Many tales of valour and sacrifice are recorded in the pages of India's freedom struggle, but the fire that blazed against foreign rulers on the soil of Odisha, long before the twentieth century, was rare across the whole of India. Generally, people from other parts of India, and even so-called modern Odias of today, are not particularly aware of the saga of this unique struggle that took place in their own motherland.
From the Kalapahad era to the present day, numerous films have been made about Bengal's Sannyasi Rebellion, and Bengalis feel immense pride in this history of theirs. But it is a matter of great regret that, from 1753 to 1900 — over a long span of one hundred and fifty years — around 23 highly violent and armed freedom movements, along with many medium and small armed uprisings, were organised in Odisha against French and English colonialism, movements that were a hundred times more widespread and intense than Bengal's. It is precisely these armed movements that make Odisha's contribution to the Indian freedom struggle entirely distinctive and great.
The foundation of Odisha's ceaseless struggle was laid on the soil of Paralakhemundi. In the mid-eighteenth century, when most regions of India were beginning to bow their heads before foreign power, it was the ruler of Paralakhemundi, Jagannath Gajapati Narayan Deo II (1753–1771), who sounded the conch of the first freedom struggle. His indomitable courage and love for his homeland became a source of inspiration for others in later times. Carrying this tradition forward, Gaura Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo (1771–1802) also continued his relentless efforts. As a result, the second freedom struggle of Paralakhemundi (1799–1802) took shape, which shook the very foundations of the foreign rulers.
At the start of the nineteenth century, Odisha's freedom struggle took on a new and formidable form. The British-Khurda War, which lasted from 1803 to 1806 against the expansionist policy of the British government, was a historic event. This fearsome struggle was organised under the leadership of Gajapati Mukunda Deva II, ruler of Khurda's 71 forts and supreme commander of 20,000 Paikas and Khandayats. In this war came forward great warriors such as Jayakrishna Rajguru Mahapatra (Jayi Rajguru), who laughingly gave up his life in defence of the motherland. Not Khurda alone — King Balabhadra Bhanja of Kanika and King Chandradhwaja Shendha of Kujang also actively participated in this war. Along with them, the rulers and common people of many regions including Bishenpur, Harishpur and Marichpur sacrificed everything and took up arms against the English.
During this period, it was not only kings or Paikas but tribal people and women too who plunged into the freedom struggle. The first Shabar movement, which lasted two long decades from 1813 to 1834, is a shining example of this. Rani Pata Mahadei of Paralakhemundi, a woman of remarkable vision, took the leadership of the struggle at this time and set a new example before society. Along with her, leaders such as Gopinath Pattanayak and Dandasena united the Shabar tribal people and built an armed movement against the English government that robbed the ruling class of its sleep.
Then came the historic Paika Rebellion (1817–1825), a golden chapter in the history of the Indian freedom struggle. Under the direct leadership of Bakshi Jagabandhu Vidyadhar Bhramarabar Ray, the flame of rebellion blazed across the whole of Khurda and its surrounding regions. Alongside Bakshi, thousands of brave Kalingi warriors — such as Pindiki Bahubalendra, Sadhucharan Mangaraj, Krishnachandra Bhramarabar Ray, Gopal Chhotaray, Dama Subuddhi Mangaraj, Mir Haidar Alli, Vishnu Paikaray and Dhruba Jena — joined this great struggle. That people of all castes and religions came together in an unstinting effort to break the shackles of the motherland struck fear even into the most powerful English army of that time.
While the fire of the Paika Rebellion had not yet died down, in 1827 another freedom struggle raised its head in the Taphanga region. Many fearless warriors, such as Madhav Chandra Rautaray, Dhanurjaya Dalei and Govardhan Bairigyanjan, took part in this and employed guerrilla warfare tactics against the English government. A few years later, in 1835, a great freedom struggle was also organised at Banapur. In this struggle, freedom fighters such as Kritibas Pattashani, Sardar Panchanan Nayak, Lochan Bishoi, Shiva Bishoi, Dina Jani and Sadhu Jani displayed indomitable courage. This spontaneous awakening of the local populace against English tyranny and exploitation was proof of Odisha's revolutionary consciousness.
During this time, tribal movements in various parts of Odisha stood as a firm wall against foreign rule. The Kol movement, organised in Mayurbhanj and Singhbhum between 1821 and 1836, is a supreme example of this. Under the leadership of Madhav Das Mahapatra, the armed rebellion that the Kol tribe waged to protect their water, forest and land was a symbol of their self-respect. Similarly, in the Baudh-Kandha movement that lasted from 1835 to 1846, leaders such as Nabaghana Kandhara and Madhav Kandhara organised the Kandha people and created fierce resistance against the English government.
