarify the same it can be said that Chandipatna, Kumuti Sahi and Dalei Sahi and two eventhough we quarrel arson, damage or kill uninhabited Mouzas-Rasulpur and Jahanbad. To persons to cherish our desires and to fulfill the go to this third populated village in Orissa one same by joining the political party preaching has to get down from bus at Bhimapada near sectarian ideas. When our animal instinct is alive Bolagarh on the Jatni-Bolangir Highway and a in our mind the said instinct is subdued in the minds northern side road leads to this village. It is of the people of Manikagoda. Here there is no proposed to convert this village to a Notified Area animosity between the people of different religions Council. In case, the village of Bhimapada, Tangi and no hatred amongst different castes. Here there Sahi, Dibyasinghapur, Malisahi and Kalanga is no distinction whether Kashmir should merge would be amalgamated its area would be bigger. with Pakistan for Muslim majority or it is an The population of the village Manikagoda consists integral and indivisible part of India, here there is of 15,000 out of which the Hindu population is no religious disputes between the Hindus and the twice that of the Muslim one. Amongst the Hindus Muslims leading to destruction, arson of trains and there are Brahmins, Karans, Kshyatiyas, killing of people by fire like that of Gujrat and Khandayats, Telis (Oilmen), Badhei Maharastra, here there is no desire to recover (Carpenters), Bhandaris (Barbers), Dhobas Janma Bhumi (place of birth) as Bhagaban Sri (Washermen), Hadis (Drummers), Bauris Rama Chandra (Jugas) took His birth two (Jugas) (Bamboo article weavers) and the aborigines ago prior to Kalijuga not nourishing a desire to Kandhas (Janis) and Sawars (Dumal Gaudas). destroy Babari Mosque or to rebuild it, (We But the deities of the Hindus are not the exclusive 27 Orissa Review * September-October - 2008 deities of their religion. Amongst them Sri In old days, Manikagoda was situated in Bhagabati Thakurani, Sri Joga-Maya, and Sri the midst of Jungle inhabited by aborigines. The Somonath Dev and Sri Kanaka Durga installed "Gadajats" of Ranpur, Nayagarh, Khandapada by Gajapati King. Manikabhuian worshipped by and Banki under the Suzerainty of the Gajapati the aborigine class Kandha and Sri Mahisasur of Puri were the boundary lands. The deities Mardini worshipped by Sawar-Dihudi another Bhujan Thakurani and Mahisasur - Mardini were aborigine class are not the exclusive deities of being worshipped by the aborigines. Since time these aborigines or sub-caste class of people. All immemorial Kandhas (Janis) used to worship these deities belong to the people of Manikagada- Bhuian Thakurani and the Sawar - Dihudi the Hindus, the Muslims and aborigine caste (Dumula Gaud) used to worship Mahisasur people. There is little chance to see coordination Mardini. and coexistence among different castes and During the sixteenth century "Thata Raj" (as religions elsewhere. This village is the embodiment the younger brother of the Gajapati king of Puri of national integrity. The speciality of this village is known / decorated or honoured) was disgraced is that a Muslim adorns the supreme place in the by Gajapati (equivalent to Chakravarty in other "Homa" (sacred fire) - adorning higher than places i.e. one who has defeated one lakh kings) "Brahma" or "Acharya" in the "Homa". In this Dibyasingh Dev-I and the later ordered for his Homa the descendants of the Kotha Karan younger brother's execution. But the killer left the engaged by the Gajapati king co-ordinate. The Thata Raja on the outskirt of the town and brought descendants of Rajaguru and Brahmins engaged animal's blood to satisfy the Gajapati. The Thata by the Gajapati and the aborigines Sawars and Raj reached Ranpur and after getting the king's Kandhas participate. Nobody in the village help defeated these aborigines of Manikagoda and cherish Dharmandhata (or Blind adherence of established his fort there. But the "Gada Prachira" one's own religion) Gandhiji, the Father of our (the boundary wall of the fort collapsed on several Nation used to recite "Iswar Allah Tere Nam" on occasions. The Thata Raj had a dream of Bhuian his each prayer and advised us to pray accordingly. Thakurani asking for human sacrifice. The Kandha But he became victim of the "Dharmandhata". priest of the said deity had also similar