Know Your State Odisha GK PDF

ODISHA Highly Useful for Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) and Other State Level Exams (with 1100+Multiple Choice Questions) Compiled By Sonal Mohapatra Reena Kar Arihant Publications (India) Limited Arihant Publications (India) Ltd. All Rights Reserved © Publishers No part of this publication may be re-produced, stored in a retrieval system or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, web or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher. Arihant has obtained all the information in this book from the sources believed to be reliable and true. However, Arihant or its editors or authors or illustrators don’t take any responsibility for the absolute accuracy of any information published and the damages or loss suffered there upon. All disputes subject to Meerut (UP) jurisdiction only. Administrative & Production Offices Regd. Office ‘Ramchhaya’ 4577/15, Agarwal Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi -110002 Tele: 011- 47630600, 43518550; Fax: 011- 23280316 Head Office Kalindi, TP Nagar, Meerut (UP) - 250002 Tele: 0121-2401479, 2512970, 4004199; Fax: 0121-2401648 Sales & Support Offices Agra, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Bareilly, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jhansi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Meerut, Nagpur & Pune ISBN : 978-93-13193-27-2 Published by : Arihant Publications (India) Ltd. For further information about books Published by Arihant log on to www.arihantbooks.com or email to [email protected] /arihantpub /@arihantpub Arihant Publications /arihantpub General Knowledge of Odisha is essential for the competitive examinations of the State. For the same purpose this book (Know Your State Odisha) is designed to serve as a reference book for the students who appear in Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) and other state level competitive examinations. The book provides comprehensive information about Odisha to familiarize the readers about the state. This book provides detailed study of History, Geography, Polity, Art and Culture, Centre and State Government Welfare Schemes and Current Affairs of Haryana. A systematic chapter by chapter study will result in marked improvement in the performance of the students. Box, Tables, Map, Figures are also used to make the presentation more clear. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) at the end of each chapter are given to test the candidates understanding of the subject from the examination point of view. The book provides the most relevant, authentic and up to date information on various aspects of Odisha. We invite and welcome any feedback or suggestion for the further improvement of this book in subsequent editions. Authors Sonal Mohapatra Reena Kar Odisha : A Basic Information 1-5 – General Information 1 – Administration 2 – Largest/Longest in Odisha 3-4 – State Symbols 5 1. Ancient History of Odisha 6-20 – Historical Names of Odisha 6-7 – Sources of History of Odisha 7-11 – Ancient Kingdoms and Empires in Odisha 11-15 – Sub-Regional Kingdoms after the Gupta Period 15-18 2. Medieval History of Odisha 21-29 – Ganga Dynasty (1038-1435 AD) 21-23 – Gajapati Dynasty (1434-1541 AD) 23-24 – Bhoi Dynasty (1541-1558 AD) 24 – Karrani Dynasty (1568-1589 AD) 25-26 – Odisha under the Naib Nazims of Bengal 26-28 3. Modern History of Odisha 30-39 – The Portuguese in Odisha 30 – British Rule in Odisha 31 – Movements in Odisha against British 32-34 – Tribal Uprising in Odisha 34-37 4. Freedom Struggle in Odisha 40-49 – Pre-Independence Era 40-42 – Quit India Movement and Odisha 42-44 – Post-Independence Era 44-47 5. Geographical Features of Odisha 50-58 – Physiographic Region of Odisha 51-53 – The Central Plateaus 53-54 – The River Valleys and Flood Plains 54-55 – Climate of Odisha 59-61 – Rainfall in Odisha 61-62 – Climatic Regions in Odisha 62-63 – Cyclone in Odisha 63 – Soils in Odisha 64-67 – Problems and Management of Soils in Odisha 68 7. Drainage System of Odisha 71-84 – Rivers of Odisha 71-73 – Rivers of Mahanadi Delta 73-74 – Rivers of Eastern Slopes of Eastern Ghats 74-77 – Lakes of Odisha 77-79 – Waterfalls in Odisha 79-80 – Springs in Odisha 80-81 – Bays and Islands in Odisha 81 8. Agriculture and Irrigation in Odisha 85-98 – Cropping Seasons in Odisha 85-86 – Major Crops of Odisha 86-88 – Agro-Climatic Zones in Odisha 88-89 – Horticulture in Odisha 89 – Floriculture in Odisha 90-93 – Irrigation in Odisha 93 – Irrigation Projects 94-95 – Government Initiatives for Irrigation 95-96 9. Animal Husbandry in Odisha 99-106 – Livestock Sector in Odisha 99-103 – State Initiatives of Fishery Development 103-104 – Animal Husbandry Department 104 10. Forests of Odisha 107-116 – Recorded Forest Area in Odisha 107-108 – Classification of Forests of Odisha 109-110 – The Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests 110-112 – Government Departments for Forest Development 113-114 11. National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Odisha 117-128 – National Parks of Odisha 117-121 – Wildlife Reserves in Odisha 121-122 – Biodiversity in Odisha 122-124 – Nandankanan Zoological Park 125-126 12. Mineral Resources of Odisha 129-138 – Minerals Found in Odisha 129 – Classification of Minerals 130-134 – Government Initiatives for Mineral Development 135-136 13. Industries of Odisha 139-150 – Key Industries of Odisha 139-144 – Cottage Industries in Odisha 145-147 – State Industrial Policy, 2015 147 14. Energy Sector of Odisha 151-158 – Thermal Power Plants in Odisha 151-153 – Non-Conventional Sources of Energy 153-154 – Government Institutions in Odisha for Energy Sector 154-156 – Government Initiatives in Energy Sector 156 15. Transport in Odisha 159-169 – Transportation in Odisha 159-162 – Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) 162-164 – Government Initiatives for Railway Transport 165-167 16. Communication and Cinema in Odisha 170-182 – Means of Communication in Odisha 170-173 – Cinema of Odisha 174 – Famous Actors from Odisha 175-177 – Famous Actresses from Odisha 177-178 – Odisha State film Awards 179-180 17. Formation of Odisha 183-188 – Odia Movement 183-184 – Formation of Bihar-Odisha Province 185-186 – Merger of the Princely States of Odisha 186 18. Administrative Set up of Odisha 189-197 – Odisha Legislature 189-192 – Odisha Executive 192-193 – Chief Minister of Odisha 193-194 – Important Institutions of Odisha 194-195 19. Odisha Judiciary 198-203 – Odisha High Court 198-200 – Subordinate Courts in Odisha 200-201 20. Local Self-Government and Panchayati Raj in Odisha 204-209 – Panchayati Raj System in Odisha 204-206 – Urban Local Bodies in Odisha 206-208 21. District Profile of Odisha 210-232 – Divisions of Odisha 210-211 – Central Division, Cuttack 212-218 – Northern Division, Sambalpur 219-224 – Southern Division, Berhampur 224-229 22. Tourism in Odisha 233-251 – Temples in Odisha 233-238 – Buddhist Movement 239-240 – Forts in Odisha 241-242 – Caves in Odisha 242-243 – Hill Stations and Beaches in Odisha 243-244 – Other Tourist Places in Odisha 244-245 – Tourism Policy, 2016 245-247 23. Language and Literature 252-262 – Language of Odisha 252-254 – Literature of Odisha 254-256 – Eminent Personalities of Odisha Literature 257-260 24. Folk Art, Craft and Culture of Odisha 263-275 – Paintings of Odisha 263-267 – Crafts of Odisha 267-273 – Culture of Odisha 273 25. Music and Dance of Odisha 276-292 – Music of Odisha 276-278 – Dance Forms of Odisha 278-283 – Folk Dramas of Odisha 284-289 26. Fairs, Festivals and Cuisines of Odisha 293-306 – Fairs of Odisha 293-294 – Festivals of Odisha 294-301 – Tribal Festival 301-304 – Cuisines of Odisha 304 27. Sports in Odisha 307-319 – Sports Scenario in Odisha 307-311 – Odisha Sports Youth Policy, 2013 311-313 – Famous Sports Personalities of Odisha 313-315 – Major Schemes for Sports in Odisha 315-316 28. Awards and Honours of Odisha 320-327 – Famous Awards of Odisha 320-322 – National Awardees from Odisha 322-325 – Padma Shri Awardees from Odisha 325 29. Education and Health in Odisha 328-336 – Education Sector in Odisha 328-329 – Major Universities of Odisha 330-331 – National Level Institutions in Odisha 331-334 – Health Sector in Odisha 334-335 30. Caste and Tribes of Odisha 337-345 – Scheduled Tribes in Odisha 337-341 – Scheduled Castes (SCs) in Odisha 341-343 31. Historical and Other Famous Personalities of Odisha 346-354 – Historical Personalities 346-348 – Political Personalities 348-351 32. Demographic Profile of Odisha 355-360 – Population of Odisha 355-357 – Rural Population of Odisha 357-359 33. Social Welfare Schemes of Odisha 361-367 – Schemes for Health Sector in Odisha 361-362 – Pension Schemes in Odisha 363-364 – Miscellaneous Schemes of Odisha 364-365 Current Affairs 368-376 Odisha BASIC INFORMATION General Information Date of Establishment 1st April, 1936 Capital Bhubaneswar Latitude 17° 49¢ N to 22° 34 ¢ N Longitude 81° 29¢ E to 87° 29¢ E State Boundaries West Bengal in the North-East, Jharkhand in the North, Andhra Pradesh in the South Madhya Pradesh in the West Official Languages Oriya, English Geographical Area 155707 sq km (9th in Country) Forest Cover 37.34% State Dance Odissi Demography Total Population (2011 Census) 41,947,358 (11th in Country) Male Population 21,201,678 Female Population 20,745,680 Rural Population 34,951,234 Urban Population 6,999,124 Decadal Growth Rate of Population 13.97% (2001-2011) Sex Ratio 978 Density 269 Total Literacy Rate 73.45% Male Literacy 82.40% Female Literacy 64.36% Infant Mortality Rate (INR) 40 (Per 1000, live birth) Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) 2.22 (Per 1000, live birth) Religionwise Distribution of Population Hindi 94.35% Muslims 2.07% Christian 2.44% Other 1.14% Administration Languages Oriya Official Languages Oriya, English Divisions Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambhalpur Districts 30 Lok Sabha Seats 21 Rajya Sabha Seats 10 Vidhan Sabha Seats 147 Nature of State Legislature Unicameral High Court Orissa High Court, Cuttack Famous Universities of Odisha North Odisha University Mayurbhanj Berhampur University Ganjam Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology Bhubaneswar Ravenshaw University Cuttack Biju Patnaik University of Technology Rourkela Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Bhubaneswar National Institute of Technology