In southern Odisha, the Ghumusar Rebellion (1835–1837, and continuing up to 1855) was a formidable struggle against English imperialism. Under the leadership of Kamalalochan Dora Bishoi and, later, Chakra Bishoi, the local Kandha people and members of other communities fought pitched battles against the English forces. Despite the cruel oppression of the British administration, these revolutionaries did not shrink from sacrificing themselves for their own land. Similarly, in northern Odisha, through the Nilagiri Peasant Rebellion (1838–1840), under the leadership of Dewan Shiva Charan Pattanayak, Haribabu and Bulubabu, ordinary farmers raised their voice against exploitation. Nayagarh's soil too was not left out of rebellion; between 1849 and 1852, under the leadership of Kamal Lochan Paikaray, Uddhab Samantaray and Shivaram Rautaray, the first Nayagarh Rebellion was organised, issuing a stern challenge to feudal and imperialist policy.
During the second Shabar movement (1851–1856), Radhakrishna Dandasena united the people of the Shabar tribe and sounded the call to war against British torture. This movement created a major problem for the local administration. During this same period, the Kandha movement in the Kalahandi region under the leadership of Rindo Majhi (1853–1855) took on an intense form. The tribal people, who were victims of the combined exploitation of moneylenders and the English, descended into armed struggle at Rindo Majhi's call and strove for many days to maintain their independence.
The most long-lasting and influential movement during this great uprising of 1857 was the Sambalpur or Hirakhand Rebellion, which began in 1857 and continued for a long fifteen years until 1872. Under the leadership of Veer Surendra Sai, his brothers Udanta Sai, Ujjal Sai and Chhabila Sai staked their very lives. Along with them, many brave warriors such as Madho Singh Variha, Kunjel Singh, Karunakar Singh Gountia, Narayan Singh, Kamal Singh Deo and Khageshwar Singh Deo waged relentless guerrilla warfare against the English army. This historic rebellion of Sambalpur is the finest example of Odisha's valour. The English had to endure great hardship and heavy loss of life and wealth in order to capture Surendra Sai.
Even after the 1857 rebellion, the lamp of freedom did not go out in Odisha. In 1866–1867, the Khurda movement under the leadership of Narayan Harichandan once again created instability for the British administration. After this, in the first Bhuiyan movement organised in Keonjhar between 1867 and 1868, Ratna Nayak organised the local tribal people and fought against ruthless revenue collection and exploitation. Ratna Nayak's sacrifice remains immortal in the pages of history to this day. In the remote region of southern Odisha, the Malkangiri Koya Rebellion (1870–1872) was organised under the leadership of Toma Dorakh, where tribal people made the English face a bloody struggle for their rights.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, many more armed struggles were seen. In the Asurgarh-Narla Kandha Rebellion (1882–1883), Kamal Majhi took up arms for the rights of the local tribal people. Between 1891 and 1893, the second Keonjhar Bhuiyan movement, under the leadership of Dharanidhar Nayak, took the form of a massive popular uprising that created a fearsome situation for both the king and the English government. Similarly, between 1893 and 1894, the second Nayagarh Rebellion was organised at the call of Dewan Khetribar Singh and Arjuna Paikaray, reflecting the discontent of the common people. Towards the end of the century, between 1897 and 1900, the Gountia Meli began near Gangapur close to Sundargarh, under the leadership of Gountia Madri Kalo, which was a successful protest against the exploiters.
Compared to how exaggerated the contribution of Bengal or other provinces has been shown in the Indian freedom struggle, this long, unbroken, one-hundred-and-fifty-year (1753–1900) armed struggle of Odisha is in truth, in many respects, far more extensive and hair-raising. That in a single province, without any modern means of communication, so many armed movements should be organised one after another — with ordinary citizens as well as tribal people, kings, maharajas, Paikas and farmers alike sacrificing themselves with equal fervour — is rare in the history of the world. Just as Bengalis feel pride over their single Sannyasi Rebellion (1770–1777), it is deeply unfortunate that today's Kalingi-Utkali-Odias, not knowing the history of their own hundred-and-fifty-year-long blood-soaked great struggle, feel hesitant to declare the identity of their own land. It is precisely the continuity of these 23 great, violent and armed rebellions that makes Odisha's contribution to the Indian freedom struggle completely unique and distinctive compared to every other province — and this ought to kindle patriotism and unparalleled pride in the heart of every Odia.
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