History Boudh district

the history of boudh still in obscurity. however, discovery of remarkable buddhist statues boudh led scholars believe boudh important buddhist centre of orissa. epigraphic records known in middle of 8th century ad, boudh region under occupation of bhanja rulers , part of khinjali mandala. earliest known ruler of bhanja family nettabhanja ruling on dhenkanal region independent ruler, successor migrated towards boudh-sonepur region , established khinjali mandala , ruled there feudatory of bhauma-karas of tosali. sonepur copper plate of satrubhanja dev, son of silabhanja mentions name khinjali mandala first time , on basis believed silabhanja dev founder of bhanja kula of khinjali mandala. capital dhirtipura, has been identified boudh town. satrubhanja dev – ii, ruler of family defeated , killed somavamsi ruler of south kosala, janmeyjaya – i. bhanja’s driven out boudh region renamed odra desa. yayati – i, son , successor of janmejaya – established capital in odradesa @ yayatinagara, has been identified modern jagati in boudh district. somavansi occupied , migrated towards utkala leaving original home land south-kosala in charge of viceroys. in course of time kosala lost them , occupied telugu-chodas , kalachuris. imperial gangas of kalinga, after occupation of utkala, entered protracted struggle kalachuris 1 hundred years occupation of kosala region. evident chatesvar inscription ( 1220 ad) struggle ended in favour of gangas during region of anangabhima deva – iii , thereafter boudh along sonepur came under ganga rule , administered ganga administrators. in course of time, ganga administrators became semi-independent , ruled on territory hereditarily. far tradition goes, there emerged brahmin ruling family in boudh . gandhamardan dev, last brahmin ruler of family, being childless adopted 1 ananga bhanja of keonjhar bhanja royal family. succeeded gandharmardhan dev , laid foundation of rule of bhanjas in boudh in first half of 14th century ad. changed surname bhanja dev , known ananga dev. since then, new line of kings continued rule on region till merger of boudh state orissa province in 1948. kingdom comprised modern athmallik, boudh, , sonepur regions capital headquarters @ swarnapura (sonepur). later on due expansionist policy followed chouhan rulers of patna (patnagarh in bolangir district) shifted capital boudh.

in first half of 17th century ad, boudh powerful kingdom , sonepur remained under direct administration. during period chouhan rulers of sambalpur had established supremacy on entire western orissa. balabhadradeva ( 1605-1630 ad), chouhan ruler of sambalpur defeated siddhabhanja dev (siddheswar dev) of boudh , forced him cede sonepur region made separate state chouhans in 1640 ad.

in mean time orissa occupied muslims , though nothing details known relationship between rulers of boudh , muslim subedars in cuttack yet believed boudh maintained friendly relation muslims , this, raja pratap dev of boudh, had secured him muslim powers, title swasti sri dhirlakhya dhumbadhipati jahrkhand mandaleswar used rulers of boudh till time of raja banamali deb.

but maratha contact boudh state felt more during maratha rule in orissa under muslim rule. vital line of communication between nagpur , cuttack, passes through boudh state, drew special attention maratha governors @ cuttack. raja of boudh paying tribute maratha , maintained cordial relation them. in 1800 ad relationship became stained. maratha attacked boudh , defeated raja biswambara dev. however, allowed rule feudatory raja of nagpur paying regular tribute.

during years of reign of raja biswamabara dev (1778–1817) panchara pragana lying between baghanadi , meheruni jore separated boudh state. said in 1780-81 raja of boudh had obtained loan raja of sonepur , liquidation of debt had ceded above pragana sonepur. said above said pragana given raja of sonepur rendering military boudh in time of trouble , in lieu there of enjoy revenue rights of pragana. when sonepur raja occupied permanently dispute arose possession of tract, settled superintendent of tributary mahals in favor of sonepur.

during region of sidhabhanja dev ( siddheswar dev) sonepur region conquered boudh chouhan ruler of sambalpur. process of vivisection of territories of boudh state had started earlier. in ad 1498-99, raja of boudh state had made gift of dasapalla territory extending kamaimuhan near kantilo udandi muhan in east younger brother narayan dev, asserted independence , made dasapalla separate state. again strip of territory lying between kharang river on west of boudh , amaimuhan given raja madan mohan dev in 1599-1600 ad dowry daughters married in chouhan royal family of patna state. however, athmallik , khondhmal remained part of boudh state time.

after british conquest of orissa in ad 1803, raja biswambar dev of boudh submitted british , entered treaty agreement british east india company on 3 march 1804.

after third anglo martha war, british government permanently occupied boudh marathas , included state in south west frontier agency till 1837, when brought under superintendent of tributary mahals, cuttack.

in 1817 ad, raja biswambar dev died , succeeded son chandra sekhar dev. in 1821, received fresh sanand british government fixing annual tribute of boudh @ rs. 800/-. after death, son pitambara dev ascended throne in 1839 ad. during reign, on 15 february 1855 ad, khondmal separated boudh state , annexed british territory. raja pitambar dev remained loyal british government , cooperated british agency in suppressing human sacrifice , khondh rebellion in ghumsur , khondhmal. chakra bisoi, remained in boudh state since 1855 , organized khondhas, driven out of state , peace , order restored. british government recognized title raja, separate sanand granted him in 1875 ad.

the athmallik state part of boudh state , chief of boudh raja of boudh , athmallik. chief of athmallik called zamindar , addressed samanta. in 1875, chief of athmallik officially recognized raja , athamallik became separate state in 1894 ad.

raja pitambar dev died in 1880 , succeeded son jogindra dev. benevolent , generous ruler , introduced english education first time in state. @ time of death in 1913, eldest son narayan dev minor , hence administration of state managed court of wards , dewan. formal coronation took place on 31 march 1925. reign, power , function of ruler reduced considerable extent , practical purposes, appears state under grip of political agent, raja narayan dev suppressed political agitation organized in boudh in 1930-31 , adopted stern measures against prajamandal movement in 1945. had developed jagti village ( yayatinagar, somavamsi capital) , renamed it, narayan nagar. last ruler of boudh state , on 1 january 1948, state merged orissa province.

since boudh sub-division of newly created district of boudh-kondhamals. raised status of district headquarters of orissa since 2 january 1994. people of boudh consider part of kosal (west-orissa).