Odisha’s Freedom Struggle: A Journey to Independence

The period from 1900 to 1947 in Odisha was a time of fighting against British Rule. This fight began with the Swadeshi Movement in Odisha.

Odisha joined the fight for freedom with the rest of India. The Swadeshi Movement was a key start. By the end of World War I, Utkalmani Pandit Gopabandhu Das became a key figure in the Congress Movement in Odisha.

A group of young patriots like Harekrushna Mahatab and Gopabandhu Choudhury played a big role. Others included Nabakrushna Choudhury, Bhagirathi Mahapatra, and Jagabandhu Singh. They all supported the national movement.

Pre-Independence Era

The Pre-Independence Era in Odisha saw many freedom movements. These are discussed as follows:

Swadeshi Movement

  • The Swadeshi Movement started in 1905 and deeply influenced Odisha’s educated people.
  • Protest meetings were held at Cuttack, Puri, and other places to support the movement. A key meeting was held in Cuttack on August 20, 1905.
  • At Cuttack, leaders like Janakinath Bose and Biswanath Kar promoted Swadeshi. The Utkal Dipika says the Swadeshi ideas inspired weavers in Sambalpur and others to make fine textiles.
  • People of rich classes started wearing Berhampur Pata and Maniabandha Sari on special occasions.
  • On August 12, 1909, Gopabandhu Das started Satyabadi Bana Bidyalaya at Sakhigopal, Puri. This school was a key step in building national consciousness in Odisha. It was a place where students from all backgrounds studied and lived together.

Non-Cooperation Movement and Odisha

  • In the Non-Cooperation Movement, many young men in Odisha left school and college. Some lawyers, like Gopabandhu Choudhury, gave up their jobs. Others, like Surendra Nath Das, resigned from government jobs to teach in a national school.
  • In 1903, the Utkal Union Conference was formed, and in 1905, Utkal Samillani was established.
  • In March 1921, Mahatma Gandhi visited Odisha and urged people to join the Non-Cooperation Movement.
  • Newspapers like The Samaj and Utkal Sevak played a big role in the movement. Students in Odisha started Swaraj Sevak Sangh to support the movement.
  • In 1922, a peasant’s revolt in Kanika was linked to the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Civil Disobedience Movement and Odisha

Civil Disobedience Movement and Odisha
  • Odisha was at the forefront in the Civil Disobedience Movement. There was great enthusiasm to break the Salt Law and make salt on their own.
  • At Inchudi in Balasore district, Surendra Nath Das led a Salt Satyagraha. This was a key moment in the movement.
  • a great impact. Smt Rama Devi, Smt Malati Chaudhary, Acharya Harihar Das, Gopabandhu Chaudhary, Atal Bihari Acharya, Govind Misra, Raj Krushna Bose, Smt Sarala Devi, Smt Annapurna Devi, Narayan Birabar Samanta, Birakishore Das, Lakshmi NarayanMishra, Smt Binapani Devi and Surendra Nath Patnaik among many others became the leading spirits of the Civil DisobedienceMovement.
  • On 6th April, 1930 Gopabandhu Chaudhary, Acharya Harihar Das and twenty one Satyagrahis began their foot march from the Swarajya Ashram of Cuttack towards Inchudi in Balasore.
  • On 12th April, 1930, the Satyagrahis reached at Inchudi in Balasore. Despite the oppression by the police, the Satyagrahis manufactured the contraband salt at Inchudi on 14th April, 1930.
  • On 20th April, led by Ramadevi, and Malati Devi, a number of women took part in the Salt Satyagraha at Inchudi. The Civil Disobedience was also carried on in other forms such as boycott of the foreign cloth, picketing before the excise shops, refusal to pay Chowkidari tax, and spread of Khadi.
  • In 1931, the Odisha State’s People’s Conference was organised at Cuttack under the presidentship of Bhubananda Das. This organisation preceded to enquire into the people’s grievances in the states.

Individual Civil Disobedience Movement in Odisha

  • In March, 1940 the Ramgarh session of the Indian National Congress was held, in which the decision to launch Individual Civil Disobedience Movement was taken.
  • On 27th September, 1940, the Utkal Pradesh Congress Committee appointed HK Mahtab as the General Director of the Individual Civil Disobedience Movement in Odisha. The movement formally started on 1st December, 1940.
  • HK Mahtab was arrested after delivering an anti-war speech at Remuna on the same day.
  • In March 1941, the Individual Civil Disobedience ended.

