History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c44.40

v2.c44.40

We must now return to the affairs of Mayurbhañj. Though Mayurbhañj had submitted early to the British and even helped the Company's troops considerably against the Ṣubah of Orissa did not consider it necessary to enter into a treaty with Mahārāṇī Sumitrā Deī Bhañja. The position of Sumitrā Deī was still ambiguous and Mayurbhañj was the richest and the most powerful of the Feudatory States of Orissa. The reasons of this forbearance on the part of the British Company are still unknown and we cannot understand for what reason Messrs. Harcourt and Melville neglected to enter into treaty engagements with Sumitrā or any other wife of the late Dāmodar Bhañja. We know of two other Rāṇis of Dāmodar Bhañja, named Jamunā Deī and Champā Deī, as well as an adopted son named Trivikram Bhañja from the records. The policy of conciliation adopted by Wellesley towards Mayurbhañj was continued after his departure and the representations of one Bhagnut Muhtee (Bhāgavat Mahti), *Wakil* of Rāṇi Sumitrā Bhañja, were favourably recommended and forwarded to the Board of Revenue by G. Oswald, Collector of Medinipur, on the 14th December 1804. The petition of Bhāgavat Mahti contains the information that the *parganah* of Nayabasan was extremely unprofitable and therefore a very large balance had accumulated in 1802. In the *Amli* year 1211=1803 Mahārāṇi Sumitrā Deī received a *parwanah* from the Governor-General-in-Council to assist the English army in every way. At the same time Mr. Ernst, Judge of Medinipur, sent another *parwanah* to her informing her that the collection of revenue from her *zamindari* was suspended for the time being and she was requested to afford assistance to the English army. She was also requested to guard the passes to her territories, through which the road from Medinipur to Katak passed, very carefully and to report the advance of Maratha troops, if any, to the English army. She was also informed that any expenses, which might be incurred by her, would be deducted from the revenue payable to the Company for her *zamindari*. Mahārāṇi Sumitrā Deī spent about Rs. 2000 in helping the British to conquer Orissa and therefore she failed in the payment of the revenue for Nayabasan. Then the Collector sent an Amīn into her zamindari to attach it and a portion of the dues were paid up, but Rs. 1707 still remained due from the revenue for 1803 for which Nayabasan was advertised for sale. Though the Collector of Medinipur had forgotten his promises very quickly as soon as the active need of Mahārāṇī Sumitrā Deī’s co-operation with the Company was over, the Board of Revenue remembered the case and the arrears were remitted to the extent of the interest due.