Gajapati district

Last updated
Gajapati district
Khasada Waterfall Jiranga.jpg
Mahendragiri Hills.jpg
Gandahati Waterfall.jpg
B.N. Palace.jpg
Mahendragiri Temple, Mahendragiri.jpg
Clockwise from top-left: Khasada Waterfall, Mahendragiri Hills, Padmasambhava Mahavihara monastery, Gandahati waterfall, B.N. Palace, Mahendragiri Temple, Gajapati Palace
India Odisha Gajapati district.svg
Location in Odisha
Coordinates: 19°02′N84°12′E / 19.03°N 84.2°E / 19.03; 84.2
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
State Orissa Flag(INDIA).png Odisha
CD Blocks and Tahasils 07
District
Formation
October 2, 1992;32 years ago (1992-10-02)
Named for Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo
Headquarter Paralakhemundi
CD Blocks and Tahasils Gosani
Kashinagar
Gumma
Rayagada
Nuagada
R. Udayagiri
Mohana
Government
   District Collector and District Magistrate Smruti Ranjan Pradhan, IAS
   Superintendent of Police Swathy S. Kumar, IPS
Area
  Total3,850 km2 (1,490 sq mi)
  Rank16th
Elevation
1,501 m (4,925 ft)
Population
 (2024)
  Total814,722
  Rank28th
  Density212/km2 (550/sq mi)
Demonym Gajapatia
Languages
  Official Odia, English
  Local Sora   Kui
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
761 xxx
Telephone code06815 Paralakhemundi
06816 Mohana
06817 R. Udayagiri
Vehicle registration OD-20
Nearest city Brahmapur
Sex ratio 1046 /
Literacy53.49%
House of the People Constituency Brahmapur
Legislative Assembly Constituency 2
 
Climate Aw (Köppen)
Precipitation 1,403.3 millimetres (55.25 in)
Avg. summer temperature41 °C (106 °F)
Avg. winter temperature04 °C (39 °F)
Website www.gajapati.nic.in

Gajapati district is a district of Odisha State in India. It was created from Ganjam District on 2 October, 1992. As of 2011 it is the third least populous district of Odisha (out of 30), after Debagarh and Boudh. [1] Gajapati district was named after Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deb, the King of the Paralakhemundi estate and the first Prime Minister of Orissa, who is remembered for his contribution in the formation of a separate state, and inclusion of his estate in Odisha. The district headquarters at Paralakhemundi, formerly a Zamindari, has been clustered within a radius of approximately 5 kilometers around the geometric centre of Paralakhemundi.

Contents

History

The history of Gajapati district goes back to the Paralakhemundi kingdom. It was part of the Gajapati Kingdom of Odisha. During the 12th century CE Paralakhemundi was part of the Khemundi state. During the reign of Mukunda Dev Khemundi was trifurcated creating 3 states Bada Khemundi, Sana Khemundi and Paralakhemundi. After the trifurcation, Subhalinga Bhanu became the ruler of the Paralakhemundi. This line of kings continued to rule Paralakhemundi throughout the Mughal Maratha rule of Odisha. Before the British completed control of Odisha, Parala became a feudal state of British Raj during the reign of Gajapati Jagannatha Narayanadev in 1767. The state had some conflict with the British administrators. The king Gajapati Jagannatha Narayanadev and his son was arrested by the British. The state then came under direct British supervision. There was a revolt among the tribals and Paikas of the state against the King's detention. Due to this, the King was reinstated to his position. [2] Paralakhemundi remained under the administration as a feudatory state until its unification with Odisha. [3] One of the prominent kings of Parala was Krushna Chandra Gajapati. He was an active member of Utkal Sammilani and was instrumental in creating the separate state for Odisha. Finally, with the effort of Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati and Utkal Sammilani, the separate state of United Odisha was formed on 1 April 1936. The state of Paralkhemundi in Vizagapatam district was partitioned into two – with the capital and most of the princely state coming under Odisha and the remaining Telugu-speaking areas remained under Madras Presidency. In 1937, the first Governor of Odisha, Sir John Austin Hubback invited Krushna Chandra Gajapati Dev to form the cabinet. Shri Gajapati was the first Prime Minister of the Odisha state from 1 April 1937 to 18 July 1937. He was the Prime Minister of Odisha for the second time from 24 November 1941 to 30 June 1944. [4] [5]

It was created from Ganjam District on 2 October, 1992. Gajapati district was named after Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deb, the King of the Paralakhemundi estate and the first Prime Minister of Orissa, who is remembered for his contribution in the formation of a separate state, and inclusion of his estate in Odisha. The district headquarters at Paralakhemundi, formerly a Zamindari, has been clustered within a radius of approximately 5 kilometers around the geometric centre of Paralakhemundi.