Quit India Movement and Odisha

  • Quit India Movement began in August 1942. Odisha played its full part in the revolution with widespread popular risings in remote rural areas. Laxman Naik became a martyr in Odisha during this movement.
  • Most of the prominent leaders of Odisha arrested, but the youth continued movement. In some parts of Odisha especially in Koraput, the movement turned violent in the absence of Congress leadership. People turned violent, setting fire to government offices and assaulting the officers.
  • Laxman Naik was arrested and executed on 29th March, 1943 on the basis of the false charge of killing the forest guard Ramaya.
  • In Cuttack district after the arrest of prominent freedom leaders, the students of the Ravenshaw college and other educational institutions carried on the movement.
  • About 200 students from Ravenshaw College marched to the office building on 15th August, 1942.

Massacre of Eram

Odisha earned the historic fame for the massacre of Eram in the district of Balasore. In this

massacre the largest number of people died in a single police action. This incident was

similar to Jallianwala Bagh incident. On 28th September, 1942, people of Eram village of

Basudevpur district gathered at an open place (Melan Padia) and resolved not to pay tax.

They also attacked the police, leading the Chief of police to order open firing. This

village of Eram is also known as Rakta Tirtha Eram.

Prajamandal Movement

  • During the British rule, the princely states of Odisha got full support from the British. Princes in these states were cruel to their subjects.
  • The people faced many taxes like ‘Rasad’, ‘Magan’, ‘Bethi’, and ‘Begari’. This exploitation led to a revolt against the princes.
  • The people formed the Prajamandal movement. They were led by HK Mahtab and Sarangdhar Das.
  • They formed a ‘Prajamandal’ at Gariamal in 1938.
  • On 11th July, 1938, they spoke at a big gathering. They criticized the king’s rule. This movement became serious in Dhenkanal.
  • Sri Baishnab Charan Patnaik was key in the Dhenkanal uprising.
  • The British took away the king’s powers. They reduced the land tax and freed arrested leaders.
  • The movement spread to many places like Talcher and Nayagarh.

Consequences of Prajamandal Movement

  • The king became kinder to the people. They learned that non-violence worked best.
  • The movement helped merge the states into Odisha. It ended the monarchy in Odisha.

READ HERE – MODERN HISTORY OF ODISHA

Final Phase of The Freedom Struggle

  • On 1st April, 1936, Odisha became a separate province. Odiya day is celebrated on this day every year.
  • In 1937, the Congress won 36 seats in Odisha. This led to the first Congress Ministry.
  • The Ministry was led by Biswanath Das. It had two other ministers, Nityananda Kanungo and Bodhram Dube.
  • After the Congress Ministry resigned, a Coalition Ministry was formed in November, 1941. It was led by Maharaja Paralakhemundi.
  • This Ministry lasted for about two and a half years. It achieved a lot, including setting up the Utkal University.

Role of Odisha Women in the Freedom Struggle

Role of Odisha Women in the Freedom Struggle

Women in Odisha played a big role in the freedom struggle.

They are discussed below:

  • On 23rd March, 1921, Mahatma Gandhi came to Cuttack. Women like Rama Devi and Sarala Devi attended his meeting.
  • The women were inspired by Gandhi’s ideas. They gave their ornaments to the Tilak Swaraj Fund.
  • Women’s contribution to the fund was the highest.
  • During the Civil Disobedience Movement, women helped prepare salt at Inchudi of Balasore district. Rama Devi and Malati Devi were key.
  • Krishnabala Sen at Inchudi sparked the Salt Satyagraha. A Satyagraha Committee was formed in Sambalpur.
  • Rama Devi set up an Ashram at Bari. Gandhiji named it Sevaghar. Rana Devi also represented Odishan women in ‘Kasturba National Memorial Trust’.
  • Women faced British suppression during the Kaipada firing.
  • Sarala Devi wrote poems to raise awareness on politics, society, and nation. Sita Devi Khadanga wrote a play, Mandira Prabesha, on Gandhiji’s Harijan Movement.

