In a recent development, the Centre has announced that it will not attribute the status of the first War of Independence to the Paika rebellion. However, this rebellion will be included as a case study in the Class 8 National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) history textbook. Rekindling historical debates, in 2017, the Odisha state cabinet was the first to formally request the centre to recognize the Paika rebellion as the inaugural war of Independence. In commemoration of the rebellion, the Government issued a specially minted coin and a postage stamp in 2018.
Historical Context: The Origins of the Paikas
The term Paikas (pronounced “paiko”), which literally translates to ‘foot soldiers’, refers to a class of military retainers that had been employed by the kings of Odisha since the 16th century. Predominantly drawn from diverse social groups, the Paikas were granted rent-free land (nish-kar jagirs) and noble titles in return for their martial services. During the time of British arrival, these peasant militias served under Gajapati ruler Mukund Dev II of Odisha.
Colonial Impact: The Paikas Under British Rule
With the advent of British colonial rule, the Paikas experienced significant changes, most tragically, the loss of their estates due to the implementation of new land revenue settlements. The establishment of British rule in Odisha was marked by deliberate repression of the Paikas, leading to their loss of societal stature and dispossession of their lands. This systemic interference in economic and revenue systems resulted in severe exploitation and oppression of peasants and farmers, culminating in a rebellion against the British colonial forces.
Preceding and Subsequent Rebellions: A Pattern of Resistance
Prior to, and following, the Paika rebellion in Khurda, several rebellions took place, including those in Paralakhemundi (1799-1814), Ghumusar (1835-36) and Angul (1846-47), the Kondhs rebellion in Kalahandi (1855), and the Sabara Rebellion in Paralakhemundi (1856-57). These upheavals were primarily led by propertied sections whose standing was threatened by colonial interventions.
The Paika Rebellion: The Bidroha of 1817
The Paika Bidroha, or Rebellion, transpired in 1817, approximately four decades prior to the first sepoy mutiny. Spearheaded by Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mohapatra Bharamarbar Rai, a high-ranking military general under Mukund Dev II and former proprietor of the profitable Rodanga estate, an army of Paikas joined the Kondhs in their uprising. On April 2nd, 1817, these forces confronted the British, with the rebellion rapidly spreading across various parts of the province, receiving support from rajas, zamindars, village chiefs, and ordinary farmers. Government buildings in Banapur were torched, the British treasury was looted, and policemen were killed. Despite these events, the rebellion was eventually subdued by the British army in the ensuing months. After being imprisoned in 1825, leader Bidyadhar died in jail four years later.