Geography

Paddy Fields around the road from Munising to Seranga in Gajapati District Paddy Fields around the road from Munising to Seranga in Gajapati District.jpg
Paddy Fields around the road from Munising to Seranga in Gajapati District
Gajapati district
Gajapati district
Gajapati district

Gajapati district located at the south-east of Odisha between longitude 84° 32'E and 83° 47'E and latitude 18° 44'N and 19° 39'N. The Mahendratanaya River flows through it. The district borders with Andhra Pradesh in the south, District of Rayagada to the west, District of Ganjam to the east and District of Kandhamala to the north. The district is located on a hilly terrain of Eastern Ghats. The mountain Mahendragiri, a segment of Eastern Ghats is situated in this district.

The climate is subtropical with high humidity. The summer season is between March and mid-June and is extremely hot with the temperature reaching 46 °C. The winter season is mild and temperature can fall lowest to 9 °C November to February. The rainy season lasts between mid-June and mid-October and it receives approximately 1000 mm of rainfall primarily from the southwest monsoons. [6]

Administrative setup

The 7 Tahasils in Gajapati district under one sub-divisions are listed in the following table.

7 Tahasils
# Paralakhemundi Sub-Division
1 Paralakhemundi
2 Gumma
3 Rayagada
4 Nuagada
5 Mohana
6 Kashinagar
7 R. Udayagiri

The 7 Blocks in Gajapati district under one sub-divisions are listed in the following table.

7 Blocks
# Paralakhemundi Sub-Division
1 Gosani
2 Gumma
3 Rayagada
4 Nuagada
5 Mohana
6 Kashinagar
7 R. Udayagiri

There are 11 Police Stations under the two Police Districts in Ganjam Administrative district are listed in the following table.

11 Police Stations
#

Gajapati Police District

1 Adava P.S.
2 Mohana P.S.
3 Ramagiri P.S.
4 R. Udayagiri P.S.
5 Serango P.S.
6 Kashinagar P.S.
7 Paralakhemundi P.S.
8Gurandi P.S.
9Garabandha P.S.
10 Rayagada P.S.
11Energy P.S. Paralakhemundi

Economy

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Gajapati one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). [7] It is one of the 19 districts in Odisha currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF). [7]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1901184,840    
1911205,514+11.2%
1921198,842−3.2%
1931225,161+13.2%
1941252,613+12.2%
1951262,998+4.1%
1961285,069+8.4%
1971348,964+22.4%
1981402,271+15.3%
1991454,708+13.0%
2001518,837+14.1%
2011577,817+11.4%
2023803,166+39.0%
Source: Census of India [8]
Religions in Gajapati district (2011) [9]
ReligionPercent
Hinduism
61.12%
Christianity
37.98%
Other or not stated
0.90%

According to the 2023 census Gajapati district has a population of 803,166, [1] approximate equal to the nation of Bhutan [10] or the US state of North Dakota. [11] This gives it a ranking of 573rd in India (out of a total of 766). [1] The district has a population density of 133 inhabitants per square kilometre (340/sq mi). [1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 10.99%. [1] Gajapati has a sex ratio of 1046 females for every 1000 males, [1] and a literacy rate of 54.29%. 12.23% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 6.78% and 54.29% of the population respectively. [1]

Language

Languages of Gajapati district (2011) [12]

   Odia (41.51%)
   Sora (34.49%)
   Telugu (15.53%)
   Kui (5.54%)
   Kuvi (1.25%)
  Others (1.68%)

At the time of the 2011 Census of India, 41.51% of the population in the district spoke Odia, 34.49% Sora, 15.53% Telugu, 5.54% Kui and 1.25% Kuvi as their first language. [12]

Culture

The mountain Mahendragiri, a segment of Eastern Ghats is situated in Paralakhemundi. Legend says that it is the place where lord Parashurama, a Chiranjeevi staying eternally and doing tapasya. Temples built by Pandavas are seen. Main festival here is Shivaratri, the worship of Shiva, the guru or percepter of lord Parashurama.

Education

Colleges

Schools

Politics

The district sends two representatives to state legislature, Odisha Vidhan Sabha. The following is the two Vidhan sabha constituencies [13] [14] of Gajapati district and the elected members [15] of those areas.

No.ConstituencyReservationExtent of the Assembly Constituency (Blocks)Member of Current Assembly Party
136 Mohana STMohana, R. Udayagiri, Nuagada, RayagadaDasarathi Gamango INC
137 Parlakhemundi NoneParlakhemundi (M), Kashinagar (NAC), Guma, Kashinagar, ParlakhemundiRupesh Jena (2024 onwards) BJD

The district is part of Berhampur (Lok Sabha constituency). The MP of Berhampur is Chandra Sekhar Sahu from the BJD.

