Paika Rebellion (1817)

The Paika Rebellion or the Paika Bidroha was an armed uprising against Company rule in India in 1817. It was led by Bakshi Jagabandhu. The Paikas rebelled and portrayed Lord Jagannath as a symbol of unity for the Odia people. The rebellion swiftly spread throughout most of Odisha before being suppressed by the Company’s forces.

Paika Rebellion will be helpful for UPSC IAS Exam preparation. GS Paper-1 History.

Table of Content

• Paika Community
• Reason for Paikas’ Revolt
• Course of the Paika Rebellion
• Outcomes of the Paika Rebellion
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Paika Community

• The Paikas belonging to the peasant militia of the Gajapati rulers of Odisha
• They served as both cultivators and soldiers under the kings.
• They were divided into three ranks based on their occupation and the weapons they utilized.
  • Paharis were equipped with shields and the khanda sword.
  • Banuas led distant expeditions and used matchlocks.
  • Dhenkiyas were archers who performed various duties in the Odisha armies.
• However, the East India Company’s conquest of Odisha in 1803 and the removal of the Raja (king) of Khurda from power, reduced the influence and reputation of the Paikas.

Reason for Paikas’ Revolt

• After assuming control of Khurda, the British implemented a policy of reclaiming service tenures, greatly impacting the lives of the ex-militia, known as the Paikas.
• This measure’s severity was exacerbated by an unreasonable rise in revenue demands and oppressive collection methods.
• As a result, a significant number of people deserted Khurda between 1805 and 1817.
• Yet, the British opted for a series of short-term settlements, continuously increasing the demands without considering the land’s productivity or the farmers’ ability to pay.
• Even during natural disasters no leniency was granted, which Odisha was prone to.
• Rather, the lands of defaulters were sold to scheming revenue officials or speculators from Bengal.

Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar

• Buxi Jagabandhu, also known as Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mahapatra Bhramarabar Rai, held the inherited position of Military Commander under the deposed king.
  • As a dispossessed landowner, he found himself reduced to a state of beggary.
  • He relied on the voluntary contributions of the people of Khurda for survival for nearly two years.
• The grievances that fueled his decision to fight were:
  • The introduction of a new currency, the Sicca rupee, in the region.
  • The demand for revenue payment in this new currency.
  • An unprecedented increase in food and salt prices, exacerbated by the salt monopoly that deprived traditional salt makers in Odisha of their livelihood.
  • The auctioning of local estates in Calcutta, led to the influx of absentee landlords from Bengal into Odisha.

The insensitive and corrupt police system further exacerbated the situation, contributing to the emergence of a dangerous armed uprising.

Course of the Paika Rebellion

• The uprising began On 29 March 1817 when the Paikas attacked the police station and government establishments at Banpur.
  • This resulted in the death of over a hundred men and the theft of a large amount of government money.
• Khurda became the epicenter of the uprising, with both zamindars and ryots enthusiastically joining the Paikas.
• A ‘no-rent campaign’ was initiated, and the British attempted to dislodge the Paikas but were unsuccessful.
• On 14 April 1817, Buxi Jagabandhu, lead a force of five to ten thousand Paikas and men from the Kandh tribe.
  • They captured Puri and declared Mukunda Dev II as their ruler.
  • They also received support from the priests of the Jagannath Temple.
• In response, the British imposed Martial Law and captured the king and imprisoned him in Cuttack along with his son.
• Buxi and his associate Krushna Chandra Bhramarabar Rai tried to disrupt communication between Cuttack and Khurda as the uprising spread to other parts of Odisha.
• Major-General Martindell was sent by the British to quell the uprising.
• British also offered rewards for the arrest of Buxi Jagabandhu and his associates.
• This resulted in the death of numerous Paikas, while some fled to the deep jungles and others returned home under an amnesty scheme.
• By May 1817, the uprising was mostly contained, although Buxi Jagabandhu, with the support of the Raja of Kujung and loyal Paikas, sustained it outside of Khurda.
  • They surrendered in May 1825.

Outcomes of the Paika Rebellion

• The British implemented a new approach characterized by leniency, indulgence, and forbearance towards the people of Khurda.
• They reduced the price of salt and introduced essential changes in the police and justice systems.
• Corrupt revenue officials were removed from their positions.
• Former landowners were reinstated to their lands.
• The son of the Khurda king, Ram Chandra Dev III, received permission to relocate to Puri.
  • He can assume responsibility for managing the Jagannath Temple, along with a grant of twenty-four thousand rupees.

Conclusion

The Paika Rebellion was the first major armed uprising against British rule in Odisha. It carried significant implications for the future of the British administration in the region. It did not receive widespread support. However, the uprising was a brutal insurrection preceding the renowned Revolt of 1857 that challenged British Supremacy in India. The Prime Minister paid tribute to and commended the descendants of families associated with the revolt on the occasion of the rebellion’s 200th anniversary. The Paika Rebellion Memorial will be built by the Union Ministry of Culture over ten acres of land near Barunei Hills in Odisha. Its foundation stone was laid by the President on 7 December 2019.

Ref: Source-1

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)