Keonjhar District - History

History

The district of Keonjhar presents a panorama of millennia, both from the geographical and anthropological point of view. It is as varied as the whole of Orissa with water-falls roaring gorges, mountains and minerals. The manifold expressions of nature in this district are unique in Orissa.

Anthropologically, its two main tribes, namely the Juangs and the Bhuyans carry a distinct and primitive past. The Juang claims themselves to be the most ancient tribe of the world. In spite of their modern ways of living, many aboriginal practices are still prevalent among them.

After the integration of the feudatory states with Orissa on 1 January 1948 the state of Keonjhar emerged as one of its districts of Orissa, with its headquarters at Keonjhar. Since then the name has been changed to Kendujhar District.

The whole district of Keonjhar was a princely state before its merger with Orissa. The early history of the State is not adequately known. It was most probably a part of the old Khijjinga territory with headquarters at Khijjinga Kota, identified with modern Khiching. It became a separate state with Jyoti Bhanja as its ruling chief sometime during the first half of the 12th century A.D. The then State of Keonjhar comprised only the northern half of the modern district for a long time prior to the installation of Jyoti Bhanja as King. During the latter part of the 15th century the southern half was occupied by King Govinda Bhanja under whose rule Keonjhar was extended from Singhbhum in the north to Sukinda (a Zamindari in Cuttack district) in the South and from Mayurbhanj in the East to the borders of the States of Bonai, Pallahara and Anugul in the West. During the rule of Pratap Balabhadra Bhanja (1764–1792 A.D.) two small areas of Tillo and Jujhpada were purchased from the Zamindar of Kantajhari and were added to the State. These were recognised as parts of Keonjhar in the Sanad granted by the East India Company to Raja Janardan Bhanj in 1804. Since then there had been no territorial changes of the State till its merger with the Province of Orissa. But after merger largely for the reasons of administrative expediency the areas of Tillo (7.51 km2) and Jujhpada (9.06sq.km.) were transferred to the districts of Baleshwar and Cuttack respectively, while a number of villages called Ambo group (14.84 km2.) of Balasore district were added to Keonjhar district.

The kings who had the rein of Kendujhar in chronological order are listed below.

• Shri Jagannath Bhanja (1688–1700)
• Shri Raghunath Bhanja (1700–1719)
• Shri Gopinath Bhanja (1719–1736)
• Shri Narasingha Narayan Bhanja (1736–1757)
• Shri Dhaneshwar Narayan Bhanja (1757–1758)
• Shri Jagateshwar Narayan Bhanja (758–1762)
• Shri Pratap Balabhadra Bhanja (1764–1792 / 1762–1797)
• Shri Janardan Bhanja (1794–1825 / 1797–1832)
• Shri Gadadhar Narayan Bhanja Deo (1825–1861 / 1832–1861)
• Shri Dhanurjay Narayan Bhanja Deo (1861–1905)
• Shri Gopinath Narayan Bhanja Deo (1905–1926)
• Shri Balabhadra Narayan Bhanja Deo (1926–1948)

The district is currently a part of the Red Corridor.