Challenges
of the district : Our research with local communities
Poverty is increasing with each passing day.
The literacy rate is deplorable. Women literacy is very poor.
Agriculture provide the sole livelihood opportunity for the people
of Boudh. Selection of trade is not possible as there are hardly
any industries around.
Irrigation infrastructure is retarded.
People are not ready to go for an alternative livelihood. They want
to continue farming with low profits as farmers are ignorant about
the market.
Brief About Boudh District
HISTORY
The early history of Boudh is still in obscurity. However, the
discovery of remarkable Buddhist statues from Boudh led some scholars
to believe that Boudh was an important Buddhist centre of Orissa.
From the epigraphic records it is known that in the middle of
Eighth Century A.D., Boudh region was under the occupation of
the Bhanja rulers and was a part of Khinjali Mandala. The earliest
known ruler of this Bhanja family was Nettabhanja who was ruling
over the Dhenkanal region as independent ruler, but his successor
migrated towards Boudh-Sonepur region and established Khinjali
Mandala and ruled there as the feudatory of the Bhauma Karas of
Tosali. The Sonepur Copper Plate of Satrubhanja Dev, son of Silabhanja
mentions the name Khinjali Mandala for the first time and on this
basis it is believed that Silabhanja Dev was the founder of Bhanja
Kula of Khinjali Mandala. Their capital was Dhirtipura, which
has been identified with Boudh town. Satrubhanja Dev – II, a ruler
of this family was defeated and killed by the Somavansi ruler
of South Kosala, Janmeyjaya – I. The Bhanja’s were driven out
from the Boudh region which was renamed as Odra Desa. Yayati –
I, the son and successor of Janmejaya – I established his capital
in Odradesa at Yayatinagara, which has been identified with modern
Jagati in Boudh District. The Somavansi then occupied and migrated
towards Utkala leaving their original home land South-Kosala in
charge of viceroys. In course of time Kosala was lost to them
and was occupied by the Telugu-Chodas and the Kalachuris. The
imperial Gangas of Kalinga, after their occupation of Utkala,
entered into a protracted struggle with the Kalachuris for one
hundred years for the occupation of Kosala region. It is evident
from the Chatesvar Inscription ( 1220 AD) that the struggle finally
ended in favour of the Gangas during the region of Anangabhima
Deva – III and there after Boudh along with Sonepur came under
the Ganga Rule and was administered by the Ganga Administrators.
In course of time, the Ganga Administrators became semi-independent
and ruled over this territory hereditarily. So far tradition goes,
there emerged a Brahmin ruling family in Boudh . Gandhamardan
Dev, the last Brahmin ruler of this family, being childless adopted
one Ananga Bhanja of Keonjhar Bhanja royal family. He succeeded
Gandharmardhan Dev and laid the foundation of the rule of the
Bhanjas in Boudh in the first half of fourteenth century AD. He
changed his surname from Bhanja to Dev and was known as Ananga
Dev. Since then, the new line of kings continued to rule over
this region till the merger of Boudh State with the Orissa province
in 1948. Their kingdom comprised of modern Athmallik, Boudh and
Sonepur regions with its capital headquarters at Swarnapura (
Sonepur). But later on due to the expansionist policy followed
by the Chouhan rulers of Patna
( Patnagarh in Bolangir District ) they shifted their capital
to Boudh.
In the first half of seventeenth century AD, Boudh was a very
powerful kingdom and Sonepur remained under its direct administration.
During this period the Chouhan rulers of Sambalpur had already
established their supremacy over almost entire Western Orissa.
Balabhadradeva
(1605-1630 AD), the Chouhan ruler of Sambalpur defeated Siddhabhanja
Dev (Siddheswar Dev) of Boudh and forced him cede the Sonepur
region which was made a separate state by the Chouhans in 1640
AD.
In the mean time Orissa was occupied by the Muslims and though
nothing details is known about the relationship between the rulers
of Boudh and the Muslim subedars in Cuttack yet it is believed
that Boudh maintained a friendly relation with the muslims and
probably for this, Raja Pratap Dev of Boudh, had secured from
him from the Muslim powers, the title “Swasti Sri Dhirlakhya Dhumbadhipati
Jahrkhand Mandaleswar” which was used by the rulers of Boudh till
the time of Raja Banamali Deb.
But the Maratha contact with the Boudh State was felt more during
the Maratha rule in Orissa than under the Muslim rule. As the
vital line of Communication between Nagpur and Cuttack, passes
through the Boudh state, it drew special attention from the Maratha
governors at Cuttack. The Raja of Boudh was paying tribute to
the Maratha and maintained a cordial relation with them. But in
1800 AD this relationship became stained. The Maratha attacked
Boudh and defeated Raja Biswambara Dev. However, he was allowed
to rule as a feudatory Raja of Nagpur by Paying regular tribute.
