It was an historic movement to remember its past glory of the Great Kalinga state, now Orissa, as the state government celebrated the 190th year of Orissan Freedom Movement (1804-1826) in the state capital in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Law, Industry, Rural Development Minister Minister B.B.Harichandan with other ministers. There was show case of years-old Paika (the peasant militia) war traditions, arms and ammunitions used during that era with colourful processions in the heart of Bhubaneswar.
The 19th century AD is an important landmark in Indian history in as much as it witnessed two freedom movements launched, first by the people of Orissa, in 1817 AD and secondly in the eastern, central and northern parts of India in 1857 AD. Orissa came under the British rule in 1803. The conquest of Orissa did not go unchallenged by the chieftains of the state. The British faced a stubborn resistance right from the beginning with a rebellion launched by Mukunda Deva, the Raja of Khurda assisted by his trusted minister Jayi Rajguru. The Raja was deposed. Jai Rajguru, the principal advisor to Raja was taken captive and was most inhumanly hanged, and thus he is the first martyr of Orissa during the British regime. The state government in record says that long before the Revolt of 1857, Orissa'sPaika Rebellion of 1817 had given a severe jolt to the British administration in India. In terms of undaunted spirit and firm commitment to drive out Britishers from our motherland the Paika Rebellion of 1817 which took place forty years before the Sepoy Revolt in 1857 can aptly be termed as the First War of Indian Independence. According to a British historian, G. Toynbee, it was veritable storm that burst with such relentless fury as to threaten the expulsion of the British, it not from the whole of country, at least from this part of land.
Shri Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Orissa after honouring the families of the freedom fighters, remembered the dedicated lives of the then freedom fighters of Orissa like Sahid Baji Rout, Malti Devi Sarala Devi, Gopabandhu Dash, Dr Harekrushna Mahatab and Biju Patnaik etc. He said that the freedom fighters of Orissa had great role in the Independence of our country. He also praised the role of Jai Rajguru who had the inspiration for the paikas.
?Though Buxi jagabandhu was the Commander of Chief of Raja of Khurda and the greatest hero of the rebellion who waged Guirella war fare for long nine years could not get due recognition as the Hero of First War of Independence. The Government of Orissa had taken up this matter for installation of a statueof Buxi Jagabadhu in Parliament Complex, which was agreed. A statue of Buxi Jagabandhu on horse back with his raising sword was sent. But it is unfortunate and shocking that the government of Orissa had been intimated that it would be difficult for accommodating such a statue in the parliament and a plane statue of Jagabandhu without holding sword to be sent, which was an insult for the state. Buxi Jagabandhu who was such a great warrior and the hero of Paika Rebellion should have been shown as hero as described above the sentiment of the people of ORissa have been haurt and as a matter of fact it is not a insult to the people of Orissa but it is an insult to the nation due to the great sacrifices of Buxui Jagabandhu?, demanded Shri Harichandan. He also strongly made a point that ?since the history has been written by our invaders it requires to be rewritten and the heroes of the freedom fight in various stages should be properly projected and Paika Vidroh and Buxi Jagabandhu, Jai Rajguru and other heroes of Paika Mutiny should be properly projected. We will also organize a convention of the historians where research scholars of national repute will participate and have their deliberation on the subject and attention will be made for rewriting history showing that the Paika Rebellion from 1804 to 1825 is the first was of Independence?.
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