History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.347

Language: English

v2.c41.347.1

We must now go back to 1787 in order to narrate the events connected with Raghunāth Pikerā, zamindar of Kalar and Barajit, another *parganah* like Nayabasan on the borders of Bengal and Orissa. It appears from these records that Rājārām Mukund was still the *Subāhdār* of Orissa in 1782. Peiarce, the Collector of Medinipur, writing on the 29th May, 1787, states that Raghunāth Pikerā (spelt Pykaran, also Raghunath Chooyan) of Kelar, a zamindar in Maratha territory, had started depredations in the British parganahs Gaganeśwar and Narangachor and representation had been received from the zamindars of these places. Raghunāth was also a zamindar in British territory like Rājā Dāmodar Bhañja of Mayurbhañja, and Peiarce complained that he sent a parwanah with a Harkarāh to which Raghunāth did not pay any heed and therefore a Hāvildār and twelve Sepoys were placed as a Thānāh on the border. The letter from the Collector encloses an application from Rājballabh Chaudhurī of Gaganeśwar in Chāklāh Jaleśwar in which it is stated that property and cattle belonging to the tenants of Lakshmīpur, Seypoorah and six other villages were carried away. Moreover, when the Harkarāh went with the Collector's Parwanah, Raghunāth refused to meet him and a Tahṣīldār on the part of Rājārām Pandit said that the lands of Rājballabh Chaudhurī belonged to the Marathas. A similar petition was received about the depredations committed by Raghunāth in the Parganah of Narangachor.

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The Board approved of the action taken by the Collector for the protection of parganahs Narangachor and Gaganeswar. On the 9th June, 1787, Peiarce forwarded copies of letters written to him by Madde Khān, Maratha Thānāhdār of Kelar, and and that written by him to Rājārām Mukund. In this letter Piearce begins by stating that Raghunāth Pikerā was supported by Madde Khān, who has been sent to Kelar by the Faujdār of Ballasore. The second information was that some lands on the border were relinquished by the English Company in favour of Biśvambhar Pandit. In the letter from Madde Khān, dated the 23rd May, 1787, the latter calls himself *Thānāhdār* of Qila' Nayāgāon Khalār. It begins with the statement that he has been appointed by Rājārām Pandit. The second statement is that Rājballabh Chaudhuri has possessed himself of Chinkā Chak by force, though it belongs to the Marathas. Peiarce was requested to send an *Āmin* to inquire into the matter. The second enclosure to the Collector's letter was from Morār Pandit, *Faujdār* of Balasore, and is dated the 23rd May, 1787. It begins with the statement that Madde Khān is employed by him as *Tahṣildar* of Qila' Nayāgaon Khelar. Morar Pandit complains that Raghunāth Pikerā of Khelar and Jhumrāpār and Dinabandhu Kumār of Qila' Dip Kiyārchānd have kept back revenue on account of encroachments on the part of the English. The Collector is further requested to help Madde Khān with ten or twenty Sepoys, if he calls for them.

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Peiarce replied to Madde Khān on the 29th May, 1787, stating that Rājballabh Chaudhuri had been in possession of Chinkā Chak for eighteen years and as a *Lādābi* was executed by Raghunāth Pikerā, he had no claim to it now. Two letters were written to Morār Pandit, one about Chinkā Chak and another about the depredations in British territory. On the 4th June a letter was sent to Rājārām Pandit regarding the complaints of Rājballabh Chaudhuri of Gaganeśwar and Rāmnārāyan Chaudhuri of Narangachor about the depredations of Raghunāth Pikerā. A second report was sent by Peiarce on the 12th July, 1787, forwarding a report of *Āmin* Lakshmi Charan dated 8th June, 1787. The *Āmin* states that he saw Pikerā's *Pāiks* plundering the village of Ghogra, threatening the villagers with fire-arms. They took Agni Sāhu, *Sarbarāhkār* of the Company, as a prisoner to *Thānāh* Bhusrapāl. Raghunāth Pikerā has collected the rents of Asāpāl belonging to Rāmnārāyan Chaudhuri. In former times also he created great disturbances and Messrs. Dusful and Davey were sent to Bhusrapāl to punish him. The report ends with the statement that the stolen cattle had not been returned as yet. Peiarce sent a *parwanah* to Lakshmī Charan *Āmin* on the 9th June, upbraiding him sharply for his inaction and ordering him to write immediately to release Agni Sāhu.

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Morār Pandit wrote on the 11th of the same month requesting the early settlement of the district surrounding Lakshmīpur, stating that he had sent *parwanas* to Madde Khān and Raghunāth Pikerā. To this a reply was sent on the 14th June stating that Dattarām Chaudhuri, father of Rājaballabh Chaudhuri, had been given the villages of Ghogra, Lakshmīpur, etc., in lieu of Hamidpur and therefore Raghunāth Pikerā executed a *Lādābī*. A report of Lakshmī Charan *Āmin*, dated 22nd June, 1787, contains the information that Mudde Khān came to Gopināthpur and had a long conference with him. Agni Sāhu had been released. A letter was received from Mudde Khān stating that Raghunāth Pikerā stated that when he was an infant Dhundirām Qānungoe and Kālicharan Rāo got *Qabūliats* made by influencing the *Hākim*. Rāmkānu Beburta, *Nāib* of Raghunāth Pikerā, stated that Karnakar, the *Wakīl* of Dattarām Chaudhuri, had disputes regarding the settlement of this boundary. On hearing this statement Lakshmī Charan *Āmin* was requested to settle the dispute, but he pleaded that he had no orders from the Collector. A reply was sent to this letter on the 6th July, 1787, stating that Madde Khān’s statement about the matter being referred to Mr. Vansittart was stated to be false.