Rourkela Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya Puri Utkal University Bhubaneswar Fakir Mohan University Balasore Sambalpur University Sambalpur Utkal University of Culture Bhubaneswar First in Odisha First Chief Minister Krushna Chandra Gajapati First Woman Chief Minister Smt. Nandini Satapathy First Governor Sir Chandula Madhav Lal Trivedi First Central Minister of Odisha Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab First Chief Justice of Supreme Court Ranganath Mishra First Woman Commissioner Ranu Mishra First Woman IPS Officer of Odisha Sowmya Mishra First Woman IAS Pragnya Paramita Das First Odia Lok Sabha Speaker Rabi Ray First Autobiography Writer Fakir Mohan Senapati First Air Marshal Saroj Jena First Cinema Hall of Odisha Sitaram Vilas Talkies (SSBT), Berhampur First Colour Odia Film Gapa Helebi Sata (1976) First Newspaper Utkal Deepika First Printing Press Utkal Printing Press First River Dam Hirakud First Daily Newspaper Dainika Asha First College Ravenshaw College, Cuttack (1868) First Medical College Sreeram Chandra Bhanja Medical College, Cuttack (1944) First Engineering College University College of Engineering, Burla (1956) First Private Engineering College Orissa Engineering College, Bhubaneswar (1986) First Odia Poet Mahakabi Sarala Das First Odia Everest Mountaineer Chetana Sahu First Odia Arjuna Awardees Minati Mohapatra First Odia Police Commissioner Srikrushna Mohapatra First Odia Padmabhushan Awardees Prof. Pranakrushna Parija First Odia Padmashree Awardees Laxminarayan Sahu (For Education) First Odia Foreign Justice Lalitendu Maansingh First Odia American Ambassador Lalitendu Maansingh First District Collector Jatindra Nath Mohanty First Odia ICS Officer Nilamani Senapati First Bharat Ratna Awardee of Odisha VV Giri Largest/Longest in Odisha Largest District (Area wise) Mayurbhanj Largest District (Population wise) Ganjam Largest Fair Baliyatra (Cuttack) Largest Lake Chilika Largest Waterfall Duduma Largest Hot Springs Atri (Baghamari) Largest Park Ekamra Kanan Bhubaneswar Largest Port Paradeep Port Largest Museum Jayadeva State Museum, Bhubaneswar Largest Pilgrim Center Puri Largest Railway Platform Bhubaneswar Largest Railway Junction Khordha Road Largest Airport Biju Pattnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar Largest Fort Barabati Fort Largest Library Harekrushna Mahatab State Library, Bhubaneswar Largest Town Cuttack Largest Temple Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri Largest Stadium Barabati Stadium, Cuttack Largest Missile Launching Center Chandipur Largest Mine Taleher Coal Mines Largest Populated City Bhubaneswar Largest Residential Area Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar Largest Zoo Nandankanan Longest River Mahanadi River Highest Mountain Peak Deomali Odisha State Symbols State Animal : Sambar Deer The Sambar is a kind of deer which is found in abandance in the forests of Odisha. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2008. It has been associated for quite some time with this state since the time of the great kings who reigned over this realm.They were the prime prey of the royalty when they went out on ‘Shikar’ (hunting trips). Sambar is found in the forests of Odisha. Regional Science Centres for successful breeding of Sambar are developed at Bhubaneswar and Dhenkanal. State Bird : Indian Roller The State Bird of Odisha is the Indian Roller. Its striking blue colour makes it very sought after by tourists, especially the birds watchers. They are hardly built, characterised by a large head, a light blue abdomen, which gives it the name and a blunt, square tail. They are commonly seen in open grassland and scrub forests. They are easily found in the Indian sub-continent. State Flower : Ashoka The State Flower is the ‘Ashoka’ flower. The Ashoka is a rain-forest tree. Its original distribution was in the central areas of the Deccan plateau, as well as the middle section of the Western Ghats in the Western coastal zone of the Indian sub-continent. These flowers bloosom from February to April. They are small and come in heavy lush bunches. They are bright orange-yellow in colour and turn red before wilting. State Tree : Ashvattha The State Tree of Odisha is Ashvattha (Sacred fig). It is a large dry season-deciduous or semi-evergreen tree. It is also known as the Bo-Tree Peepal, Peepul, or Pippal (in India and Nepal). Peepal tree is of great medicinal value. Its leaves serve as a wonderful laxative as well as tonic for the body. This tree is of fig variety and produces small round fruits of 1-1.5cm in diameter. It is a sacred tree in Hinduism and Buddhism. Gautam Buddha is beleived to attain Nirvana under this tree. ANCIENT HISTORY OF ODISHA Odisha has a history spanning over a period of over 5,000 years. In acient time, it was known by different names in different periods such as ‘Kalinga’, ‘Udra’ or ‘Odra Desa’ ‘Utkala’, ‘Kosala’, ‘Toshala’ and ‘Kongoda’. The name Odia originated from Odra or Udra tribes that inhabited the central coastal belt (Khurda district and Nayagarh district) of modern Odisha. Udra is the Pre-Historic name of Odisha while Odisha is the modern name of the ancient Kalinga Empire. Odisha or Odra Desa, Udra, Kalinga as called during ancient period has a rich history where many strong dynasties emerged. Human history in Odisha dates back to Lower Paleolithic era as many archaeological sources have been excavated from different regions of Odisha. The Political history opens with the rule of Nandas. The Nandas ruled Magadha and were among the first to integrate Kalinga into their empire in 350 BC. The Mauryan dynasty under Emperor Asoka fought the famous Kalinga War in 260 BC. This war transformed Ashoka. Next came the Chedi dynasty in around 100 BC, which was followed by Muranda dynasty. The Gupta dynasty established its control in 350 AD and divided Kalinga into four principalities. During Gupta period, Sub-regional kingdoms emerged. The Matharas, Nalas, Parvatadvarkas, Mehas, Vindyatavis and Sarbhapuriyas. Some kingdoms that emerged after the Gupta period were Virgrahas, Mudgalas and Mandala states. Sailodbhava Dynasty emerged in 553 AD and continued for around 130 years. Next was Bhauma-Kara dynasty established in first half of 8th century AD. It had many women rulers. The Somavamsi dynasty was established in middle of 10th century AD and continued its rule for 300 years. It is the last dynasty formed in ancient Odisha, after which came the era of medieval empires. Historical Names of Odisha Odisha has been named by the following names during historical period: Kalinga According to Puranas and Mahabharata, it was named after the prince Kalinga son of king Bali and Queen Sudesna. Utkala According to Mahabharata, Utkala was a part of Kalinga. Karna have conquered the kingdom of Utkala. Utkala included Northern part of Kalinga. Mahakantara This name was found during Gupta period. It is usually identified with modern day Kalahandi and Jeypore region. Udra It was the kingdom which included coastal region of Odisha. Odra This name was given after Odra tribe. The hilly kingdom between Kalinga and South Kosala was the Odra land. Oddiyana This name was mentioned in Buddhist texts. According to some scholars, it is referred to Odisha. Kamala Mandala It means Lotus regions. It was named for the region of Narla in Kalahandi. South Kosala It was named for the modern day Chhattisgarh and Western parts of Odisha. According to Ramayana, one of Rama’s son, Kush ruled South Kosala. Kongoda This name was found on a copper plate in Ganjam district. Trikalinga This name was found on copper plates in Sonepur. It literally means three Kalingas and referred to the three states of Kalinga, South Kosala and Kongoda. Tosali It was named for a city including subdivision of Kalinga during Asoka period The capital of Tosala has been placed in modern day Dhauli. Odivissa This name was referred in Buddhist texts for Odisha. Jajnagar This name was used for Odisha in some texts like Tarikh-i-Nasiri, Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi, etc. Sources of History of Odisha Sources play an important role in knowing the history of any region. The history of Odisha can be traced by various available sources like literary sources foreign accounts, inscriptions, coins and archaeological sources which gives information about the ancient history of Odisha. Literary Sources The literary sources that tell about ancient history of Odisha are as follows: Epics The Mahabharata makes the earliest reference to Kalinga and Odra. It mentions about these lands and about its sacred river Baitarani and Goddess Viraja. The Ramayana refers to Kalinganagara, situated to the West of river Gomati and also refers to the Gandhamardan and Utkala which are associated with Mekala and Dasarna regions. The Kapila Samhita and Prachi Mahatmya are also considered as the source of Odishan history. Puranas Puranas like Vayu Purana, Matsya Purana, Bhagavata, Harivamsa Purana, Vishnu Purana, etc give information about Kalinga and Utkala and their legendary kings. Jaina and Buddhist Sources In ancient times, the people of Odisha were largely the followers of Jainism and Buddhism. So, the Jaina and Buddhist literatures narrate about the people and their culture in ancient Odisha. The Jaina literature like Avasyaka Niryukti and Harivamsa and Buddhist literature like Digha Nikaya, Majjhima Nikaya, Kurudharma Jataka, Vessantara Jataka, Mahaparinirvana Sutta, Dathavemsa, Mahavastu, Kumbhakara Jataka, Kalinga Bodhi Jataka, etc contain description of Kalinga and Utkala. Other Literary Sources Other literary sources like Arthashastra of Kautilya, Manusmriti, Narada, Brihaspati, Katyayana, Yajnavalkya, Kamandaka, etc highlight the political organisations and systems of Odisha. Baudhayana Dharmasastra, Ashtadhyayi, Brihat Samhita, Harshacharita and Ratnavali are some other important ancient literary texts of Odisha. Foreign Accounts The Greek historians like Pliny, Diodorus, Curtius, Plutarch have mentioned about the people of Kalinga. Megasthenes refers to Gangetic Kalinga Region in his work Indica. Pliny divided Kalinga into three divisions, Gangetic, Middle and Kalinga. A Greek geographer, Ptolemy refers to several parts of Kalinga such as Palur, Naingain, Katikardam, Kannagar, etc. The most valuable of the foreign accounts is that of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who visited Odisha in 638-39 AD. He gave information about the religious conditions of ancient Odisha in his book Si-yu-ki. He mentioned Odra as Wu-Cha. Archaeological Sources The archaeological sources or material remains provide a wide range of information about the ancient history of Odisha. Valentine Bali’s exploration in 1875 at Angul, Talcher, Dhenkanal and Bursapalli exposed the pre-historic sites of Odisha. Paramanada Acharya of Mayurbhanj had discovered the famous paleolithic site at Kulina. The discovery of Asokan rock art and his edicts at Dhauli and Jaugada gave information about Kalingan history of 3rd century BC that Jaugada was a fortified city which served the purpose of Asoka’s administration. Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves near Bhubaneswar were residential blocks for Jain monks during 2nd century BCE. The excavation at Manikpatna gave information about the social, economic life and maritime activities of the people of Odisha. Devala Mitra’s major excavation conducted at Ratnagiri gave information about Buddhist monasteries and stupas. Two other Buddhist sites at Udayagiri and Lalitgiri near Ratnagiri gave information about the remains of Buddhist stupas, monasteries and images of Buddha, etc. Sri Madhavapura Mahavihara which flourished between 7th-8th century AD was located at Udayagiri. Due to their Buddhist remains, these three sites (Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, Lalitgiri) are known as the Diamond Triangle of Odisha archaeology. These three sites also yield information about Brahmanic religion from pottery, terracotta plaques, animal figurines, iron implements and other remains from the sites. The copper plates found at Talcher, Hindol and Dhenkanal tell about early history of Odisha. Inscriptions Inscription are a major source of information of Odishan history. The pictographic projects are the earliest examples of inscriptions in Odisha. Pictographs are found in several rock shelters in the hills of Sundergarh, Sambalpur and Kalahandi districts. Some examples of such writings are the Vikramkhol and Gudahandi rock art sites found in Jharsuguda and Kalahandi. Inscriptions are also engraved on copper plates, stone pieces and temple walls. Two sets of Asokan edicts (separate Kalinga edicts found at Dhauli and Jaugada) are the earliest epigraphs of the pre-Christian era, which throw light on the administrative arrangement of King Asoka in Kalinga. Some other inscriptions are Hatigumpha inscription, Bhadra inscription, Asanapat Stone inscription, Ningond Grant inscription, Narla Grant inscription and Rithapur Grant inscription, etc which provide early history of this land. Coins The study of coins is known as numismatics. Coins help in understanding the trade, commerce, time period, religion, metallurgy, etc. The coins excavated from archaeological sites in Odisha are as follows: The Punch-Marked Coins The earliest coins found in Odisha are punch-marked coins. These coins were in circulation between 4th century BC and 4th century AD. These coins have the punch marks of Sun, animals, birds, trees, human, geometrical designs, etc. These coins were abundantly found in Coastal Eastern parts of Odisha and were made of silver and copper and were irregular in shape and size. The Puri-Kushana Coins The Kushana coins and their imitations are known as Puri-Kushana coins, which have been found at different parts of Odisha from Mayurbhanj to Ganjam. These coins were in circulation from 0-3 century AD. The Gupta Coins The Gupta archer type gold coins have been found at Bhanapur, Khiching and Angul. These coins give an idea about trade and commerce in Odisha during Gupta period. i.e. 5-7 century AD. The Nala Coins The Nala coins of the Western region of Odisha throw light on the Nala rule in South Kosala of 5th-6th century AD. The peculiarity of these Nala coins is that, the reverse is found blank and the obverse contains a humped bull with crescent with the name of the king in box headed script. Temples The temples of Odisha also provide information about ancient history of Odisha. The typical Odishan style, the Sikhara or Rekha (curvilinear) also known as Kalingan style of architecture developed in 6th-7th century AD in Bhubaneswar. The Laxmanesvara, Bharatesvara and Satrughnesvara group of temples marked the early phase of temple architecture in Odisha. The Lingaraj, Ananta Vasudeva, Jagannath, Chausath Yogini temple, etc contain sculptures which gives information about secular and religious history of Odisha. Archival Sources of History There are many sources that tell about the historical records through written documents. Newspapers, periodicals are such archival materials. Utkala Dipika, Utkala Darpan, Asha, Mukuru, Sahakara newspapers are archival sources. Census report in 1801, 1901, 1911, 1921 and 1931 tell about the history of Odisha. Literary sources kept in Odisha Museum and Department of Odisha are also archival sources. Pre Historic Sites in Odisha The land area of Odisha belongs to Gondwana supercontinent due to which the oldest rocks date to Pre-Cambrian times. Stone tools dating to Lower Paleolithic era have been found in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundergarh and Sambalpur. Rock carvings and paintings dating to Upper Paleolithic era have been discovered from Gudahandi hills in Kalahandi district. Hoes, Chisels, grinding stones, pounders are discovered from Baripada in Mayurbhanj belonging to Neolithic era. Cave paintings are discovered from Yogimath near Khariar belonging to Neolithic era. Other prehistoric sites are Garjan Dongar in Sundergarh, Ushakoti in Sambalpur and Vimkramkhel in Jharsuguda district. Ancient Kingdoms and Empires in Odisha In ancient times, Odisha was known by the name of Kalinga. Kalinga was an early kingdom in central East India that comprised almost whole Odisha and also some parts of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The region was scene of the bloody Kalinga War fought by Asoka of the Mauryan Empire. According to Buddhist literature Mahagovinda Sutta and Jatakas, Kalinga was an independent country and its capital city was named Dantapur. It has also been described in Uttaradhyana Sutra and Sutra Krutanga of Jain Literature that the palaces of Kalinga emperors and rich businessmen were made of ivory, thus the city was so called as Dantapur. The Nandas Kalinga was under the rule of Magadha during Nanda rulers. Mahapadmananda of Nanda Dynasty ascended the throne of Magadha in 362 BC and integrated Kalinga to his extensive empire in around 350 BC. The pre-Mauryan black polished potteries and punch-marked coins having four symbols found in plenty from Asurgarh in Kalahandi and Sonepur districts indicate the flourishing economic condition during the time of the Nanda rule. Hatigumpha inscription discovered at Udayagiri in Bhubaneswar, mentions about the irrigation projects undertaken by the Nanda kings. The Mauryas Chandragupta Maurya defeated the last Nanda ruler, Dhanananda and founded the Maurya Empire in Magadha in 322 BCE. The history of Kalinga after the Maurya rule is uncertain and it is not known exactly when this Mahajanapada regained its independence. Kalinga War and the Mauryan Empire The Kalinga War was fought between Mauryan Empire and the state of Kalinga in 261 BC. It is considered as the prominent event of Odishan history. The Battle of Kalinga was described by Emperor Asoka himself in his thirteenth Rock Edict. Kalinga was a small but economically prosperous kingdom due to its oversea trade. Emperor Asoka, ruler of Magadha of Maurya dynasty attacked Kalinga to gain power over overseas trade in 261 BC. The war resulted in massive killing, injuries and mass epidemics. This type of destruction, transformed Asoka and he adopted Buddhism with the help of Upagupta (disciple of Buddha). Thus the Battle of Kalinga is also famous in the history of India. Administration of Kalinga After the war, Kalinga was annexed to Magadha empire and Tosali was made the capital of Kalinga. Two separate Kalinga edicts of Asoka found at Dhauli and Jaugarh describes Mauryan administration in Kalinga. As per the Rock Edict I found from Dhauli, Asoka appointed a body of ministers to aid and advise the Kumara Viceroy of Kalinga and to check and balance his administrative powers. Asoka appointed a well-organised bureaucracy for administration. Antamahamatras were the ministers of the border provinces and Dharma Mahamatras looked after the spiritual and moral upliftment of people. Rajukas were incharge of welfare of the Janapadas. Dynasties in Odisha After Mauryan Empire After Mauryan Empire, many dynasties had ruled in Odisha. These dynasties are discussed below: The Mahameghavahana/ Chedi Dynasty Mahameghavahana was the founder of the Mahameghavahana dynasty, who belonged to Chedi clan. Thus, this dynasty is also known as Chedi dynasty. It was an ancient ruling dynasty of Kalinga after the decline of the Mauryan empire. The most important ruler of this dynasty was Kharavela. Kharavela He was the third ruler of the Chedi dynasty and reigned in the second half of the 1st century BC. Most of the information about Kharavela comes from the Hathigumpha inscription in Udayagiri near Bhubaneswar. According to these inscriptions, Kharavela was one of the gallant kings of the region. He invaded the Satavahana kingdom and captured its territories. Kharavela was proficient in music and dance. He was also a great builder. He had repaired Kalinganagari, the capital city which was destroyed by a cyclone. He was a devout Jaina and also showed tolerance to other religious faiths. Muranda Dynasty The Murandas were probably a foreign tribe. They entered India alongwith Kushanas. Thirteen kings of this dynasty ruled in India for about 200 years. There is a stone inscription called as Bhadraka of Maharaja Ganabhadra. According to some historians, it indicates that Murandas ruled Odisha for several years. Gupta Dynasty The Gupta dynasty existed from mid-3rd century to 590 AD. This dynasty was founded by Sri Gupta. Around 350 AD Samudragupta led his South Indian campaigns. Kalinga was then divided into four principalities, viz. Kottura (modern Kathoor), Erandapalla (modern Erandapalli), Devarashtra (Yellamachili) and Pishtapura (Pithapuram). The Allahabad Pillar Inscription mention that, Samudrgupta defeated Mahendragiri of Pishtapura, Swamidatta of Kottura, Damana of Erandapalla and Kutera of Devarashtra. Soon