Paiks Rebellion

The Paiks Rebellion, also known as the Paika Rebellion of 1817, was one of the earliest and most significant armed uprisings against British colonial rule in India. It took place in Odisha (then Orissa) and was led by Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mohapatra Bharamarbar Rai, the military chief (Bakshi) of the Raja of Khurda. The revolt was a major expression of local resistance to British exploitation, land reforms, and administrative oppression, and it is often regarded as a precursor to India’s First War of Independence in 1857.

Historical Background

Before the advent of British rule, the Paiks served as the traditional militia and peasant-soldiers of the Rajas of Khurda, who were among the most powerful rulers in Odisha. The Paiks held hereditary rent-free lands known as “Nij-jati jagirs”, granted to them in return for their military service.
However, after the British East India Company annexed Odisha from the Marathas in 1803, the local feudal structure was disrupted. The British introduced new land settlement policies and abolished the traditional jagir system. These measures deprived the Paiks of their land and livelihoods, leading to widespread discontent.
Adding to their misery, the British imposed heavy taxes, ignored local customs, and introduced administrative systems that marginalised the local nobility and military classes. The Raja of Khurda, Maharaja Mukunda Deva II, was deposed, and the British administration took direct control of the region.

Causes of the Rebellion

The Paiks Rebellion was the result of multiple economic, political, and social grievances against colonial rule. The key causes include:

• Loss of Traditional Rights: The abolition of rent-free land grants deprived the Paiks of their ancestral privileges and economic security.
• Displacement of Local Rulers: The dethronement of the Raja of Khurda and the subjugation of local zamindars angered the regional elites.
• Economic Exploitation: Harsh revenue collection, oppressive taxation, and confiscation of land deepened the peasants’ suffering.
• Administrative Arrogance: The British officials’ disregard for Odia culture and customs created resentment among the population.
• Leadership of Bakshi Jagabandhu: As the Bakshi of Khurda, Jagabandhu emerged as the natural leader of the disaffected Paiks and mobilised both tribal and non-tribal communities under his command.

Course of the Rebellion

The rebellion broke out in March 1817 when Bakshi Jagabandhu and his followers, along with the support of tribal groups such as the Kandhas from Ghumusar and Banapur, attacked British establishments in Banapur and Khordha.

• The rebels captured Banapur, destroyed police stations, and looted government treasuries.
• The uprising quickly spread to other parts of Odisha, including Puri, where the rebels gained the support of the common people and some zamindars.
• They temporarily took control of Khordha and even hoisted the flag of the exiled Raja Mukunda Deva II, symbolising the restoration of traditional rule.
• British officials, including local magistrates and revenue officers, fled from their posts.

The British, however, soon organised a counter-offensive. Troops were sent from Cuttack and Berhampur to suppress the rebellion. By May 1817, the British had recaptured the major centres of the revolt.
Bakshi Jagabandhu escaped into the forests and continued guerrilla warfare against the British for several years. He was finally captured in 1825 and kept under detention in Cuttack until his death in 1829.

Leadership and Organisation

• Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mohapatra Bharamarbar Rai: The principal leader and symbol of resistance. As the Bakshi of Khurda, he commanded great respect among the Paiks and the local populace.
• Maharaja Mukunda Deva II: The deposed ruler of Khurda, though not directly leading the revolt, served as a symbolic figure for the restoration of indigenous authority.
• Tribal Allies: The Kandhas, a major tribal community from the neighbouring regions, played an active role in providing men, resources, and guerrilla support to the Paiks.

The movement united various social groups — Paiks, peasants, zamindars, and tribal communities — under a common cause against British rule.

British Response

The British responded with a combination of military repression and administrative reform:

• Large-scale military operations were conducted to restore order. Many rebels were killed or imprisoned.
• Property belonging to leaders and participants was confiscated.
• The British realised the importance of conciliatory measures, restoring some privileges to local elites and reducing taxes in certain regions.

Despite its suppression, the rebellion exposed the deep-seated discontent among the people of Odisha and the limitations of British policies in the region.

Consequences

• Suppression of the Revolt: The rebellion was brutally crushed, with hundreds of Paiks killed or arrested.
• Recognition of Local Grievances: The British administration reviewed its revenue and land policies, acknowledging that excessive interference had provoked the uprising.
• Emergence of Regional Consciousness: The revolt inspired later generations of Odias to resist colonial rule and protect their cultural identity.
• Legacy of Jagabandhu: Bakshi Jagabandhu became a folk hero and a symbol of courage, patriotism, and defiance in Odisha’s history.

Significance

The Paiks Rebellion holds a distinctive place in India’s freedom movement for several reasons:

• It was one of the earliest large-scale revolts against British rule, preceding the 1857 Revolt by four decades.
• It was a popular uprising involving peasants, soldiers, tribal groups, and local rulers united by a shared sense of injustice.
• The rebellion combined elements of economic protest, anti-colonial sentiment, and the defence of traditional institutions.
• It demonstrated that resistance to colonialism was not confined to any single class or region but was widespread across India.