dream with The said blind adherence to religion admits further direction to sacrifice his daughter, Manika. its defeat here. Since the primitive days the Hindus The Thata Raj and Kandha priest were unwilling of India embrace each other on the "Dasahara" for human sacrifice. But Manik prevailed over day which is confined amongst the same religion. them and she was killed. After this occurence the The Muslims embracing each other on the Idd is said deity Bhuian was known as Manika Bhuian confined to themselves. But during the Dasahara or Manikasuni. The Thata Raj dug a tank near festival in the village of Manikagoda the people, the temple known as Manik Sagar. Thereafter be it Hindu or Muslim or higher caste or lower the village is known as Manikagada. There is no caste - embrace each other without any hesitation status of the said deity except Kalasa on the throne of religion, caste or creed and all people and moving deity - a log being clothed. It may be accompany the Hindu deities happily in eluminated recalled that the weapon of Sri Jagannath known procession with beating drum with the rythm of as Sri Sudarsan not only accompany Mahaprabhu Paika Akhada and perform Aparajita, Homa on to Sri Gundicha temple but also goes on Chacheri a trijunction of roads which is scarce elsewhere. Bhog representing Sri Jagannath, Sri Bhagabati 28 Orissa Review * September-October - 2008 of Banpur in Khordha district and Sri Tareni not only retired headmaster and social worker he Thakurani of nearby Aranga Mala (high land) go had also represented India in world forum. on Chacheri Bhoga on other festive occasion in The special aspect of Manikagoda is the the from of logs adorned with cloths. At co-existence of the people of higher class and Manikagada there was a nine storyed palace like that of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe that of Barabati fort and the narrow entrance gate aborigines and the Muslims and the Hindus. There was like that of Golkunda fort to resist the entry is no feeling of hatrred like that of the Hindus and of external enemies accompanied his brother to the Muslim of Ayodhya, Kasi (Benaras) and Puri. The Gajapati entrusted the military and Mathura - Brundaban. Previously there were administrative affairs to a Muslim Dalabehera Muslims in Paika force and adorned the posts of offering a sword which is worshipped till now. Military heads like Dalei and Dalabehera. Even The Gajapati also brought a Koran from now they are members of Paika Akhada. Another Chhanagiri near Jankia in Khordha district and speciality is that out of two Mosques at engaged him Kothakoran and also Bhuimula and Manikagada one is situated close to the temple offered a Lekhan (iron pen to write on palm leaf) of Manika Bhuian Thakurani. This establishes, which is also worshipped till date. This fort was their fellow - feeling and co-existence. the Centre of military and administrative head quarters of "Panchagada" (consisting of On the day of Gamha Purnami (fool moon Manikagada, Sampur, Bankoi, Haladipada and day of Sravan - i.e. in the month of July-August) Manibandha) Manikagada as its name signifies the teacher of Paika skill, now a martial art selects was a Gada or Military cantonment where 5000 the youths from amongst the high or low caste Paika soldiers were kept. This fort took active and from the Hindus and Muslims. This training part in defeating Muslims and Marathas and starts from that day which is the birth day of delayed the establishment of English rule here and Bhagaban Balaram, the brother of Sri Krishna. kept the independence of Gajapati king of Puri. Sri Balaram is recognized as the exponent of It was a place of Military authority since the Duela. Sri Balaram is one of the Avtars sixteenth century from the time of Dibyasingh (Incarnations) of God. But this training is not Dev-I up to beginning of the 18th century till retracted to the Hindus alone - the Muslims also Dibyasingh Dev-II was defeated by the British. take the training. On the Dasahara day (Tenth day of light fortnight of Aswin, i.e. falling in Present Dalabehera is Sk. Habibur September - October), the Paikas of different Rahaman who is the keeper of the sword gifted Sahis of Manikagoda have their opening ceremony by the Gajapati. The Dalabehera has been of martial art in front of the house of Muslim honoured at Bolagarh Mahotsav-2004 and Dalabehera.