after the military campaign of Samudragupta, the Matharas rose to power in the coastal belt of Odisha with their epicenter in and around Mahendragiri and the Nalas rose to power in Bastar-Koraput and Kalahandi region. Sub-Regional Kingdoms during Gupta Period The Gupta period saw the emergence of small kingdoms around the coastal areas and other regions of Kalinga. They are described below: The Matharas The Mathara dynasty ruled in the Kalinga region during 4th and 5th centuries. Their territory included parts of the area between the present-day Ganjam district of Odisha and Sri Kakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. Vardhamanpura was the capital of Matharas. The Mathara king were devotees of Narayana (Vishnu). Visakhavarman was the founder of Mathara dynasty. Their rule provided a sound administrative set up to Kalinga region. They divided kingdom into territorial units such as Panchali, Bhoga and Vishava. The Matharas patronised Sanskrit Literature. Mathara era witnessed the decline of Buddhism and Jainism in this region. During this period, the people of Kalinga were carrying on maritime trade with South-East Asian countries. Dantapur (Modern Palur), the great city port, was situated in the territory of Matharas. Important rulers of this dynasty were Visakhavarman (350-360AD), Umavarman (360-395AD), Shaktivarman (400-420AD), Ananta Shaktivarman (420-450AD) and Prabhanjanavarman (450-480AD). Umavarman declared himself as Lord of Kalinga and established a strong empire. Shaktivarman was another great ruler who extended his territories from Mahanadi to Krishna river. He shifted his capital from Simhapura to Pishtapura. The Nala The Nala dynasty established a kingdom in Trikalinga region comprising parts of the modern districts of Koraput and Kalahandi. The capital of the kingdom of the Nalas was at Pushkari. Vrishadhvaja was the founder of this dynasty in 400 AD. Other important rulers were Varaharaja (420-440 AD), Bhavadatta Varman Arthapatiraja and Skandavarman (last ruler). There was a revival of Vaishnavism in this period. The Parvatadvarkas In ancient history of Odisha, the dynasty of Parvatadvarkas is a less known dynasty. In the later part of 5th century AD, this dynasty appeared in Belkhandi Narla region of Kalahandi. Parvatadvarka was the capital of this dynasty. Important rulers are Nandaraja and Tustikara. The Meghas In the middle of the 6th century AD, the Meghas came in Kosala region. As defeated by the Satavahanas in the second century AD, the Mahameghavahanas have established their empire in Kosala. They became popular as Meghas and ruled over South Kosala comprising the modern Raipur and Bilaspur district of Madhya Pradesh and undivided districts of Sambalpur, Sundergarh and Balangir districts of Odisha. The Puranas gave information about nine Megha kings of South Kosala who ruled successively upto the invasion of Samudragupta. The last ruler of this dynasty was Mahendra Megha. The Vindyatavis (Nagas) The Nagas ruled over Vindyatavi in the 4th century AD which comprised of the present Keonjhar and Dhenkanal districts. The Asanpat Inscription describes that a Naga king named Satrubhanja defeated the Devaputras who were the Kushanas and Murundas. Another king of this dynasty was Maharaja Sri Disabhanja as revealed from an inscription in a cave near Sitabhinji. The Sarbhapuriyas The founder of this dynasty was Sarabharaja (500-525 AD). The Sarbhapuriyas established their kingdom over South Kosala in around 5th century AD. The capital of Sarbhapuriyas was Sarbhapura. Sarabharaja was succeeded by his son Maharaja Narendra (525-555 AD). He was an independent ruler and was famous for his territorial arrangement. Other important rulers were Jayaraja, Surdevaraja-I, Vyaghraraja, Durgaraja and Surdevaraja-II (last ruler). Sub-Regional Kingdoms after the Gupta Period The Vigrahas Vigrahas came to power in the later half of the 6th century AD. South Tosali was the centre of political activities of the Vigrahas. At that time, Tosali was comprised of the undivided Balasore, Cuttack and Puri district. Prithvivigraha was a powerful ruler of this dynasty who fought with Mudgala king Sambhuyasa. The successor of Prithvivigraha, Lokavigraha had defeated Sambhuyasa. The Mudgalas The Mudgalas ruled over North Tosali. King Sambhuyasa was a great Mudgala king who is known from his three copper plate grants, viz the Erbang, Soro and Patiakela Charters. He was defeated by the Vigrahas king, Lokavigraha. However, he attacked the Vigrahas and occupied South Tosali. Due to protracted struggle with the Vigrahas, the Mudgalas became weak and they were removed from North Tosali by Durjaya King Prithvimaharaja. The Mandala States In between 7th and 9th Century AD, a number of semi-independent states emerged between Tosali and South Kosala. The rulers of these kingdoms assumed the titles like ‘Ranaka’ and ‘Samadhigata-Panchamahasabda’. The rulers of these Mandalas served their sovereign kings during the period of war and external invasion. Among the ruling dynasties famous were the Vigrahas of Kongoda Mandala, the Gangas of Svetaka Mandala, the Bhanjas of Khinjali Mandala and Khijjinga Mandala, the Sulkis of Kodalaka Mandala, the Tungas of Yamagartta Mandala and the Mayuras of Banai Mandala. Sailodbhava Dynasty Ranabhita founded this dynasty in 553 AD. According to scholars, Sailodhlavas were either a branch of the Ganja family or Saila dynasty of Madhya Pradesh. They are also believed to be related to the Sailaja Tribes inhabiting the rocky region of Kalinga. They ruled in the region ranging from coastal Odisha to Mahanadi, Mahendragiri in Paralakhemundi and Ganjam. This region was called the Kongoda Mandala. Important rulers of this dynasty are Ranabhita (553-575AD), Madhavaraja (575-600 AD), Ayasobhita (600-615AD), Madhavraja (615-655AD), Madhyamaraja I (665-615 AD), Dharmaraja II (695-725AD) and Madhyamaraja II. Madhyamraja III was the last ruler of this dynasty, after which it was taken over by Bhauma-Kara kings. The Parashurameshvara Shiva temple at Bhubaneswar is built by the Sailobhava rulers in 650 AD as they followed Shaivism. Bhauma-Kara Dynasty In the first half of the 8th century AD, a dynasty called Bhauma-Kara established its rule over the coastal belt of Odisha. The capital of this dynasty, Guhadevapataka, was situated near modern Jajpur. Early rulers of this dynasty called themselves as Bhauma while later rulers called themselves as Kara. So, this dynasty is known as Bhauma-Kara. Kshemankaradeva was the founder of this dynasty in other important rulers were Sivakaradeva I (736-783AD), Subhakaradeva I (780-800AD), Sivakaradeva II (800-820AD), Shantikaradeva I (820-835AD), etc. The last ruler was Subhakaradeva V (905-910AD). Interesting fact about this dynasty is that many queens also ruled this dynasty and their reign was very successful. Female Rulers of Bhauma-Kara Dynasty Tribhuvana Mahadevi I (845-850AD) was the first women ruler of this dynasty. She was the widow of Shaktikaradeva I. Next female rulers were Tribhuvana Mahadevi II (890-896AD) and Tribhuvana Mahadevi III (896-905AD). After Subhakaradeva ‘V’, the last male ruler of the Bhauma-Kara dynasty, four female rulers occupied the Bhauma throne one after another. First among them was Gauri Mahadevi, the queen of Subhakaradeva V. She was able to preserve the law and order inside the kingdom. She built the Gauri temple at Bhubaneswar. Gauri Mahadevi was succeeded by her daughter Dandi Mahadevi. She ensured the prosperity of kingdom during her reign. She secured the borders of the dynasty from the formidable and hostile kings. Dandi Mahadevi was succeeded by her step mother Vakula Mahadevi who belonged to the Bhanja family. Dharma Mahadevi, the wife of Shantikaradeva III succeeded Vakula Mahadevi. She was the last known ruler of the Bhauma-Kara dynasty. She was also a Bhanja princess. Administration, Economy, Society and Religion The Bhauma-Kara gave a stable administration to the people of this land. They follow the law of primogeniture (the right of succession belonging to first born child). However, there was exception to it as is found particularly, with the Bhauma queens. The most important industry of the Bhauma-Kara period was the manufacturing of cloth. During Bhauma period Odisha had commercial relation with Ceylon, China and South-East Asia. Although, the Bhauma rulers were Buddhists, they also accepted Saivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism. They tried to enforce the Varnashrama i.e. division of society in four Varnas (Brahmna, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra). Somavamsi Dynasty The Somavamsis, also known as Panduvamsis, ruled over Odisha from the middle of the 9th century AD to the early part of the 12th century AD. Udayana was the founder of this dynasty. The reign of the Somavamsis for two hundred years forms a glorious epoch in history of Odisha. For the first time, Kalinga, Utkala, Kongoda and Kosala were unified and brought under one political authority. The uniform pattern of administration removed anarchy and confusion throughout the state and paved the way for a cultural synthesis leading to the emergence of a unique Odia culture. Important rulers of Somavamsi dynasty were Mahabhavagupta Janmejaya I (882-922AD), Mahasivagupta Yayati I (922-955AD), Bhimaratha Mahasivagupta I (955-980AD), Janmejaya II (1065-1085AD), Puranjaya I (1085-1100AD) and Karnadeva (1100-1110AD). Karnadeva was the last ruler of this dynasty. Chandihara Yayati II (1023-1040AD) started the construction of Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneswar and it was completed by Udyotakesari Mahabhavagupta (1040-1065AD). Administration of Somavamsi Dynasty The Somvamsis provided a strong and able administration. They ruled over a large territory of Odisha comprising at present the districts of Balasore, Cuttack, Puri, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Band, Kondamal and Ganjam. They shifted their capitals from Vinitapura, Marusima, Suvarnapura to Yayatinagara (Jajpur). The kingdom was divided into several Mandalas which was further divided into Bhuktis. Bhuktis were sub-divided into Bhoga, Khanda and Grama. The Somavamsis believed in Brahmanism. They performed vedic rituals and patronised Brahmans. Timeline Period Events 350 BCE Kalinga conquered by Mahapadmananda 261 BCE Kalinga War and conquered by Asoka 100 BCE Meghavahana established Mahameghavahana dynasty 350 CE Kalinga conquered by Samudragupta 639 CE Hiuen-Tsang visits Odra/Udra 650 CE Parashurameshvara temple built by Sailodbhava rulers 845 CE First female rulers Tribhuvana Mahadevi 882 CE Janmejaya I establishes Somavamsis Dynasty 1100 CE Lingaraj temple built by Somavamsi rulers MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1 What is the pre-historic name of Odisha? 