Krushna Chandra Gajapati
Encyclopedia
Krushna Chandra Gajapati (Oriya
: ମହାରାଜା କୃଷ୍ଣଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ଗଜପତି ନାରାୟଣ ଦେବ) (26 April 1892 - 25 May 1974), popularly known as Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayana Dev, was the key personality in the formation of Independent Orissa
state. He is regarded as the architect of modern Orissa
state. The present Gajapati District
of Orissa has been named after him. He was the Honorary Captain in the First World War.
He had great interest in Oriya literature, art, music, culture, sports, games and horse-riding (in which sport he himself
excelled).
of Paralakhemundi
was born on 26 April 1892 to the king of Paralakhemundi
Shri Goura Chandra Gajapati and Smt. Radhamani Devi.
Shri Gajapathi had his elememtary education at the local Maharaja High School of Paralakhemundi and then entered the exclusive Newington College in Madras for higher studies. During his studies in Madras, he lost his father Shri Goura Chandra Gajapati. After completing his studies at Madras he returned to Paralakhemundi and in the year 1913 married to princess of Kharasuan State. In the same year he held the reign of the State on 26 April 1913.
, Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das
, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, Fakir Mohan Senapati
and other eminent members of Utkal Sammilani decided to demand a separate Orissa state with an amalgamation of Oriya speaking areas in the then Orissa-Bihar-Bengal province. This proposal was approved In the Bihar-Orissa Legislative Assembly. As a member of the Utkal Sammilani, he put forward the proposal of a separate Orissa state in the first Round table conference
held in London
on 16 November 1930.
Finally, after the undying effort of Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati and Utkal Sammilani, the separate state of United Orissa was formed on 1 April 1936. From that day, 1 April is being celebrated by the Oriya
people as Utkal Divas. In 1937, the first Governor of Orissa, Sir John Austin Hubbak invited Krushna Chandra Gajapati Dev to form the cabinet. Shri Gajapati was the first Prime Minister of the Orissa state from 1 April 1937 to 18 July 1937. Later on he was the Prime Minister of Orissa for the second time from 24 November 1941 to 30 June 1944.
, the SCB Medical College and also the famous Central Rice Research Institute in Bidyadharpur, Cuttack, which is one of the biggest of its kind in Asia. He set up many hospitals, schools, colleges, industrial institutions, modern agricultural farms and provided a record number of 1281 irrigation sagars or water-tanks in his agriculturally dominant native taluk. It is the reason, the undivided Ganjam District got the title 'the rice-bowl of Orissa'. Scholarships were awarded to thousands of poor and meritorious students for pursuing studies in humanities, science, agriculture, medicine, engineering etc.
Honorary Doctorates by the Utkal University and the Berhampur University were awarded to him. The prestigious Knighthood of K.C.I.E. was also conferred on him by the King of England
. He was one among the founding fathers of the Indian Constitution, being a Member of the Constituent Assembly of India as well. His contribution to horse-racing and his encouragement for horsebreeding in India are notable.
.
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
: ମହାରାଜା କୃଷ୍ଣଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ଗଜପତି ନାରାୟଣ ଦେବ) (26 April 1892 - 25 May 1974), popularly known as Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayana Dev, was the key personality in the formation of Independent Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
state. He is regarded as the architect of modern Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
state. The present Gajapati District
Gajapati district
Gajapati is a district of Orissa, India. It was created from Ganjam District in October, 1992. Gajapati district was named after Maharaja Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Dev, the Raja Sahib of the Paralakhemundi estate , who is remembered for his contribution in the formation of a separate...
of Orissa has been named after him. He was the Honorary Captain in the First World War.
He had great interest in Oriya literature, art, music, culture, sports, games and horse-riding (in which sport he himself
excelled).
Early Life and Education
Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Dev, the scion of the great Ganga DynastyGanga Dynasty
Ganga Dynasty is a name used for two unrelated dynasties who ruled parts of India:* The Western Ganga Dynasty, a kingdom in southern India, based in southern Karnataka, from the 3rd to the 10th centuries...
of Paralakhemundi
Paralakhemundi
Parlakhemundi is a small town and a municipality in Gajapati district in the Indian state of Orissa. The major languages spoken in this region are Oriya and Telugu.- Demographics :...
was born on 26 April 1892 to the king of Paralakhemundi
Paralakhemundi
Parlakhemundi is a small town and a municipality in Gajapati district in the Indian state of Orissa. The major languages spoken in this region are Oriya and Telugu.- Demographics :...
Shri Goura Chandra Gajapati and Smt. Radhamani Devi.
