By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/KENDRAPARA: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP National VP-Spokesperson, Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda were on Thursday remembered Kanika Peasants Movement leader Chakradhar Behera on his 126th Birth. “ମହାନ୍ ବିପ୍ଲବୀ ସ୍ୱର୍ଗତ ଚକ୍ରଧର ବେହେରାଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀ ଅବସରରେ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି,” tweeted Union PNG-Steel Minister Pradhan. BJP National VP-Spokesperson Panda also remembered his heroic role during peasants movements in Rajkanika of Odisha’s Kendrapara district.
Samajwadi Party workers led by its State president Rabi Behera garland on the statue of Biplabi Chakradhar Behera on his 126th Birthday today at RajBhawan Square in Bhubaneswar.
Legends has it Madhusudan Pattanaik was the leader. Chakradhar Behera activated the Kanika Praja movement with more enthusiasm. At last the King made a ban on the ‘Praja Sabha’. He ordered that “no one can arrange a meeting in the periphery of his State.” But the peasants were very bold and in a revolutionary mood.
Chakradhar Behera was born on 16th of July, 1894 in the village of Ankpada. It was in the year 1918 he passed his matriculation from Bhadrak High School and was well known to his elaka as an highly educated person. So, the King had appointed him as his accountant with a monthly salary of Rs. 60.11.
In 1920 crops were destroyed by heavy flood. In such a state of economic misery, king proposed to undertake a fresh land settlement7 and in 1922 first settlement of land was started in
Kanika. As the manager of Kanika, Indramani Mohanty began this settlement work, so it bore the name of “Indramani Settlement”. And on behalf of the British Government, the settlement work progressed in Orissa and Bihar.8 The king imposed some Kara on the Pesants known as Chausathi Kara. A few names of the infamous “Chausathi Kara” or Sixty Four Abwabs would suffice to prove to what low level.
Rajendra descended to collect money to quench his insatiable thirst. The Karas were Banakara (Forest), Machha Kara, Chochar Kara, Chama,Kara, Hada Kara, Anda Kara, Para Kara, Singa,Kara, Lata Kara, Fala Kara, Vata Kara, Bata Kara,Chula Kara, etc.The people opposed it on the ground that a new settlement by the Zamindar would result in a
exorbitant rise in taxes and suggested settlement by the Government.10 And here started the dispute between the kings and the subjects. But the subjects can’t suddenly oppose against the king. They therefore in need of a leader and in this time Chakradhar Behera emerged as their leader.