6 Which of the following excavation site is (a) Utkala (b) Kalinga not a part of ‘Diamond Triangle’ of (c) Kosala (d) Udra Odishan archaeology? (a) Khandagiri (b) Udayagiri 2 Which literary source mentions about (c) Ratnagiri (d) Lalitgiri Kalinga and Odra and its sacred river Baitarani and Goddess Viraja? 7 Which of the following inscriptions, throws (a) Vayu Purana light on the administration of Asoka in (b) Manu Smriti Kalinga? (c) The Mahabharata (a) Dhauli (b) Jaugada (d) None of the above (c) Sundergarh (d) Both (a) and (b) 3 Which literary source mentioned Odisha as 8 The earliest coins available in Odisha are Kalinganagara situated on the West of (a) Punch-marked coins Gomti river? (b) Puri Kushana coin (a) Brihaspati Smriti (b) Arthasastra (c) Nala coins (c) Ramayana (d) Avasyaka Niryukti (d) Gupta coins 4 Which among the following is a Buddhist 9 Which of the following coins suggest that Literary Source of Odisha’s ancient history? trade and commerce existed in Odisha? (a) Kurudharma Jataka (a) Puri-Kushana coins (b) Avasyaka Niyukti (b) Nala coins (c) Brihat Samhita (c) Punch-marked coins (d) Harshacharita (d) Gupta coins 5 Greek historian Pliny mentions Odisha by 10 Which among the following pre historic site which name? in Odisha belongs to Neolithic era? (a) Kalinga (b) Kosala (a) Baripada (b) Barabati (c) Toshali (d) Udra (c) Udayagiri (d) All of these 11 The capital of Kalinga according to Jain 19 Nala dynasty (4-5 century AD) was and Buddhist literature in ancient times centered around which modern districts of was- Odisha? (a) Toshali (a) Ganjam and Gajapati (b) Dantapur (b) Cuttack and Khordha (c) Kalinga Pattnam (c) Malkangiri and Ganjam (d) Kosala (d) Koraput and Kalahandi 12 Who were the rulers of Kalinga before the 20 The Meghas ruled over which part of establishment of Maurya dynasty? Kosala? (a) Rashtrakutas (a) North Kosala (b) East Kosala (b) Matharas (c) South Kosala (d) West Kosala (c) Nandas 21 After the downfall of Gupta empire, many (d) Nalas regional kingdoms emerged in Odisha 13 King Asoka became Buddhist after he was from 6-9th century AD. Which is not one horrified with the tyranny of Kalinga War. among them? It was in: [OPSC 2017] (a) The Vigrahas (a) 258 BC (b) 261 BC (b) The Mudgalas (c) 200 BC (d) 327 BC (c) The Nagas (d) The Mandala states 14 What was the capital of Kalinga after its annexation with Magadha empire? 22 The territory of the Sailodbhava dynasty (a) Tosali (b) Samapa was known as (c) Sisupalgarh (d) Dantapura (a) Kalinga Dynasty (b) Kalinga Mandala 15 Hathigumpha inscription in Udayagiri (c) Kongoda Desh near Bhubaneswar gives information (d) Kangoda Mandala about which dynasty of ancient Odisha? (a) Chedi dynasty 23 In which royal dynasty of early medieval (b) Ganga dynasty Odisha, we find the rule of the queens? (c) Satvahana dynasty (a) Sailodbhava dynasty (d) None of these (b) Bhauma-Kara dynasty (c) Somavamsi dynasty 16 Which among these is not a principality of (d) Satavahana dynasty Kalinga during the Guptas? (a) Kottura 24 Which among the following Queen built (b) Erandapalla the Gauri temple at Bhubaneswar? (c) Kongoda (a) Vakula Mahadevi (d) Devarashtra (b) Gauri Mahadevi (c) Prithvi Mahadevi 17 Which Mathora king declared himself as (d) None of these Lord of the Kalinga? (a) Visakhavarman 25 The Bhauma-Kara dynasty in Odisha had (b) Shaktivarman commercial relations with which country? (c) Prabhanjanavarman (a) Egypt (b) Ceylon (d) Umavarman (c) Indonesia (d) Rome 18 Who among the following transferred his 26 For the first time Kalinga, Utkala, capital from Simhapura to Pishtapura? Kongodo and Kosala were unified by (a) Umavarman (a) Bhauma-Kara dynasty (b) Vishakavarman (b) Ganga dynasty (c) Shaktivarman (c) Sailodbhava dynasty (d) None of these (d) Somavamsi dynasty 27 Which ruler of Somavamsi dynasty started (c) A is true, but R is false. the construction of Lingaraj temple? (d) A is false, but R is true. (a) Indraratha 29 Match the following. (b) Yayati II (c) Janmejaya I Kingdoms Regions (d) Janmejaya II A. Parvatadvarkas 1. South Kosala 28 Assertion (A) Kharavela invaded the B. Sarbhapuriyas 2. Ganjam Satavahana kingdom and captured its C. Sailodbhava 3. Kalahandi territories. Reason (R) Chandravarman declared D. Bhauma-Kara 4. Jajpur himself the Lord of Kalinga. Codes Select the correct answers from the A B C D codes given below (a) 2 4 1 3 (a) Both A and R are true and R is the (b) 4 2 3 1 correct explanation of A. (c) 1 3 2 4 (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the (d) 3 1 2 4 correct explanation of A. ANSWERS 1. (d) 2. (c) 3. (c) 4. (a) 5. (a) 6. (a) 7. (d) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (a) 11. (b) 12. (c) 13. (b) 14. (a) 15. (a) 16. (c) 17. (d) 18. (c) 19. (d) 20. (c) 21. (c) 22. (d) 23. (b) 24. (b) 25. (b) 26. (d) 27. (b) 28. (c) 29. (d) MEDIEVAL HISTORY OF ODISHA The region known as Kalinga, came under various powerful rulers during the medieval era. Among them were the Ganga rulers, Gajapatis, Bhois, etc. The rule of Mukundadeva of Bhoi dynasty further gave rise to the Afghan rule in the area. Between the 11th and 16th Centuries CE, Kalinga was gradually replaced by Odra Desa or Utkala and eventually Odisha. After the decline of Somavasi dynasty in 10th century, the Ganga dynasty was established in Odisha. This dynasty greatly shaped up the medieval history of Odisha. The Medieval era saw the rise of strong empires in Odisha that lasted for many centuries and added to the art, architecture and culture of Odisha. The first among them was the Ganga or Eastern Ganga Dynasty in 1038 AD. It continued for 400 years. Temples like Konark, Jagannath were built by Ganga rulers. It was followed by Gajapati Dynasty in 1434 AD and continued for 100 years. Next was Bhoi Dynasty formed in 1541. It continued for 200 years. The Karrani Dynasty formed in 1568 was the first muslim empire in Odisha. It was short lived and was soon taken over by the Mughals. They appointed Governors to look after the administration of Odisha. Next was the Naib Nazims of Bengal in 1703 after which Odisha went into the hands of the Marathas. After Marathas, Odisha faced British rule, which is included in Modern History of Odisha. Ganga Dynasty (1038-1435 AD) The Ganga dynasty was a Hindu power on the Indian sub-continent. They are also known as Eastern Gangas. They ruled the whole of the modern day Indian state of Odisha. The founder of this dynasty was Kamarnava. Their capital was known by Kalinganagara. Anantavarman Vajrahasta V in 1038 AD strongly established Ganga dynasty in Odisha. By the end of the 12th century AD, Anantavarma Chodagangadeva (1078-1147) of the Ganga dynasty is credited with having ruled over the region extending from the Ganga to the Godavari. Vaishnavism received royal Patronage and Vaishnavite temple were built at Mukhlingam, Shri Kurman, Simhachalam and Puri. This empire strongly prevented Muslim invasion. During Ganga rule Odishan temple architecture reached its zenith with the construction of the famous Sun temple at Konark by Narasimhadeva I. Important rulers of Ganga Dynasty were Chodagangadevea (1077-1147 AD), Rajaraja II (1170-1190 AD), Anangabhimadeva III (1211-1238 AD) and Narsimhadeva I (1238-1264 AD). Bhanudeva IV (1414-1435 AD) was the last Ganga king. He was betrayed by his minister when he went on to campaigns against the Reddis Kapilesvara Routraya. The rule of the Ganga Dynasty is considered the golden era. Great poet Jayadeva flourished during the reign of Rajaraja II. World famous Sun temple at Konark was built by Narasimhadeva I. Jagannath temple was built by Anangabhimadeva III during the Ganga dynasty. Art and Architecture During the Ganga Period The art and architecture of Odisha reached the zenith of glory in the constant and strenuous building activities by the great Ganga monarchs. The Ganga rulers built two unrivaled and beautiful monuments, the Jagannath temple of Puri and the Sun temple of Konark. These two temples are remarkable for their massive structures, architectural skill, fine ornamentation and beautiful images representing animals, gods, goddesses, episodes from mythology and erotic partners. Nagara style of temples were built during this period that had Shikharas, Amlaka, Mandap. The examples of Nagara style are Lingaraj temple, Mukteswara temple and Parasurameswara temple. ▲ ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF SUN TEMPLE BY GANGA DYNASTY Administration Under Gangas The Ganga dynasty ruled about four hundred years and constitutes a golden era in the period of medieval Odishan history. The king was the central figure of the administrative set up. The Ganga kings were assisted by several officials like Mantri, Purohita, Yuvaraja, Sandhivigrahika, Senapati, Dauvarika, etc. The Ganga empire was divided into several provinces known as Visayas in the early Ganga records. The provinces were divided into political divisions as Panchali and Bhoga. A variety of taxes like bheta, voda, paridarsana, etc were collected during the rule of Ganga dynasty. Gajapati Dynasty (1434-1541AD) The Gajapatis were a medieval Hindu dynasty that ruled over Kalinga from 1434-1541 AD. The Gajapatis were actually the rulers of the Suryavamsi lineage. The rulers of this dynasty were not only great monarchs, but also great lovers and patrons of art and literature. The renaissance in Oriya literature is traced from this period. It was almost the last Hindu kingdom of India. The Gajapati dynasty was founded by Kapilendra Deva. He was also known as Kapilendra Routray or Sri Kapilendra Deva. He was the most powerful Hindu king of his time. Under him, Odisha became a vast empire stretching from the lower Ganga in the North to the Cauvery in the South. Sarala Dasa, the Odia poet wrote Mahabharata in Odia language, during this period. Other important rulers were Purushottam Deva (1467-1497AD) and Prataparudra Deva (1497-1540 AD). Kakharua Deva was the last ruler of this dynasty. He was killed by Govinda Vidyadhara (his minister) in 1541. Sri Chaitanya, the famous