Bakshi Jagabandhu, the great hero
In this article I have explain about Jagabandhu Vidyadhar, who is also called as Bakshi Jagabandhu and Well known for his courage, his early life, how he started his fight against the British as a King of Khuda, how became a leader of rebellion and how the government finally captured Bakshi
Jagabandhu Vidyadhar came from the royal Bhoi Dynasty that was ruling Odisha. He was matrimonially connected to the king of Sergarh and the king of Baramba. In this childhood he was educated and trained to fill up the high office of the Bakshi(Commander in Chief). He had fine physique and possessed great bodily strength and vigour. Once he felt an itching sensation in an old temple of Krurda and scactched his back against a stone 10'×5'×2.5' in size. The stone was half raised from the ground.
Jagabandhu Vidyadhar became the Bakshi of the Raja of Khurda, the post he enjoyed by his hereditary rights and by his own capability. Besides jaghirs and other benefits he enjoyed the valuable estate of Killa Rorang at a very low rent. The first settlement of Krruda started in 1804-05. Jagabandhu possessed Omhai,Rehang, Sevai and Chalisked as rent free lands. Major Fletcher disregarded his claims and measured all the landed property leaving not a bigha of land. He was allowed to enjoy Killa Rorang.
The British had excluded native Odiya from all offices of trust. These were mostly filled up by the Bengalis and the Muslims. Dewan Krishna Chandra Singh resigned and by intrigue took away even Rorang, depriving Jagabandhu of all property. There was no remedy. In a state of despair, hatred and thrist for revenge he planned a rising against the newly established British Government by organising dissatisfied Dolbeheras in January 1817. Pindars also invaded from south. He boldly came forward to rebel against the British. People appointed him as their leader.
The rebellion was handled by the march of a body of Ghumsar khandhas in to Banapur in the last week of March, 1817. The rebels victoriously marched to Krruda and took over administration. Jagabandhu Vidyadhar showed his skill and leadership as a fighter to free his motherland from foreingers.
The rebellion broke out in March 1817 and lasted for a year and half. By September 1818 it almost stamped out Britishers. The persionality of Jagabandhu Vidyadhar is striking in all respects. His personal dash, courage, devotion and loyality showed out prominently the rebellion against British. He was eager first to cooperate with British. But he was subjected to all kind of injustice, humiliation and degradation. The rebellion of 1817 was his hard work. He could enlist the sympathy and the support of the people. His rare iron will and determination was admired by the British army. But Bakshi fled away undetected.
Government tried frantically to capture Bakshi. At last, a political settlement was arrived at by the British.He reached Cuttack on May 27, 1825 and signed an agreement. He was given a monthly pension of Rs. 100/- which subsequently was raised to Rs. 150/-. Hedied at his Cuttack residence on Saturday, the 24th January, 1829. Jagabandhu Vidyadhar 's surrender ws a political settlement with dignity and honour.
Jagabandhu Vidyadhar is remembered today as a great hero of national moment and especially for his courage in every Odiya heart. A Government college Bakshi Jagabandhu Vidyadhar College was name after him.