Post-Independence Era

  • After India gained independence in August 1947, the states’ merger was a priority. Leaders of Odisha and India stopped the princely chiefs from ruling. Hare Krushna Mahtab pushed for quick state mergers.
  • The Nilagiri unrest led Hare Krushna Mahtab to intervene, merging it with Odisha in November 1947. The crisis needed central action, so Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel visited Odisha in December 1947.
  • All states, except Mayurbhanj, agreed to merge with Odisha by January 1, 1948. Mayurbhanj joined Odisha a year later. But, Seraikela and Kharsawan merged with Bihar due to political reasons.

Freedom Fighters of Odisha

Some notable freedom fighters from Odisha include:

Madhusudan Das

  • He was born on April 28, 1848, in Cuttack district. Known as Madhu Barrister, he was the first graduate in Odisha. He was a leader and a reformer who worked for Odisha’s separation.
  • He formed the Utkal Union Conference, which was key in uniting Odia-speaking areas. In 1902, he pushed for more funds for Ravenshaw college in the ‘Bengal Legislative Council’. He died on February 4, 1939.

Gopabandhu Das

  • He was born on October 9, 1877, in Puri district. Known as the Gem of Utkal, he boosted the National Congress in Odisha. He started Satyabadi School and a newspaper, Samaj, during the Swadeshi Movement.
  • Gopabandhu led the National Congress in Odisha and was the first President of the Utkal Pradesh Congress Committee in 1921. He established several Ashramas in Odisha. He wrote many books, enriching Odisha literature.
  • the Odisha legislative council from 1917-1920. He died on 17th June, 1928.

Krushna Chandra (KC) Gajapati Narayan Deo

  • He was born on 26th April, 1892 in Paralakhemundi. He is seen as a key figure in shaping modern Odisha. He became Prime Minister of Odisha twice. He worked hard to make Odisha a separate province.
  • He met the Simon Commission and went to England twice. This helped create Odisha as a province. He organized the tenth session of Utkal Union Conference at Paralakhemundi in 1914, which was a big success.
  • The Atlee sub-committee was formed by him to set the boundaries of the new Odisha province. He died on 25th May, 1974.

Rama Devi

  • She was born on 3rd December, 1899. She came from a wealthy family. Mahatma Gandhi encouraged her to join the freedom struggle.
  • She was the granddaughter of Madhusudan Das. She worked at ‘Alak ashram’ and cooked for the inmates. She later moved to ‘Bari Ashram’.
  • She focused on Khadi work, helping Harijans, spreading Hindi, and uplifting women. She was arrested during the Quit India Movement.
  • She was arrested with Gopabandhu, Malati Devi, and others. She led many organizations like the All India Charkha Association and the All India Women’s Association.
  • She formed the Navajeevan Mandal in 1946 to help forest people. She died on 22nd July, 1985.

Sarala Devi

  • She was born on 9th August, 1904 in Cuttack district. She was the first lady to bring the message of the Non-cooperation Movement to Odisha.
  • She fasted from 6th April to 13th April, 1921. She collected money for the Tilak Swaraj fund.
  • She joined the Civil Disobedience and Salt Satyagraha at Balasore. She was the first lady to go to jail by court order.
  • She worked on women’s education and upliftment, and fought against untouchability. She was a prolific writer, focusing on women’s issues.
  • She translated ‘History of Indian National Congress’ into Odia. Her writings enriched Odia literature. She died on 4th October, 1986.

Malati Devi

  • She was born on 26th July, 1904 in Calcutta. She is a well-known freedom fighter from Odisha.
  • She joined the Salt Satyagraha at Inchudi of Balasore district. She encouraged women in Srijang to join the movement.
  • She attended the Karachi session of the Indian National Congress. She became a member of ‘Hindustani Seva Dal’ and was chosen for the Individual Satyagrahis.
  • She was arrested during the Quit India Movement. She died in 1998.