Vaishnav saint of Bengal, came to Odisha during the reign of Prataparudra Deva. Invasions during Gajapati Reign Two important invasions took place in the tenure of Gajapati dynasty. These are as follows: Krishnadevaraya’s Invasion In 1512 AD, Krishnadevaraya attacked Udayagiri fort and captured it. This fort was a great strong hold of the Odishan army in the South. After this, Krishnadevaraya proceeded towards Odisha and reached Simhachalam. Prataparudra Deva concluded peace with Krishnadevaraya by Peace Treaty according to which Krishnadevaraya married the daughter of Prataparudra Deva, Jagamohini. As a result of this Peace Treaty, river Krishna was marked as the line of demarcation between Vijayanagara empire and that of Prataparudra Deva. Quli Qutb Shah’s Invasion Quli Qutb Shah, a general of Sultan Mahmud Shah of Bahamani kingdom invaded the Southern province of Odisha in 1522 AD. Prataparudra Deva with the help of his army, defeated Quli Qutb Shah and drone him back to Golkunda. On this occasion, he built the temple of Mangalagiri on the bank of river Krishna. Administration Under Gajapatis The vast empire Gajapatis extended from the river bank of the Gangas to that of Godavari. The capital of this vast empire was Kataka-Pattana (Cuttack). The king was assisted by Amatyas, Mantri Sreni Siromani, Sandhivigrahi, Sena-Narendra, Vahinipati, Rautaraya, etc. The Ghunta, Mana and Bati denoted different units of land. The revenue officers in the South were called as the Nayaka and Naidu. The empire was divided into several provinces known as Dandapata or Rajya. The Governors of such provinces were designated as Parikhas or Rajas. Provinces were divided into Simas which were further sub-divided into sthalas or muthas that consisted of some village. Oriya Literature Under Gajapatis The keen interest of the Gajapati kings, patronisation of poets and the influence of Vaisnavism prepared the ground for the progress of vernacular language and literature. Due to the contribution of Sarala Dasa (a poet of 15th century), the literary works produced during that time were known as the literature of Sarala Yuga. Bhoi Dynasty (1541-1558 AD) The Bhoi dynasty was founded by Govinda Vidyadhara in 1541 after killing Kakharua Deva, last ruler of Gajapati dynasty. During this period, the kingdom came under conflict with neighbouring kingdoms and also witnessed civil wars. Govinda Vidyadhara signed Treaty with Sultan of Golconda. North of Godavari belonged to Bhoi dynasty. This dynasty ruled Odisha for about 170 years in Khurda. Important rulers of Bhoi dynasty were Govinda Vidyadhara, Raghubhanja Chhotray, Chakrapratap, Narasimha Jena and Raghuram Jena. This dynasty faced many internal rebellions. Mukundadeva, a minister of Chakrapratap killed two Bhoi kings and declared himself the ruler in 1560. Later Ramachandra Bhanja revolted against Mukundadeva. Sulaiman Khan Karrani attacked Khurda in 1568 AD in which Mukundaeva was killed. Thus, Odisha came under the Muslim control. This was followed by Mughal-Afghan conflict and Bhoi dynasty continued its rule over some parts of Odisha (Khurdra region) but their power declined continuously. This period also saw the destruction of many Hindu temples including. The Sun temple and Jagannath temple and downfall of the flourishing Oria literature. Karrani Dynasty (1568-1589 AD) In 1568, Odisha came under the control of Sulaiman Khan Karrani of Karrani dynasty, who was the Sultan of Bengal. He was the first to establish Muslim rule in Odisha. He transferred his capital from Gaur to Tandah. Sulaiman Khan Karrani appointed Lodi Khan and Qutlu Khan Lohani as governors of Odisha and Puri, respectively. His son Daud Khan Karrani was the next ruler of Karrani Dynasty. He invaded the South-Western regions of India. In 1575, he fought the battle of Tukario against Mughals in which he was defeated. In the Treaty of Katak, he retained only Odisha while Bengal and Bihar went to Mughals. In 1576, at the Battle of RajMahal he was defeated and executed. Thus Odisha went in the hands of the Mughals. Kalapahar, a hindu general of Sulaiman Karrani brought large scale destruction to temples. He made the victory of Karrani easier. He was known for ruthlessly killing the people. Mughal Dynasty in Odisha Mughal rule in Odisha begins with the arrival of Raja Mansingh, Akbar’s Rajput General. In 1590, Qutlu Khan Lohani, an officer of Daud Khan Karrani declared himself independent and assumed the title of ‘Qutlu Shah’. Nasir Khan, the son of Qutlu Shah was appointed the Governor of Odisha and surrender the region of Puri. Mansingh, the Governor of Bihar attacked Nasir Khan and decisively defeated him on 18th April, 1592. By 1593, Odisha came under the Mughal empire and was a part of Bengal Subah. Odisha under Akbar and Jahangir Under Akbar’s reign, Odisha was divided into five sarkars, Jaleswar (including Midnapore), Bhadrak, Cuttack, Chika Khol and Raj Mahendry Dandpat. Akbar mostly followed a policy of non-interference in the local chieftain’s matters. But, Jahangir followed a different policy. Under him, Odisha was made into a separate Subah and a Governor, titled Subahdar, ruled in the name of the Mughal emperor. Under Jahangir’s reign, Quasim Khan (1606 AD), Kalyan Mal (1611 AD), Mukarram Khan (1617 AD), Ahmed Beg (1621) became the Governor of Odisha. Odisha under Shah Jahan In 1628 when, Shahjahan became the Mughal emperor, he appointed Muhammad Baqar Khan as the Governor of Odisha. After 1645, Zaman Teharani was appointed as the Governor of Odisha. During Shah Jahan rule, the administration seat was at Cuttack. Odisha under Aurangzeb In 1659, after the war of succession, Aurangzeb ascended the throne. During this period, several chieftains in Odisha declared themselves independent. Khan-i-Duran was appointed the Governor of Odisha under Aurangzeb (1660-1667). During this period, he defeated several rebel chieftains and also defeated Mukundadeva I, the then king of Khurda. Odisha under the Naib Nazims of Bengal During Aurangzeb’s reign, the Mughal empire passed through many threatening circumstances caused by the Qutb Shahis and Adil Shahis of Deccan, Sikhs, Rajputs and several other local chiefs. When Murshid Quli Khan took over the charge of the administration, Odisha passed into the hands of the Naib Nazims of Bengal. Some major Naib Nazims of Bengal were as follows: Murshid Quli Khan-I Murshid Quli was assigned with the charge of Naib Subahdar and Faujdar of Odisha and finally in 1703 AD, he was given the independent charge as Subahadar of Odisha. Suja-ud-din Muhammad Khan The revenue collection from the people of Odisha was an exploitative measure of Suja-ud-din Muhammad Khan, who sent a large amount of it to the Delhi Court for securing his position. Muhammad Taqi Khan Taqi Khan, became the deputy Governor of Odisha in 1727 Taqi Khan built a Qadam Rasul at Balasore having a pond and a garden attached to it. He also attacked the Jagannath temple at Puri. Mushid Quli Khan II Murshid Quli Khan II, another son of Suja-ud-din, was made the deputy Subahdar to look after the administration of Odisha in 1735AD. He revived the worship of lords in the grand temple at Puri under the leadership of the king of Khurda. Alivardi Khan He defeated Sarfarag Khan in the Battle of Giria and Odisha came under the rule of Alivardi. Alivardi appointed Sayyid Ahmad as the Governor of Odisha and left Gujar Khan, one of his trusted generals to assist the Governor in discharging the administration. Administration of the Naib Nazims From the administration point of view, Murshid Quli Khan separated Midnapore from the Subah of Odisha. He made revenue settlement in six Sarkars namely, Jaleswar, Remuna, Basta, Golapara, Malghetia and Mazkuri. During the rule of the Naib Nazims, the Muslim monuments were built in Cuttack and Balasore. The local participation in the administration was a general feature during this period. In military administration, the soldiers were recurited from this land. Odisha under the Marathas The Maratha administration of Odisha effectively began from the year 1751 AD Raghuji Bhonsle I became the new master of the territory and a new system of government was put into operation. The Maratha rule started with the Peace Treaty of 1751. The Marathas divided Odisha into two broad political divisions: The Mughalbandi It comprised the coastal districts and was divided into 150 Parganas and placed under 32 Revenue Commissioners or Amins. The Garhjat This region covered the hill tracts of Odisha and was allowed to be ruled by 24 tributary chieftains, who paid light tributes to the Maratha Government. Maratha Subahdars in Odisha Sheo Bhatt Sathe was the first Maratha Subahdar in Odisha. He collected Chauth from the Nawab of Bengal. After Battle of Buxar, Sheo Bhatt failed to pay his arrear to Januji, hence, he was dismissed in 1764. The next Subahdars in that order were Sheo Bhatt, Chimma Sau, Bhawani Pandit, Shambhaji Ganesh, Babuji Naik, Madhoji Hari and Rajaram Pandit. Odisha also witnessed the Anglo-Maratha conflict between the Marathas and Governor General Warren Hastings. The last representative of Maratha in Odisha was Sadashiv Rao appointed in 1793. Administration of the Marathas Marathas introduced the Pilgrimage tax for the first time in the state, which was charged from the visiting tourists. Grants were allotted for repairing of temples. The temple of Jagannath was brought under direct management of the Maratha Governers with special attention paid for its preservation and maintenance. The great festivals at Puri received total government patronage. Marathas were responsible for popularising Rath Yatra. Timeline Period Events 1038 CE Establishment of Gangal/Eastern Ganga Dynasty 1135 CE Chodagangadeva shifts capital from Kalinganagara to Kataka 1250 CE Narasimhadeva I builds the Konark temple 1278 CE Ananta Vasudeva temple built by Queen Chandrika 1434 CE Gajapati Dynasty established by Kapilendra Deva 1513 AD Krishnadevraya invasion in Udayagiri 1522 AD Quli Qutb Shah’s invasion 1541 AD Bhoi Dynasty founded by Govinda Vidyadhara 1568 AD Karrani Dynasty founded by Sulaiman Khan Karrani 1576 AD Battle of Raj Mahal in which Mughals established their rule in Odisha 1590 AD Puri and coastal areas went to Mughals 1606 AD Jahangir separated Odisha from Bengal 1703 AD Odisha passed into the hands of Naib Nazims of Bengal 1751 AD Maratha rule in Odisha MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS 1 The Gajapatis were a medieval Hindu 7 Which of the following Odisha type Nagara dynasty that ruled over Kalinga from style temples are found at Bhubaneswar? (a) 1334-1441 [OPSC 2017] (b) 1434-1467 1. Jagannath temple (c) 1534-1541 2. Lingaraja temple (d) 1434-1541 3. Sun temple 2 Who among the following initiated Ganga 4. Mukteswar temple dynasty in Odisha? 