Quit India Movement and Odisha | Odisha State PSC (OPSC): Preparation - OPSC OCS (Odisha) PDF Download

 Page 1


l
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.
l
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
l
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.
l
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.
l
HK Mahtab was arrested after delivering an anti-war speech at Remuna on the
same day.
l
In March 1941, the Individual Civil Disobedience ended.
Quit India Movement and Odisha
l
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.
l
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.
l
Laxman Naik was arrested and executed on 29th March, 1943 on the basis of the
false charge of killing the forest guard Ramaya.
l
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 due to which the Chief of police ordered open firing. This
village of Eram is also known as Rakta Tirtha Eram.
42
Know Your State ODISHA
Page 2


l
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.
l
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
l
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.
l
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.
l
HK Mahtab was arrested after delivering an anti-war speech at Remuna on the
same day.
l
In March 1941, the Individual Civil Disobedience ended.
Quit India Movement and Odisha
l
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.
l
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.
l
Laxman Naik was arrested and executed on 29th March, 1943 on the basis of the
false charge of killing the forest guard Ramaya.
l
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 due to which the Chief of police ordered open firing. This
village of Eram is also known as Rakta Tirtha Eram.
42
Know Your State ODISHA
Prajamandal Movement
l
During the British rule, the princely or the native states of Odisha enjoyed  full
support of the Britishers. Princes of these states committed cruel atrocities on their
subjects.
l
The people were exploited through several taxes like ‘Rasad’, ‘Magan’, ‘Bethi’, and
‘Begari’. When this type of exploitation became unbearable people revolted against
the ruling princes and organised the Prajamandal movement.
l
Under the leadership of HK Mahtab and Sarangdhar Das a ‘Prajamandal’ was
formed at Gariamal in 1938.
l
On 11th July, 1938, on the day of the Rath Yatra they addressed a huge gathering
and made pointed references to the misrule of the king. This movement took a
serious turn in Dhenkanal. Sri Baishnab Charan Patnaik played an important role
in Dhenkanal uprising.
l
The British Government withdrew all powers of the king of Dhenkanal. ‘Bethi’
was revoked, land tax was reduced from four annas to two annas and all arrested
leaders were released.
l
The movement spread to Talcher, Gangapur, Ranpur, Nayagarh, Bonai, Sonepur
and Mayurbanj, etc.
Consequences of Prajamandal Movement
l
King became tolerant towards the people and people realised that non-violence was
the most effective means.
l
The Prajamandal movement accelerated the process of merger of the native
Princely States into Odisha. The Prajamandal movement helped in ending
monarchy in Odisha.
Final Phase of The Freedom Struggle
l
On 1st April, 1936, Odisha was granted the status of a separate province. Odiya
day is celebrated on 1st April every year. General elections were held in the British
Indian Provinces in 1937 and in Odisha, the Congress won 36 seats out of 60.
Thus, it made a way for the first Congress Ministry under the leadership of
Biswanath Das with two other ministers, Nityananda Kanungo and Bodhram
Dube.
l
After the resignation of the Congress Ministry, a Coalition Ministry was formed in
November, 1941 with the Maharaja Paralakhemundi as Premier and Pandit
Godavaris Mishra and Maulvi Abdus Sobhan Khan as ministers. This Ministry
functioned for a little over two and a half years. The most noteworthy achievement
was the establishment of a university in Odisha, famous as the Utkal University in
the year.
43
Freedom Struggle in Odisha
Page 3


