Buxi Jagabandhu, also known as Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhara Mohapatra, was a prominent Indian freedom fighter and a leader of the Paika Rebellion of 1817 in Odisha. He was born in 1777 in the village of Kudumiyan in Khurda district of Odisha.
Buxi Jagabandhu came from a family of royal lineage and was appointed as the Buxi or military commander of the Khurda fort by the King of Khurda. He was a courageous and skilled warrior who had earned the respect of his people.
In 1817, the British East India Company introduced a new land revenue policy that was detrimental to the interests of the people of Odisha. This policy led to widespread discontent among the peasants and the zamindars (landlords) of the region. The Paikas, a class of armed soldiers who were employed by the rulers of Odisha, also felt oppressed by the new policy.
Buxi Jagabandhu took up the cause of the people and led a rebellion against the British. He mobilized a large army of Paikas and other fighters and launched an attack on the British at the Khurda and Pipli forts. The Paikas fought valiantly against the British forces and inflicted heavy casualties on them.
However, the rebellion was eventually suppressed by the British, who sent in reinforcements from Calcutta. Buxi Jagabandhu and his army were forced to flee and he went into hiding in the forests of Odisha. He was eventually captured by the British and was imprisoned for life in the Hazaribagh Central Jail in Jharkhand.
Buxi Jagabandhu was a charismatic leader who was loved and respected by the people of Odisha. He was a symbol of the resistance against the British and his legacy continues to inspire generations of Indians. His rebellion is considered one of the first uprisings against British colonial rule in India.
In conclusion, Buxi Jagabandhu was a brave and visionary leader who fought for the rights of his people and challenged the British colonial rule in India. His contribution to the freedom struggle is a source of inspiration for generations and his legacy is a reminder of the courage and determination of the Indian people in their fight for independence.