5. Parasurameswara temple (a) Raja Rajadeva-I (b) Anantavarman Chodagangadev Choose the answers from the codes below: (c) Vajarahasta-V (a) 4 and 5 (b) 2 Only (d) Kamarnava (c) 2, 4 and 5 (d) 1, 3 and 5 3 The kingdom of Odisha reached the zenith 8 What were the provinces known in Odisha of its glory under which dynasty? during the period of Ganga dynasty? (a) Ganga dynasty (a) Dauvarika (b) Panchali (b) Bhoi dynasty (c) Bhoga (d) Visayas (c) Mukundadeva 9 Sri Chaitanya, the famous Vaishnava saint (d) Mughal of Bengal, had come to Odisha during the 4 Which Ganga ruler built the world famous reign of Konark temple? (a) Prataparudra Deva (a) Narasimhadeva I (b) Kapilendra Deva (b) Bhanudeva IV (c) Chodaganga Deva (c) Chodagangadeva (d) Raja Rajadeva I (d) Rajarajadeva 10 Which river was chosen as the line of 5 The great poet Jayadeva flourished during demarcation betwen the Gajapati Dynasty which dynasty in Odisha ? and Vijayanagara empire in 1513 AD? (a) Gajapati (b) Ganga (a) Godavari (b) Mahanadi (c) Bhoi (d) Karrani (c) Krishna (d) Kaveri 6 Who built the well decorated and well 11 Quli Qutb Shah invaded Odisha during the sculptured temple of Konark? reign of which ruler? (a) Angavimadev-I (a) Prataparudra Deva (b) Narashimadeva-I (b) Raghuji Bhonsle I (c) Narashimadeva-II (c) Narasimha Deva (d) Narashimadeva-III (d) Govind Vidyadhara 12 The Ghunta, Mana and Bati terms used in 20 Who/What was Kalapahar in context of Gajapati Dynasty denoted what? Medieval History of Odisha? (a) Revenue officers (a) A cruel king of Gajapati Dynasty (b) Different units of land (b) A high mountain with temple at top (c) Different taxes (c) A kind of pilgrimage tax (d) Provinces (d) Hindu general of Sulaiman Karrani 13 The rise of ‘Sarala Yuga’ in Medieval 21 Odisha was divided into how many sarkars Odisha is most important contribution of under Akbar’s reign? which dynasty? (a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5 (a) Ganga Dynasty 22 Which of the following was not one of the (b) Bhoi Dynasty five sarkars under Akbar’s reign? (c) Gajapati Dynasty (a) Bhadrak (b) Cuttack (d) The Mughals (c) Bidar (d) Jaleswar 14 Who was the founder of Bhoi dynasty in 23 Under which Mughal emperor Odisha Odisha? became a separate Subah? (a) Govinda Vidyadhar (a) Akbar (b) Jahangir (b) Chakra Pratap (c) Shahjahan (d) Aurangzeb (c) Janardhan Vidyadhar (d) Narasimha Jena 24 Which place in Odisha was the seat of Mughal administration during Shah 15 Govinda Vidyadhar recognised river Jahan‘s reign? Godavari as the boundary between (a) Khurda (b) Cuttack Golkonda and Odisha by signing a treaty (c) Puri (d) Ganjam with whom? (a) Sultan of Bengal 25 During whose reign Murshid Quli Khan (b) Sultan of Odisha became the Governor of Odisha? (c) Sultan of Golkonda (a) Shah Jahan (b) Aurangzeb (d) Sultan of Maratha (c) Jahangir (d) Akbar 16 When did Mukundadeva ascend the throne 26 Who built a Qadam Rasul at Balasore? of Odisha? (a) Muhammad Taqi Khan (a) 1560 (b) 1562 (c) 1564 (d) 1566 (b) Alivardi Khan (c) Mushid Quil Khan I 17 When did the Muslim rule in Odisha (d) Suja-ud-din Muhammad begin? (a) 1568 (b) 1578 (c) 1588 (d) 1582 27 Which Naib Nazims attacked the Jagannath temple of Puri? 18 Who was the first Muslim ruler of Odisha? (a) Alivardi Khan (a) Alla-ud-din Bakhtiyar (b) Murshid Quli Khan II (b) Mohammad Sayyad (c) Suja-ud-din Muhammad (c) Sulaiman Karrani (d) Muhammad Taqi Khan (d) Qutub-ud-Din Aibak 28 Odisha was divided into how many broad 19 Sulaiman Karrani appointed which of the political divisions under the Marathas? following two governors of Odisha and (a) 4 (b) 3 (c) 2 (d) 5 Puri? (a) Nasir and Qutlu Khan 29 The Pilgrimage tax for the first time in the (b) Mansingh and Qutlu Khan Odisha was introduced by (c) Baqar and Taqi Khan (a) Mughals (b) Marathas (d) Lodi and Qutlu Khan (c) Daud Karrani (d) Mukundadeva ANSWERS 1. (d) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (a) 5. (b) 6. (b) 7. (c) 8. (d) 9. (a) 10. (c) 11. (a) 12. (b) 13. (c) 14. (a) 15. (c) 16. (a) 17. (a) 18. (c) 19. (d) 20. (d) 21. (d) 22. (c) 23. (b) 24. (b) 25. (b) 26. (a) 27. (d) 28. (c) 29. (b) MODERN HISTORY OF ODISHA With the advent of modern era, Odisha came under European powers like Portuguese and British. Although, Portuguese were the first European to build factories in Odisha, but it's the British East India Company which ruled over Odisha. They captured Odisha in a strategic way. The phase of Odishan history is dynamic because of the resistance and revolt faced by British Administration. It includes the contribution of Odisha in national struggle for Independence of India. Modern History of Odisha begins with the advent of European powers in the state. The Portuguese were the first to establish their settlements in Pipli but were soon overpowered by the Britishers. After the winning the Battle of Buxar in 1765, British rule was firmly established in Odisha. However it was marked by various rebellions. These were Paika and Khurda Rebellion. Many tribal uprisings also occurred in Odisha like Ghumsar and Bhuyan Uprising. The impact of the Revolt of 1857 was felt in Odisha also as many people participated in it. But in 1866, Odisha was struck with a great famine. The death toll estimated to be one million. After this, the Britishers came up with educational reforms. Many socio-religious movements started in Odisha at that time like Satya Mahima Dharma, Brahmo Movement, etc. The Portuguese in Odisha The first Europeans to enter Odisha were Portuguese. They established their settlements at Pipli in Balasore district around 1625 AD. Their community flourished in the sixteenth century. They build churches and some factories. The Britishers could not establish their settlements properly due to the presence of Portuguese till seventeenth century. Then from the middle of seventeenth century Britishers became powerful. British Rule in Odisha In 1765, after the Battle of Buxar, East India Company General Robert Clive acquired the Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha from Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II. The British East India Company obtained the Northern Circars (Division of British India’s Madras Presidency) consisting of Chicacole (Srikakulam), Rajahmundry, Ellore and Guntur in which the present undivided Ganjam district was included. The British East India Company also got Midnapore, which was a part of Odisha. Thus, the British authorities acquired Oriya speaking tracts, both in South and in the North. This facilitated them to conquer Odisha with ease. The first settlement was made in Harishpur (present day Jagatsinghpur). The British Conquest of the Regions of Odisha Puri In 1803, a British Colonel Harcourt marched from Ganjam to capture Puri. On 18th September, 1803 Puri was captured by the British. Cuttack After capturing Puri, the British forces on 24th September, 1803 began the march towards Cuttack. The Harcourt’s artillery force defeated the Marathas and by 14th October, 1803 entire Cuttack was under the British Rule. The capitulation of Barabati fort by British, marked the end of Maratha rule in Odisha. Baleswar On 22nd September, 1803, the British captured Balasore under Captain Morgan. On 17th December, 1803, the Battle of Laswari ended by the Treaty of Deogarh, Raghuji Bhonsle of Nagpur surrendered Cuttack and Baleswar which include Mughalbandi, Garhjat, the coastal part of Odisha and Balasore to the East India Company. Thus beginning the British rule in Odisha under Lord Wellesley. Sambalpur In January 1804, Major Broughton, conquered Sambalpur by defeating Maratha Governor Tantia Pharnavis. With the departure of Lord Wellesley, Governor General Barlow, a pacifist restored Sambalpur to the Marathas. In 1849, British annexed it again with the application of the Doctrine of Lapse of Lord Dalhousie. British Administration in Odisha Odisha was divided into three administrative units under British administration. First was Province of Cuttack under Bengal Presidency second was Ganjam and Koraput under Madras Presidency and third was Sambalpur was under Central Provinces. All the three kind of land settlements, viz Zamindari, Ryotwari and Mahalwari were implemented in different parts to assess and collect land revenue.The short term settlements proved disastrous to the Oriya tenants as well as zamindars. The Bengali zamindars exploited the tenants of Odisha. British also controlled the economic and military base of Odisha. Movements in Odisha against British The Britishers collected heavy taxes from peasants in Odisha due to which people were against the British rule. Many revolts broke out in different places of Odisha due to defective administration of the Britishers. Some of the rebellion are discussed below: Paika Rebellion It is also known as the Khurda Rebellion. This was the first uprising against the British rule in Odisha also known as first war of independence in Odisha. In 1817, Paik of Khurda and people of some areas of Odisha revolted against the Britishers, which came to be known as Paika Rebellion. Causes of Paika Rebellion were as follows: The cause for rebellion in Khurda in 1817 was the land revenue policy of the Britishers. The Paik enjoyed rent free land tenures for their military service on a hereditary basis. These service lands were taken away in the settlement by Major Fletcher. The land revenue policy of the British affected the zamindars as well as the tenant farmers. Other causes of the rebellion were salt monopoly, deprivation of the local servants from the British administration, the unsympathetic attitude of the ruler towards the ruled, etc. First Martyr of Odisha: Jayee Rajguru In 1804, Jayee Krushna Rajguru Mahapatra (known to the people as Jayee Rajguru) was the royal preceptor to Mukunda Dev II. He revolted against the British with the army of Paika warriors. This was also known as Khorda Rebellion. But the Britishers, suppressed the rebellion with the help of some natives. On 6th December, 1806 Jayee Rajguru was convicted and hanged. Thus, Jayee Rajguru is considered