History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c44.92

Language: English

v2.c44.92.1

We must now return to the copies of original correspondence preserved, regarding certain disturbances in the Mayurbhañj State. We learn from a dispatch sent to the Hon’ble Court of Directors of the East India Company, by the Judicial Department of the lower provinces, i. e., Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, on the 23rd October, 1833, of disturbances which had taken place in the Mayurbhañj State. In 1821 four of the five *Pirs* in the Bāmanghāṭi Subdivision of that State had been forcibly annexed by the British Company and now formed into the district of Singhbhum in Bihar. These four *Pirs* were entirely inhabited by Kols and therefore the local name for this territory was Kolhan. The remaining *Pir* remained under the Mayurbhañj State subject to the control of the Commissioner of Katak in his capacity of Superintendent of Tributary Mahals in Orissa. There was one *Sarbarāhkār* in charge of all five *Pirs*. The four *Pirs* of Tāi, Bharbharyā, Aulā and Lālgaḍh being in British territory the *Sarbarāhkār* now imagined himself to be independent of the Rājā of Mayurbhañj and owing obedience only to the Agent to the Governor-General on the South-western frontier at Hazaribagh, inspite of the fact that he still held land within the Mayurbhañj State. The *Sarbarāhkār* had evidently gained over Captain Wilkinson, who recommended the transfer of the entire Bāmanghāṭi tenure to the Commissioner of Orissa.

v2.c44.92.2

On the 3rd April, 1832 the *Sarbarāhkār* rebelled against the Rājā and burnt some villages on the great southern road from Calcutta to Nagpur, which passed through Medinipur and Sambalpur. The Company's Government received a report from Mr. Stockwell, Commissioner of Katak, on the 6th April, stating that the latter had summoned both Rājā Jadunāth Bhañja and the *Sarbarāhkār* of Bāmanghāṭi in order to effect a reconciliation between them. Both parties attended on the Commissioner at Balasore, from January to the 11th of March, who decided that Rājā Jadunāth Bhañja had a right to remove the *Sarbarāhkār* or to modify and change the circumstances of his tenure. The second decision of the Commissioner is more important for the history of Feudatory Chiefs in Orissa. Mr. Stockwell states as his second conclusion "that it was a case of internal management and arrangements of that nature with which the Government desired there should be no interference, and that the Sirberakar as vassal must submit to and abide by the orders of his feudal chieftain." It is, therefore, absolutely clear that following the Maratha system of Non-interference with the internal affairs of a feudatory state the British Company's Government even in 1832 did not want to meddle between Rājā Jadunāth Bhañja and his subordinate of Bāmanghāṭi.

v2.c44.92.3

The Sarbarāhkār was directed by Stockwell to wait upon Rājā Jadunāth Bhañja and settle with him the terms for the future, more specially on the point of doing homage to his chieftain, but the latter vanished during the night. Rājā Jadunāth Bhañja was not competent to deal with the Sarbarāhkār and so Stockwell marched to Bāmanghāṭi with a company of the 47th Native Infantry. The Government ordered troops at Medinipur to be ready but Stockwell was informed that the Government did not propose to order the regiment at Medinipur to march immediately. On the 14th April, Stockwell replied that the five Pirs should be rendered entirely independent of the Rājā and his Sarbarāhkār and placed under some Kol chief who possessed sufficient influence. The Sarbarāhkār opposed Stockwell's advance and the latter was compelled to call on the Officer Commanding at Medinipur to advance with all troops available. On the 15th a foraging party of British troops was attacked and plundered and Stockwell retired towards Bangiri-musi. He was again attacked and a Hāvildār killed and two Sepoys wounded in this action. Stockwell now applied for re-enforcements from Chhoṭanāgpur. He reached Bāmanghāṭi on the 10th May with the troops from Medinipur after meeting with some opposition. On the 15th May, he reported to the Government that he did not require the co-operation of any troops from Chhoṭanāgpur.

v2.c44.92.4

In the meanwhile, Captain Wilkinson arranged terms with the Sarbarāhkār by promising him continued possession of his tenure and a full enquiry into the causes of his dispute with the Rājā of Mayurbhañj on condition of his ceasing hostilities and going to Captain Wilkinson. The parwanah was received by the Sarbarāhkār, Mādhavdās, but a violent sickness broke out among the troops, which compelled Stockwell to abandon the Bāmanghāṭi country. He found out that the intention of Mādhavdās Sarbarāhkār was to render himself completely independent of any controlling power. A meeting of the inhabitants of Bāmanghāṭi was held and Stockwell reported on the 22nd of May that he had decided to withdraw the troops into cantonment at Medinipur. Lieutenant-Colonel Doveton, Ensign Manningford and Sergeant James McMaera died at Bāmanghāṭi with twelve Sepoys of fever alone. On the 26th May, Mādhavdās reached Captain Wilkinson and the Government ordered his restoration. He was ordered to pay the due tribute to the Rājā of Mayurbhañj. The five Pīrs were placed under Captain Wilkinson through whom the tribute was to be paid. The Government having decided on the full restoration of the guilty Mādhavdās, Stockwell resigned by way of protest against the injustice done towards him and the Rājā of Mayurbhañj.