• Dr. Sujit Kumar Panda

The birth of the Paik Rebellion of 1817 in Khurda was an anti-colonial armed upsurge ushered a magnificent era in the people’s movement of Odishan historiography. The oppressive and tyrannical rule of the British, their exploitive character and bellicose temperament, unwanted economic policy and colonial monopoly over salt, excessive taxation and rigorous collection system, prolonged discontent of ryots and Paiks of Khurda, the merciless murder of Jai Rajguru, ill-treatment to Raja Mukunda Deva–II and Bakshi Jagabandhu coupled with the hardnosed suppression of Khurda rebellion of 1804-05 all these blood boiling factors enforced for the eruption of an anti-imperialist mass struggle. However, this peasant uprising obviously had shaken the foundation of the British rule in the eastern part of India. Even though anti-colonial agitations were frequently held by the Rajas of Paralakhemundi, Ghumsur, Khallikote and Mohuri much before the emergence of Khurda Paik Rebellion of 1817, they failed in spite of mulish resistance due to policy of isolation. It is significant to mention that the Paik Rebellion of 1817 was not confined in a limited territory but, received unconditional support from the neighbour Zamindars of Ghumsar, Seragarh, Boudh, Nayagarh, Dasapalla, Kujanga, Kanika, Karipur, Golra, Balrampur, Budnakera, and Rupsa. Apart that, the patriotic people of Pipili, Gopa, Tangi, Bolagada, Banapur, Ranapur, Athamallick, Bharatpara, Balakati, Panchapalli, Harispur rendered altruistic support. However, the above narration is corroborated by a series of scholars in their research work. But, none has critically focused on the heroic contribution of Ganjam during Paik rebellion. Hence, the prime intension of this paper is to talk about briefly patriotic fever of the people of Ganjam who sacrificed a lot during the historic Paik Rebellion of Khurda.

Paik, Khurda, Khallikote, Colonial

"ROLE OF GANJAM IN THE KHURDA REVOLT OF 1817 IN ODISHA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 8, page no.a460-a465, August-2021, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2108059.pdf

"ROLE OF GANJAM IN THE KHURDA REVOLT OF 1817 IN ODISHA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 8, page no. ppa460-a465, August-2021, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2108059.pdf