l
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.
l
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
l
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.
l
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.
l
HK Mahtab was arrested after delivering an anti-war speech at Remuna on the
same day.
l
In March 1941, the Individual Civil Disobedience ended.
Quit India Movement and Odisha
l
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.
l
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.
l
Laxman Naik was arrested and executed on 29th March, 1943 on the basis of the
false charge of killing the forest guard Ramaya.
l
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 due to which the Chief of police ordered open firing. This
village of Eram is also known as Rakta Tirtha Eram.
42
Know Your State ODISHA
Prajamandal Movement
l
During the British rule, the princely or the native states of Odisha enjoyed  full
support of the Britishers. Princes of these states committed cruel atrocities on their
subjects.
l
The people were exploited through several taxes like ‘Rasad’, ‘Magan’, ‘Bethi’, and
‘Begari’. When this type of exploitation became unbearable people revolted against
the ruling princes and organised the Prajamandal movement.
l
Under the leadership of HK Mahtab and Sarangdhar Das a ‘Prajamandal’ was
formed at Gariamal in 1938.
l
On 11th July, 1938, on the day of the Rath Yatra they addressed a huge gathering
and made pointed references to the misrule of the king. This movement took a
serious turn in Dhenkanal. Sri Baishnab Charan Patnaik played an important role
in Dhenkanal uprising.
l
The British Government withdrew all powers of the king of Dhenkanal. ‘Bethi’
was revoked, land tax was reduced from four annas to two annas and all arrested
leaders were released.
l
The movement spread to Talcher, Gangapur, Ranpur, Nayagarh, Bonai, Sonepur
and Mayurbanj, etc.
Consequences of Prajamandal Movement
l
King became tolerant towards the people and people realised that non-violence was
the most effective means.
l
The Prajamandal movement accelerated the process of merger of the native
Princely States into Odisha. The Prajamandal movement helped in ending
monarchy in Odisha.
Final Phase of The Freedom Struggle
l
On 1st April, 1936, Odisha was granted the status of a separate province. Odiya
day is celebrated on 1st April every year. General elections were held in the British
Indian Provinces in 1937 and in Odisha, the Congress won 36 seats out of 60.
Thus, it made a way for the first Congress Ministry under the leadership of
Biswanath Das with two other ministers, Nityananda Kanungo and Bodhram
Dube.
l
After the resignation of the Congress Ministry, a Coalition Ministry was formed in
November, 1941 with the Maharaja Paralakhemundi as Premier and Pandit
Godavaris Mishra and Maulvi Abdus Sobhan Khan as ministers. This Ministry
functioned for a little over two and a half years. The most noteworthy achievement
was the establishment of a university in Odisha, famous as the Utkal University in
the year.
43
Freedom Struggle in Odisha
Role of Odishan Women in the Freedom Struggle
Women in Odisha, like their counterparts in the rest of the country made a
significant contribution in the freedom struggle.
There role is discussed below:
l
On 23rd March, 1921, Mahatma Gandhi reached Cuttack, and addressed a
meeting at Cuttack town. The women like Rama Devi, Sarala Devi, Sarojini Devi,
Malati Devi and many others attended the meeting.
l
The Gandhian thought had appealed the women so much that they contributed
their ornaments to the Tilak Swaraj Fund. Surprisingly, the contribution of
women to the Tilak Swaraj Fund was highest.
l
During the Civil Disobedience Movement women played a vital role in the
preparation of salt at Inchudi of Balasore district. Rama Devi, Malati Devi and
Krishnabala Sen at Inchudi galvanised the Salt Satyagraha. A Satyagraha
Committee was formed in Sambalpur.
l
Rama Devi established an Ashram at Bari. Gandhiji named it as Sevaghar. Rana
Devi also represented Odishan women in ‘Kasturba National Memorial Trust’.
l
Women also handled the British suppression during Kaipada firing.
l
Sarala Devi wrote poems with a view to create political, social and national
awareness among the people of Odisha. Sita Devi Khadanga wrote a play named
Mandira Prabesha which was based on the Harijan Movement of Gandhiji.
their administration and merged with Odisha with effect from 1st January, 1948.
Mayurbhanj was also merged with Odisha a year later. But under some
extraordinary circumstances and political miscalculations, the two Oriya-speaking
ex-states of Seraikela and Kharsawan were merged with Bihar.
44
Know Your State ODISHA