History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v1.c9.4

v1.c9.4

The next important class may be called the *Rājanyas* in the absence of a better generic term. Most of the Indian chiefs and Zamindars now claim to be Kshatriyas or even Rajputs. In the majority of cases they are of mixed descent and their present rank or caste is due to their position. Thus the Gaṅgā-vamsa chiefs of the Bamra State are distinctly descended from the Eastern Gaṅgas, who claimed direct descent from the western Gaṅgas of Mysore. Intermarrying with them are a number of chiefs of Rajput descent calling themselves Rāthors and Pawars. Thus the Bhañja Rājās of Mayurbhañja informed the Government of Bengal in 1814 that they intermarry with the Rajas of Bissenpore, Kasurgur and Singbhum. Now the Rajas of Vishṇupur belong to the Nāgavaṁśi family, Kasurgadh claims Paramāra ancestry, while the Singbhum chiefs say that they belong to the Rathor clan.¹ The so-called Nāgavaṁśi is not a Rajput but a chief of aboriginal descent; such as the old chiefs of Bastar and the present chiefs of Khairagarh.²