December - 2011
Orissa Review
Maharaja Shrirama Chandra
Bhanjadeo: The Profile of an
Enlightened Ruler
Dr. Atul Chandra Pradhan
gave scope to the budding Oriya poets and writers
to develop their creative faculty and thereby
contribute to the development of modern Oriya
literature. In December 1903 Shrirama Chandra
presided over the first session of Utkal Sammilani,
held at Cuttack. His presidential speech in this
conference shows his vision and progressive
outlook; he laid stress on fraternity among the
Oriyas, development of education, Industry and
agriculture in Orissa, spread of female education
development of Oriya language and literature and
social reforms; he also advised the people of
Orissa to give up fatalistic outlook and inculcate
the spirit of self confidence. In his speech, referred
to above, he stressed the role of education in the
development of character and spirit of self reliance;
“One should not think that the purpose of
education is to look after loaves and fishes or join
government service.... Education in true sense
brings out manliness.” At the beginning of
twentieth century, the English-educated people of
Orissa, microscopic in number, could be classified
into bureaucrats in lower grade, teachers, lawyers
and physicians. Specialists in such fields as
agriculture, industry and science were very rare.
There was very limited scope of recruitment for
the educated people in government services;
consequently there was the problem of educated
unemployment. To solve this problem, Shri Rama
Chandra felt, it was necessary to develop
Maharaja Shrirama Chandra Bhanjadeo (18711912) who ruled the princely state of
Mayurbhanja from 1892 to 1912 is well-known
for his integrity of character, enlightened
administration and benevolence. Within the
framework of colonial administration the Rajas
and Zamindars of Orissa as elsewhere in India
acted as the tools of the paramount power and
instead of working for the welfare of the people
exploited them. But there were some exceptions
who worked for the welfare of their subjects and
tenants and also for that of the Oriya-speaking
tracts as a whole. It will be no exaggeration to
say that Shrirama Chandra tops the list of such
well-meaning rulers and Zamindars.
After the famine of 1866 attempts were
made to promote the development of Oriya
language and culture which resulted in the
germination and growth of Oriya consciousness.
After passing from the Baripada Anglo-Vernacular
school Shrirama Chandra studied at Cuttack, first
in the Ravenshaw Collegiate School, and then in
the Ravenshaw College. Hence from his student
days he was aware of the process of evolution of
consciousness among the Oriyas. To look after
the affairs of the state he discontinued his studies
while reading B.A. and returned to Baripada in
1891. The same year through his patronage, the
Oriya journal Utkal Prabha was brought out, which
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December - 2011
Orissa Review
agriculture and industries like lac and tusser and
utilize minerals.
Shrirama Chandra was not only
concerned with the material well-being of his state
but also with the preservation of its cultural
heritage. In 1904 he established the first museum
of Orissa in Baripada. He established the physics
laboratory in the Ravenshaw college of Cuttack.
He considered it a princely duty to extend
patronage to scholarly and cultural pursuits. He
took steps to make the Chhau Dance of
Mayurbhanja internationally popular. After a lot
of rehearsal under his supervision, the Chhau
dancers gave a performance at Calcutta on 12
December 1911 before the English king Geroge
V and queen Mary. This performance got wide
applause from the audience. The Statesman, the
English Daily of Calcutta observed, “The dance
drew universal appreciation. The Oriya Paik dance
was a great spectacle.”
In his address to the Utkal Sammilani he
advised the Rajas and zamindars to be well
educated and properly discharge their social
responsibility. "The Rajas and Zamindars are the
natural leaders of society. Great responsibility
devolves on them. They can do good or harm to
the people as per their inclination. Hence they
should be educated in such a manner that they
can promote the welfare of their states or estates
and subjects and properly solve all problems
related to matters for which they are accountable.”
As a ruler Shrirama Chandra combined
progressive programme of action with liberal
outlook which was rarely seen in the princes in
his time. To democratize the management of the
State he established State Council which was even
vested with powers to make appeal against the
ruler’s order. He protected the rights of peasants,
particularly tribal peasants by conferring
occupancy rights on them. He created reservoirs
at Balidiha, Haladia and Olmara) and dug canals
from them to provide irrigation facilities to the
cultivators. In Baripada, the capital of his state he
established a High English school, a hospital, a
library and a park. He got his capital
telegraphically linked with important places of
India. He constructed light railways from Baripada
to Rupsa and got it linked with B.N.R. railways.
In spite of remaining under the umbrella
of imperial protection Shrirama Chandra rose
above the narrow self interest of the princely order
and devoted himself to the welfare of his subjects.
While giving them an enlightened and benevolent
administration he associated himself with evolution
of modern Orissa, Oriya movement, development
of Oriya language and culture and progress of
education in Orissa. He was a man of broad
outlook. In order to gain the first hand knowledge
about the world outside, in 1910 he undertook
an overseas trip to China, Japan, England and
USA. In is a pity not only for Mayurbhanja but
also for Orissa that such a ruler who could have
done many things more died at the age of 42
because of accidental shooting during hunting.
During his regime, Shrirama Chandra
took steps for the proper utilization of iron ores
available in his state; P.N. Bose conducted the
geological survey and on the basis of iron ore
resource of Mayurbhanja Jamsedji started his iron
factory.
Shrirama Chandra created three new
departments in his administration, as Agriculture,
Forest and Excise.
Dr. Atul Chandra Pradhan, MIG – 68, Baramunda
Housing Board Colony, Bhubaneswar-751003.
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