About The Paika Rebellion:

The Paika Rebellion:

The Paika Rebellion is in the news because former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed concern over its omission from the NCERT’s new Class 8 history textbook.

About The Paika Rebellion:

• It was an armed uprising in 1817 in Odisha, India, led by the Paikas, a class of traditional land-owning militia, against British East India Company rule.
• Triggered by oppressive land revenue policies, exploitation, and the disbandment of the Paika militia, the rebellion began under the leadership of Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar, the commander of the King of Khurda.
• The Paikas, supported by local peasants and zamindars, attacked British symbols of authority, including the British garrison at Khurda. Though initially successful, the rebellion was suppressed by the British by 1818. It is considered one of the early resistance movements against colonial rule in India.

Other Rebellions in Orisaa:

Gajapati Rebellion (1804-1817) – This was an early resistance in the Khurda region led by the Gajapati rulers and local chieftains against British annexation and revenue policies, setting the stage for the Paika Rebellion.

Khurda Rebellion (1817-1818) – Closely related to the Paika Rebellion, this uprising involved the people of Khurda, led by figures like Jayi Rajguru, against British control after the deposition of the Raja of Khurda. It merged into the larger Paika movement.

Bhitara Paika Rebellion (1835-1837) – A lesser-known uprising by the Paikas and local tribals in the interior regions of Odisha, protesting British land settlements and taxation, though it was quickly suppressed.