History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c44.95

v2.c44.95

Another disturbance took place in the neighbouring Bhañja State of Nilgiri. The Rājā was a minor and under the guardianship of his mother, who employed her own brother, Śivacharaṇ a Paṭṭanāyaka, as her Diwan. One Hari Bābu was a distant relation of the Rāj family, whose father had claimed this State in 1811 and later on compromised on receiving a Jāgir. This Jāgir was relinquished by Hari Babu for a cash payment of Rs. 120 per annum in 1831. Hari Bābu claimed the State—like his father did—in 1832 and was supported by the Rājā of Kaptipaḍā who was a feudatory of Jadunāth Bhañja, and whose sister Hari Bābu had married. Hari Bābu entered Nilgiri with a few men from Kaptipaḍā and a number of pāiks from Nilgiri under the command of a relation of the Rājā of Kaptipaḍā, named Bali Bābu. The insurgents induced two wild tribes of the Nilgiri forests, named Kurmis and Bunrijis, to help them. By plundering the villages, stealing the cattle and devastating the whole country, they compelled the entire population to join them. Then they advanced upon the Qila, and the Rāṇī fled to the plains. There was a post guarded by one Ḥavildār and ten Sepoys which they were afraid to attack. The Ḥavildār sent intimation of the rising and Mr. Ricketts went to Nilgiri with the whole of the Balasore pāiks and two companies of regular troops from Medinipur. On reaching Nilgiri, Ricketts found that Hari and Bali were to be on the next night at a place 11 miles from Nilgiri on their way back to Kaptipaḍā. He made a forced march but failed to capture the leaders. During the absence of Rājā Jadunāth Bhañja at Bāmanghāṭi his brother was acting as the regent and he too was implicated. Rājā Jadunāth Bhañja was ordered to deliver the principal leaders of the rising in Nilgiri. On receiving this notice Hari, Bali, and the Rājā of Kaptipaḍā were sent as prisoners and all prisoners taken and plunder restored. Rājā Jadunāth Bhañja futher held his brother responsible for all charges against him, but stated that he was innocent and was implicated by papers bearing his forged signature found in the Camp of Hari Bābu. Ricketts compelled the Rāṇī to dismiss her brother Śivacharaṇa Paṭṭanāyaka and ordered him to leave Nilgiri, because his oppression was the real cause of the uprising. Hari Bābu and Bali Bābu were sentenced to two years’ rigorous imprisonment in Balasore Jail. The Rājā of Kaptipaḍā was a mere boy and was released with other prisoners. The Governor-General approved of a fine of Rs. 500 imposed by Ricketts upon Rājā Jadunāth Bhañja, as he was the feudal superior of the Rājā of Kaptipaḍā. It was decided further that if Rājā Jadunāth Bhañja held the Rājā of Kaptipaḍā really culpable, then he should receive such punishment as the British Government might choose to inflict. The Governor-General accordingly remitted the fine of Rs. 500 and ordered the Rājā to be imprisoned up to any period less than six months at the discretion of the Commissioner.