History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c44.133.1

v2.c44.133.1

After the engagement entered into with Messrs. Harcourt and Melville in 1803-04, the next engagement entered into was a Sanad granted by Lord Elgin on the 28th October 1898. For some reasons not known as yet the *Sanad* to Keunjhar was not granted in 1894 when similar *Sanads* were granted to the rest of the Garhjat Chiefs. There was great trouble after the death of Gadadhar Narayan Bhanja of Keunjhar on the 22nd March 1861. Raja Gadadhar died at Triveni near Chinsura in Bengal, leaving a widow and two illegitimate children. One of these, Dhanurjay, was placed on the *gadi* by the Diwan, on the 3rd April. But six days later, Raja Jadunath Bhanja of Mayurbhanj represented that his grandson Brindavan had been adopted by Raja Gadadhar Narayan of Keunjhar and that he was going to instal this boy. Raja Jadunath Bhanja was directed by the Superintendent of Orissa Feudatory States not to take any active part in the affair, but inspite of this warning Jadunath sent Brindavan to Keunjhar, where he was secretly installed by the Rani and some of the principal nobles. Later on the story of the adoption was proved to be false. The claims of Dhanurjay and Brindavan were investigated by the Superintendent and that of Dhanurjay upheld according to Regulation XI of 1816. Raja Jadunath Bhanja appealed on behalf of Brindavan to the High Court at Calcutta and finally to the Privy Council. After the decision of the Superintendent, Dhanurjay was recognised as the Raja.