During the early year of the region of Raja Biswamabara Dev (
1778-1817) the Panchara Pragana lying between Baghanadi and Meheruni
jore was separated from the Boudh State. It is said that in 1780-81
Raja of Boudh had obtained a loan from the Raja of Sonepur and
for the liquidation of the debt he had ceded the above pragana
to Sonepur. It is also said that the above said pragana was given
to the Raja of Sonepur for rendering military help to Boudh in
time of trouble and in lieu there of to enjoy revenue rights of
the pragana. But when the Sonepur Raja occupied it permanently
a dispute arose for the possession of this tract, which was settled
by the Superintendent of Tributary Mahals in favour of Sonepur.
During the region of Sidhabhanja Dev ( Siddheswar Dev) Sonepur
region was conquered from Boudh by the Chouhan ruler of Sambalpur.
But the process of the vivisection of territories of the Boudh
state had started earlier. In 1498-99 AD, the then Raja of Boudh
state had made a gift of Dasapalla territory extending from Kamaimuhan
near Kantilo to Udandi muhan in the east to his younger brother
Narayan Dev, who asserted his independence and made Dasapalla
a separate state. Again the strip of territory lying between the
Kharang river on the west of Boudh and Amaimuhan was given by
Raja Madan Mohan Dev in 1599-1600 AD as dowry to his daughters
who married in the Chouhan royal family of Patna State. However,
Athmallik and Khondhmal remained as a part of Boudh state for
sometime.
After the British conquest of Orissa in 1803 AD, Raja Biswambar
Dev of Boudh submitted to the British and entered into a treaty
agreement with the East India Company on the 3rd March, 1804.
After the third Anglo Martha War, British Government permanently
occupied Boudh from the Marthas and included this state in the
South West Frontier Agency till 1837, when it was brought under
the superintendent of Tributary Mahals, Cuttack.
In 1817 AD, Raja Biswambar Dev died and was succeeded by his
Son Chandra Sekhar Dev. In 1821, he received a fresh “Sanand”
from the British Government fixing the annual tribute of Boudh
at Rs. 800/-. After his death his son Pitambara Dev ascended the
throne in 1839 AD. During his reign, on 15th February 1855 AD,
Khondmal was separated from the Boudh state and was annexed with
the British territory. Raja Pitambar Dev remained loyal to the
British Government and cooperated with the British Agency in suppressing
human sacrifice and Khondh rebellion in Ghumsur and Khondhmal.
Chakra Bisoi, who remained in Boudh State since 1855 and organized
the Khondhas, was ultimately driven out of the state and peace
and order was restored. The British Government recognized his
title Raja, by a separate Sanand granted to him in 1875 AD.
The Athmallik state was a part of Boudh state and the chief of
Boudh was the Raja of Boudh and Athmallik. The Chief of Athmallik
was called a Zamidar and was addressed as a Samanta. In 1875,
the Chief of Athmallik was officially recognized as a Raja and
Athamallik became a separate state in 1894 AD.
Raja Pitambar Dev died in 1880 and was succeeded by his son Jogindra
Dev. He was a benevolent and generous ruler and introduced English
education for the first time in the state. At the time of his
death in 1913, his eldest son Narayan Dev was a minor and hence
the administration of the state was managed by the Court of Wards
and the Dewan. His formal coronation took place on 31st March,
1925. From his reign, the power and function of the ruler was
reduced to a considerable extent and for all practical purposes,
it appears that the state was under the grip of the political
agent, Raja Narayan Dev successfully suppressed a political agitation
organized in Boudh in 1930-31 and adopted stern measures against
the Prajamandal Movement in 1945. He had also developed the Jagti
village ( Yayatinagar, the Somavamsi Capital) and renamed it Narayan
Nagar. He was the last ruler of the Boudh State and on 1st January
1948, the state merged with the Orissa province.
Since then Boudh was a sub-division of the newly created District
of Boudh-Kondhamals. But it is raised to the status of a District
Headquarters of Orissa since 2nd January, 1994.
2.Climatic Condition : The Climatic condition of this district
is subtropical, hot and dry in summer, cold dry in winter and
hot humid in rainy season. In summer, temperature reaches to 45c
and temperature may come down to 10c. The rainfall is not normal
and variation. However basing on the climatic condition and uneven
distribution of rainfall, the cropping programme has been chalked
out.
Rainfall
| Sl No. |
Type |
Rainfall in MM. |
| 1 |
Normal Rainfall |
1597.1 MM |
| 2 |
Actual Rainfall (2000) |
981.5 |
| 3 |
Deviation From Normal |
615.6 MM |