Shri Gajapathi had his elememtary education at the local Maharaja High School of Paralakhemundi and then entered the exclusive Newington College in Madras for higher studies. During his studies in Madras, he lost his father Shri Goura Chandra Gajapati. After completing his studies at Madras he returned to Paralakhemundi and in the year 1913 married to princess of Kharasuan State. In the same year he held the reign of the State on 26 April 1913.
Role in the formation of Independent Orissa State
Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati was the pivot of the Oriya movement for the formation of Independent Orissa state on the basis of Language and homogeneity. He spent extensively from his royal treasury to materialize this effort. Utkal Gourav Madhusudan DasMadhusudan Das
Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das was born on 28 April 1848 in a village called Satyabhamapur, 20 kilometres from Cuttack, Orissa. He was the first Graduate and Advocate of Orissa.-Family:...
, Utkalamani Gopabandhu Das
Gopabandhu Das
Gopabandhu Dash known as Utkalamani was a social worker who excelled in the field of politics as well as literature.-Early life : The revolutionary student:...
, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, Fakir Mohan Senapati
Fakir Mohan Senapati
Fakir Mohan Senapati born on January 13, 1843, at Mallikashpur in Balasore, played a leading role in establishing the distinct identity of Oriya, a language mainly spoken in the Indian state of Orissa...
and other eminent members of Utkal Sammilani decided to demand a separate Orissa state with an amalgamation of Oriya speaking areas in the then Orissa-Bihar-Bengal province. This proposal was approved In the Bihar-Orissa Legislative Assembly. As a member of the Utkal Sammilani, he put forward the proposal of a separate Orissa state in the first Round table conference
Round Table Conferences (India)
This article is about the Anglo-Indian Round Table Conferences. For the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference, see Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference. For other uses of Round Table, see Round Table ....
held in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 16 November 1930.
Finally, after the undying effort of Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati and Utkal Sammilani, the separate state of United Orissa was formed on 1 April 1936. From that day, 1 April is being celebrated by the Oriya
Oriya language
Oriya , officially Odia from November, 2011, is an Indian language, belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is mainly spoken in the Indian states of Orissa and West Bengal...
people as Utkal Divas. In 1937, the first Governor of Orissa, Sir John Austin Hubbak invited Krushna Chandra Gajapati Dev to form the cabinet. Shri Gajapati was the first Prime Minister of the Orissa state from 1 April 1937 to 18 July 1937. Later on he was the Prime Minister of Orissa for the second time from 24 November 1941 to 30 June 1944.
Social and Philanthropic Services
He was instrumental in the establishment of the Utkal UniversityUtkal University
Utkal University, Bhubaneswar is the oldest university in Orissa and the 17th oldest university in India. It is a teaching-cum-affiliating university that has produced some of the best brains in Orissa. There are at 26 post-graduate departments at the university campus for studies and research in...
, the SCB Medical College and also the famous Central Rice Research Institute in Bidyadharpur, Cuttack, which is one of the biggest of its kind in Asia. He set up many hospitals, schools, colleges, industrial institutions, modern agricultural farms and provided a record number of 1281 irrigation sagars or water-tanks in his agriculturally dominant native taluk. It is the reason, the undivided Ganjam District got the title 'the rice-bowl of Orissa'. Scholarships were awarded to thousands of poor and meritorious students for pursuing studies in humanities, science, agriculture, medicine, engineering etc.
Political Services and Honours
Shri Krushna Chandra Gajapati was an Honorary Captain in the First World War. He received a rare Sanad in 1920 from the then Viceroy and Governor General of India, in recognition of his services rendered to the Indian Army during the Great War and as a mark of commendation. He was the Member of the Royal Commission on Agriculture, under the Chairmanship of Lord Linlithgow. He was also the Member of the Madras Legislative Council.Honorary Doctorates by the Utkal University and the Berhampur University were awarded to him. The prestigious Knighthood of K.C.I.E. was also conferred on him by the King of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was one among the founding fathers of the Indian Constitution, being a Member of the Constituent Assembly of India as well. His contribution to horse-racing and his encouragement for horsebreeding in India are notable.
Death
The worthy son of Orissa, Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapathi passed away very peacefully on the 25 May 1974 at the age of 82, leaving behind numerous relatives, friends, admirers and wellwishers to mourn his irreparable loss. He was accorded a state funeral by the Government of Orissa and was cremated with full honours at ParalakhemundiParalakhemundi
Parlakhemundi is a small town and a municipality in Gajapati district in the Indian state of Orissa. The major languages spoken in this region are Oriya and Telugu.- Demographics :...
.