‘First war of Independence’ tag sought for Paika revolt

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Bhubaneswar: The state Cabinet Tuesday approved a proposal to urge the Centre to declare Paika rebellion as the first war of Independence in India.
The state government’s decision comes in the wake of the celebration to commemorate the bi-centenary of the Paikas’ war for freedom this year.
The state government’s effort is considered timely and prudent as the Centre has endorsed commemoration of the bicentenary of Orissa’s Paika rebellion in New Delhi July 20 in which President Pranab Mukherjee will be the
chief guest.
The Cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, approved the proposal Tuesday evening at the Secretariat.
The proposal states that though the rebellion took place 40 years before the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, it is yet to be rightly appreciated as the first war of independence.
Eminent historian Prof. BC Roy, who did research on Buxi Jagabandhu’s rebellion at the School of Oriental African Studies, London, has stated that Paika rebellion of 1817 was among the toughest movements in pre-independence India. The rebellion of Khurda is the first well organised movement against the British.
“The fight of Oriya Paikas and others against the mighty Britishers is a struggle of courage and patriotism. The revolt was widespread and all sections of people participated in it. It played the role of a torch-bearer and catalyst in shaping the future freedom movement,” the state government said in its proposal.
“The rebellion against the British was well organised and its impact was far-reaching,” said Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Panda.
The Government said the rebellion was launched by Kondhs of Ghumsur and subsequently spread to Banpur in Khurda, Pipili, Puri, Kujanga, Pattamundai and Keonjhar. Paikas, zamindars, malangis, peasants and tribals participated in the freedom struggle.
“The rebellion cannot be termed a war of resistance because it was a total war of independence against the Britishers in Khurda,” the state government said, adding, “the movement, unfortunately, did not succeed. But, according to the then Commissioner G Toynbee, many zamindars believed that British rule would be over soon because of the rebellion.”
Notably, the state government had announced last year that an Amar Jyoti pillar would be erected on the foothills of Barunei, the hub of revolutionary activities of the Paikas. PNN