Timeline

Period Events

PeriodEvents
1903 ADFormation of Utkal Union Conference
1905 ADFormation of Utkal Union Samillani
1909 ADFormation of Satyabadi Vana Vidyalaya at Puri
1921 ADMahatma Gandhi visited Odisha for the first time
1922 ADPeasant Revolt at Kanika
6th April, 1930 ADFoot March towards Inchudi at Balasore
14th April, 1930 ADSatyagrahis manufactured salt at Inchudi
1931 ADFormation of Odisha State’s People’s Conference
1st April, 1936 ADOdisha granted status of a province
1938 ADPrajamandal formed at Garimal
1st December, 1940 ADIndividual Civil Disobedience Movement launched in Odisha
November, 1941 ADCoalition Ministry formed with Maharaja of Paralakhemundi
28th September, 1942 ADMassacre of Eram in Basudevpur
29th March, 1943 ADMartyr Laxman Naik executed in Behrampur Jail
December, 1947 ADSardar Patel came to Odisha for its merger
1st January, 1948 ADAll Princely States except Mayurbhanj merged in Odisha
1949 ADMayurbhanj also merged in Odisha
time line of freedom fighter odisha

FAQs

Sure, here are the MCQ questions in single-line FAQs format with their respective answers:

  1. People in Odisha held protest meetings at which of the places during the Swadeshi Movement?
    Answer: Balasore, Sambalpur, Puri
  2. Satyabadi School in Puri during the Swadeshi Movement was established by?
    Answer: Gopabandhu Das
  3. Who founded the Satyabadi School with Nationalist Spirit in Odisha?
    Answer: Gopabandhu Das
  4. In which year was Utkal Samillani formed?
    Answer: 1903
  5. Mahatma Gandhi came to Odisha for promoting the Non-Cooperation Movement in which year?
    Answer: 1921
  6. Who led the Salt Satyagraha in Balasore district?
    Answer: Surendra Nath Das
  7. When was the Salt Law broken in Inchudi of Balasore?
    Answer: 14th April, 1930
  8. Where was the Odisha State’s People’s Conference organised in 1931?
    Answer: Cuttack
  9. The first Odisha State’s People’s Conference was held under the Presidentship of?
    Answer: Bhubananda Das
  10. Who was appointed as the director of the Individual Civil Disobedience Movement in Odisha?
    Answer: HK Mahtab
  11. Who among the following became a martyr in Odisha during the Quit India Movement?
    Answer: Laxman Naik
  12. When was the hero of Odisha, Laxman Naik executed?
    Answer: 29th March, 1943
  13. Which of the following events in Odisha is similar to the Jallianwala Bagh incident in Punjab?
    Answer: The Massacre of Eram
  14. Where in Odisha did the largest number of people die in a massacre?
    Answer: Balasore
  15. Eram is famous as “Rakta Tirtha” for?
    Answer: Massacre at Melan Padia
  16. Who had led the Prajamandal Movement in the area of Dhenkanal?
    Answer: Baishnab Charan Pattanaik
  17. The most heroic role in the Dhenkanal uprising was played by?
    Answer: Sri Baishnab Charan Patnaik
  18. Odisha became a separate province in which year?
    Answer: 1936
  19. The first Congress Ministry was made under the leadership of?
    Answer: Biswanath Das
  20. After the resignation of the Congress Ministry, under whom was a coalition ministry formed in November 1941?
    Answer: Maharaja Paralakhemundi
  21. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel came to Odisha for its merger in?
    Answer: 1947
  22. Which state was not amalgamated into Odisha in 1948?
    Answer: Mayurbhanj
  23. Which Odia speaking states were later placed under Bihar due to political miscalculations?
    Answer: Seraikela and Kharsawan
  24. Which of the following activities is not related to Madhusudan Das?
    Answer: Satyabadi School
  25. Who was the first President of Utkal Pradesh Congress Committee in 1921?
    Answer: Gopabandhu Das
  26. Krushna Chandra Gajapati organised the tenth session of Utkal Union Conference in?
    Answer: Paralakhemundi
  27. Who among the following was the sole delegate from Odisha in the First Round Table Conference?
    Answer: Krushna Chandra Gajapati
  28. Who established ‘Sevaghar’ Ashram at Bari?
    Answer: Rama Devi
  29. ‘Navajeevan Mandal’ at Tumbadiguda of Koraput was formed by Rama Devi in?
    Answer: 1946
  30. Sarala Devi observed a fast from 6th April to 13th April 1921 for?
    Answer: Non-Cooperation Movement

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