The Union Government of India has lately declined to accept the Odisha Government’s demand for the acknowledgement of the rebellion as the first war of independence.
Highlights:
The Paikas of Khudra supported the Paika Rebellion in Odisha. It was led by Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhara. The rebellion was upheld against the British in the 1820s.
In 2017, the Odisha Government obliged that the Odisha rebellion be named the first war of independence.
The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 is currently called the first war of independence. The Central Government discussed the Indian Council of Historical Research.
According to ICHR, the rebellion cannot be the first war of independence.
The Government, however, has decided to include it in the curriculum of the Class VIII HISTORY textbook of NCERT.
Paika Rebellion:
Paika rebellion happened in 1817, 40 years before the first sepoy mutiny. The Paikas were the farmer militias who gave military Services to Gajapti rulers in Odisha.
The British East India Company ousted the King of Khurda, Raja Mukunda Deva, in 1803.
In 1804, the king organised a rebellion against the Britishers involving the Paikas.
However, the Britishers learned about the plan, confiscated the entire territory, and suppressed the Paika farmers through their revenue systems.
This started the rebellion following Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar in 1817.
The government buildings were set on fire, Police officers were killed, and the British safe was looted. Bakshi died in 1825 in prison.