Dhenkanal State
| Dhenkanal State ଢେଙ୍କାନାଳ |
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| Princely State of British India | ||||||
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| History | ||||||
| • | Established | 1529 | ||||
| • | Accession to the Indian Union | 1948 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| • | 1892 | 3,789 km2(1,463 sq mi) | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| • | 1892 | 273,662 | ||||
| Density | 72.2 /km2 (187.1 /sq mi) | |||||
 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. |
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Dhenkanal State was one of the princely states of India during the period of the British Raj. Its former territory is now Dhenkanal district, Odisha, with Dhenkanal town as its district headquarters.
In the year 1529 A.D. during the rule of Gajapati Maharaja of Utkal Sri Sri Pratap Rudra Deb, his Southern Division Commander and Bebarta galloped to Dhenkanal, situated 150 km north of Puri, leading a force of cavalry and foot soldiers. There was a fight with the soldiers of the chief who was ruling Dhenkanal. The battle was won by Gajapati’s Commander who was appointed by Gajapati Maharaja as the Raja of Dhenkanal and Bebarta was also appointed. The Raja became the hereditary ruler of Dhenkanal and Bebarta (Minister) post was also hereditary. Proper administration was installed, maintained and there was perceptible improvement in all matters of the State. The Maratha attack was effectively resisted. Raja Bhagirathi Pratap was a very popular and effective ruler, who was decorated with hereditary title of Mahindra Bahadur.
Raja Sri Sura Pratap Singh Deo Mahindra Bahadur's eldest son, Prince Shankar Pratap, became Raja in the year 1926. He was young and still studying. Subsequently he went to England to study Bar at Law. After his return to Dhenkanal, he put his mind to administration.
While Raja Sri Shankar Pratap Singh Deo Mahindra Bahadur was in England, his younger brother, Pattayat Nrusingha Pratap Singh Deo was ruling over Dhenkanal. He built his 100 room palace at Jatan Nagar with forced labour. The labourers were tortured badly. Raja's Accountant also extracted money from common men. After all these incidents people expected an improved state of affairs after Raja Sri Shankar Pratap would return from abroad and take over administration from his younger brother.
Raja Sri Shankar Pratap was more repressive as a result of which the common people rose in revolt. The revolt was organised and mobilized mainly by Harmohan Patnaik, who was the grandson of Dhenkanal Bebarta Jagannath Patnaik and Dewan Damodar Patnaik. Harmohan Patnaik formed the Dhenkanal Praja Mandal and was elected as its President. This was the first Praja Mandal of British India and then Praja Mandals sprang up in all princely states of India as public organizations to resist the practices of the then Rajas and Maharajas.
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