as the first martyr of the early freedom struggle against British rule. His sacrifice laid the foundation of a major revolt after 13 years of his martyrdom. Events of Paik Rebellion The leader of this uprising event was Bakshi Jagabandhu, a former General of the armed force of the Khurda Raja. The tribals of Banapur and Ghumusar accepted Bakshi Jagabandhu as their leader and they bravely marched towards Khurda to fight against colonial power with high ambition. On 29th March, 1817 the Paika rebellion began in Khurda. The Paikas of Khurda under the leadership of Bakshi Jagabandhu joined the Chuhars of Ghumusar. They burnt the government buildings and sacked the government treasury of Khurda. They burnt and broke down the public and private buildings as well. They denounced the British authority and proclaimed Raja Mukundadeva as their ruler. Many Muslim fighters also supported Bakshi Jagabandhu. Among them, the prominent one was Dumuduma Dalabehera Mirhaidar Ali of Jadupur. Impact of Paik Rebellion The leaders of Khurda-Godabarish Mishra, Godabarish Mohapatra, Prananatha Patnaik, Sachi Routray, Gangadhar Paikaray, Gokul Mohan Rai Chudamani and Purna Chandra Mohanty were greatly inspired and became fearless freedom fighters. In 1825 Bakshi Jagabandhu surrendered and Britishers started bringing administrative reforms. In administrative field, changes were made and Oriyas were employed in the government services. Changes were also introduced in the field of Judiciary. The price of the salt was reduced and more salt was made available for the smooth purchase by the people. British government reduced the revenue burdens of the local zamindars. Revolt of 1857 and Odisha The Great Indian Revolt of 1857 is one of the greatest events of Modern Indian History. The effect of this revolt was seen in Odisha also. Impact of Revolt of 1857 on Odisha In Odisha, the impact of the great revolt was also felt. A great nationalist from Odisha, Vir Surendra Sai and his life-long struggle during the revolt was remarkable. Another Nationalist, Rama Krushna Samanta Singhar, the zamindar of Ballia also dedicated his life to the revolt. Raja Arjun Singh of Parhat and his dewan Jagu also actively participated in the anti-British activities. The Tributary Mahals of Odisha became silent during the great revolt of 1857. The kings of Tributary Mahals rendered their support to the British Government. Rajas of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar provided good service to British during the mutiny of 1857. The ruling chiefs of the two native states were rewarded with the title of Maharaja by the British Government. Leaders Associated with the 1857 Revolt Chandan Hajuri He was also known as Chakhi Khuntia. He played a great role in the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. He maintained a direct contact with rebel leadership but was arrested from Gaya. He is known for his role of spreading the message of revolution through his literary works. Surendra Sai In 1833, the Sambalpur region revolted against British rule under Surendra Sai. Surendra Sai challenged the motives of the British Government on the grounds of Doctorine of Lapse. When the Sepoy Mutiny began, he was in Hajaribagh Jail. He broke free in 1857 and joined the revolt. Ramakrushna Samantasinghar He was the successor of great poet, Abhimanyu Samanta Singhar. In August, 1857, with the support of Khandayats, he revolted against the Sunset Law introduced by Lord Cornwallis. Tribal Uprising in Odisha The tribal uprising in Odisha was the result of the British Policy of Intervention in their religion and social reforms introduced by the British. The missionary activities carried in different tribal area largely contributed to the tribal uprising. Some important tribal uprising in Odisha were as follows: Ghumsar Uprising The tribals of Ghumsar led by Dora Bissoi was against the British authority. They started the Ghumsar Uprising in 1835. Major causes behind the uprising were the suppression of Meriah (human sacrifice) in the Khond dominated area, land revenue collected from people through Coercive method and the dissolution of the Bhanja ruling family. Dora Bissoi was a ‘Maliah Bisoi’ or ‘Head Agent’ of the Khonds of Ghumasar area. But he was arrested by the Britishers from Angul. The uprising after the arrest of Dora Bissoi was led by Chakra Bissoi. Bhuyan Uprising Ratna Naik of Keonjhar organised the tribals to fight against the British Government. He raised them to fight against Dhanurjay, the new king who had taken away their rights and privileges. Therefore in April 1868 Ratna Naik along with Bhuyan Sardars broke out the Bhuyan Movement. Ratna Naik wanted to place Brundaban Bhanja as king but he was captured and awarded capital punishment with six others. Na’anka Famine of 1866-67 In 1866, Odisha was hit by the most devastating famine in its colonial history. The people of the state were dependent on winter rice crops for food but the rainfall in that year was scanty and ceased prematurely due to which, food stocks decreased to a large extent. However, the government underestimated this situation and no measures were taken to provide food. The reality of the situation was eventually understood at the end of May 1865 but by then the monsoon began. Due to monsoon, transport by sea was extremely difficult and even when grain reached the coast, it could not be transported to affected parts of the country. At least a million people died in Odisha due to starvation. The Secretary of state for India appointed a Commission in December 1866 under the Chairmanship of George Campbell to look into the matter but by then much devestation had already occurred. Post Na’anka Era The post Na’anka era after Odisha famine was a little better. The Britishers were obliged to pay attention to the backward condition in Odisha. In 1867 they raised the status of Cuttack Zila School to High School. It became a college in 1876. The opening of educational institutions in Cuttack brought a new consciousness among the educated people in Odisha. Madhusudan Das became the first graduate of Odisha. Post Na’anka Era also marked the growth of Modern Oriya Literature. Fakir Mohan Senapati (1843-1918) and Radhanath Ray (1848-1908) contributed to Odia literature through their numerous works. Oriya literature was developed through the writings of Madhusudan Das, Biswanath Kar, Ramasankar Roy, Gangadhar Meher and Nanda Kishore Bal. The post Na’anka era also saw the development of railways in coastal Odisha from Bhubaneswar to Khurda in 1896 and from Cuttack to Bhubaneswar in 1897. Utkal Sabha The development of education led to the awakening of Oria people. As a result the first political organisation formed by educated Oria people was Utkal Sabha. In 1882, the Utkal Sabha was established at Cuttack. The first meeting of ‘Utkal Sabha’ was held in the premises of the Cuttack Printing Press on 16th August, 1882. Many leading people attended the meeting. They decided to establish a permanent organisation in order to help the institutions of local self-government particularly in the district of Cuttack. Chaudhuri Kasinath Das and Gauri Sankar Ray were chosen as the first President and Secretary of the organisation. Madhusudan Das was also associated with the Utkal Sabha. Gauri Sankar Ray, the editor of Utkal Dipika, acted as secretary of the organisation. In 1886, the Utkal Sabha and the National Society sent their delegates to attend the session of the Indian National Congress. Thereafter, every year representatives from Cuttack attended the Congress Sessions. Socio-Religious Movement in Odisha The political movements also aroused many other movements to change the rigid social structure and religious set up. These are as follows: Satya Mahima Dharma Satya Mahima Dharma (the dharma of the divine glory) is a religious tradition in Hinduism from Odisha. Mahima Gosain was the founder of Mahima Dharma. In 1862, he became a Siddha and started preaching a new dharma. Mahima Dharma preached philanthropy. Disciples of Mahima Gosain, Govinda Baba and Bhima Bhoi, spread the message of Satya Mahima Dharma towards the Central and Western parts of Odisha. The basic principle of the dharma was to worship one deity, Alekn Para Brahma. Christian Missionaries The activities of the Christian Missionaries brought socio-cultural changes in Odisha. In 1809, William Carey, the Baptist Missionary of Serampore brought the Odia version of the New Testament which was prepared by an Odia scholar, named Purushottam Pandit. In 1820s, a number of missionaries such as William Bampton, James Pegg, Charles Lacey and Amos Sutton came to Odisha and carried on their activities. The missionaries were the pioneers of westernisation and modernisation. In 1837, they established the first printing press of Odisha at Cuttack. The missionaries contributed to the socio-religious reformation in several ways. They established orphanages in which they gave shelter to the destitute children and rescued Meriahs. The missionaries also took steps for the education and upliftment of women. The Brahmo Movement This movement of Bengal was organised to abolish child marriage and introduction of widow remarriage. The Brahmo Samaj has been formed in Bengal in 1828 by Raja Rammohan Roy for spreading monotheism (belief of only one God). In 1869, Haranath Bhattacharya, a professor of philosophy in the Cuttack College, and a follower of Keshab Chandra Sen formed Utkal Brahmo Samaj at Cuttack. The Brahmo Samajis built a Brahmo Mandir at Cuttack and brought out a number of periodicals. Balasore and Cuttack were the two important centres of Brahmo movement in Odisha. The leading Odia personalities who were influenced by Brahmo faith included Fakir Mohan Senapati, Madhusudan Rao, Pyari Mohan Acharya, Chaturbhuj Pattanayak, Biswanath Kar and Nanda Kishore Bal. Thus, the Brahmo movement played a great role in the socio-cultural changes in Odisha. Conclusion From the various social and religious movements, there emerged mass political movements that united the Oriya speaking people. Thus Cuttack became an important area for the growth of nationalism. The modern history of Odisha led to the emergence of a new province that was separate from Bengal and hence Odisha came into being. Timeline Period Events 1625 AD Portuguese settlements at Piple (Balasore district) 1633 AD

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