Media

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rayagada district</span> District of Odisha in India

Rayagada district is a district in southern Odisha, a state in India, which became a separate district in October 1992. Its population consists mainly of tribes, primarily the Khonds and the Soras. In addition to Odia, Kui and Sora are spoken by the district's indigenous population. It was founded by Maharajah Biswanatha Deba Gajapati of the Surjyabansha dynasty of Jeypore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berhampur</span> City in Odisha, India

Brahmapur is a city on the eastern coastline of Odisha, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ganjam district</span> District of Odisha in India

Ganjam district is a district in the Indian state of Odisha. Ganjam's total area is 8,206 km² (3,168 mi²). The district headquarters is Chhatrapur. Ganjam is divided into three sub-divisions Chhatrapur, Berhampur, and Bhanjanagar. The Imperial Gazetteer of India 1908 lists Ganjam, along with the Thanjavur and South Canara districts, as the three districts of the Madras Presidency where Brahmins were most numerous. As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Odisha.

Chhatrapur is a town and a Municipality in Ganjam district in the state of Odisha, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paralakhemundi</span> Place in Odisha, India

Paralakhemundi shortly known as Parala is district Headquarter of Gajapati district and one of the oldest Municipality established in 1885, in the Indian state of Odisha. Majority of the people in the town speak Odia. The city and the District share its boundaries with Andhra Pradesh. The adjacent town of Pathpatnam is separated by the River Mahendra Tanaya.In later medieval period it became capital of Paralakhemundi Estate of Eastern Ganga dynasty kings of Khemundi Branch. The town is well known for being an ancient cultural center of Odisha and birthplace of noted personalities including poet Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka, statesman Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo, lexicographer Gopinatha Nanda Sharma and historian Satyanarayana Rajguru. This town is also known for its century old temples, monasteries, palaces and heritage buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Ganga dynasty</span> Medieval era Indian royal Hindu dynasty

The Eastern Ganga dynasty were a large medieval era Indian royal Hindu dynasty that reigned from Kalinga from as early as the 5th century to the mid 20th century. Eastern Gangas ruled much of the modern region of Odisha in three different phases by the passage of time, known as Early Eastern Gangas (493–1077), Imperial Eastern Gangas (1077–1436) and Khemundi Gangas (1436–1947). They are known as "Eastern Gangas" to distinguish them from the Western Gangas who ruled over Karnataka. The territory ruled by the dynasty consisted of the whole of the modern-day Indian state of Odisha, as well as major parts of north Andhra Pradesh, parts of Chhattisgarh and some southern districts of West Bengal. Odia language got official status in their regime following the evolution of the language from Odra Prakrit. The early rulers of the dynasty ruled from Dantapuram; the capital was later moved to Kalinganagara, and ultimately to Kataka and then to Paralakhemundi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahendragiri (Odisha)</span> Indian mountain

Mahendragiri, is a mountain in Rayagada block of the district of Gajapati, Odisha, India. It is situated amongst the Eastern Ghats at an elevation of 1,501 metres (4,925 ft). The second highest mountain of odisha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Odisha Day</span> Foundation day in the Indian state of Odisha

Odisha Day, also Utkala Dibasa, is celebrated on 1 April in the Indian state of Odisha in memory of the formation of the state as a separate state out of Bihar and Orissa Province with addition of undivided Koraput District and Ganjam District from the Madras Presidency on 1 April 1936. After losing its political identity completely in 1568 following the defeat and demise of the last king Mukunda Dev, efforts resulted in the formation of a politically separate state under British rule on a linguistic basis on 1 April 1936.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krushna Chandra Gajapati</span> Key figure in the formation of Odisha state in India

Krushna Chandra Gajapati KCIE, also known as Captain Maharaja Sri Sri Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayana Deva KCIE, was one of the key personality, helping the creation of Odisha. He was a scion of Paralakhemundi Estate and the owner of Delanga estate of Puri district of Odisha. His family belonged to the great Eastern Ganga Dynasty. He was the first Prime Minister of Odisha. The present-day Gajapati District of Odisha was named after him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orissa Province</span> Province of British India (1936–1947)

Orissa Province was a province of British India created in April 1936 by the partitioning of the Bihar and Orissa Province and adding parts of Madras Presidency and Central Provinces. Its territory corresponds with the present-day state of Odisha.

Badagam is a small village in the Rayagada Block and Parlakhemundi municipality in Gajapati district in the Indian state of Odisha. The major languages spoken in this place are Kui and Oriya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umesh Chandra Patra</span>

Umesh Chandra Patra, also known as Dr. U. C. Patra was a zoologist, intellectual, scholar, professor and administrator from the state of Orissa, India. He was head of the Department of Zoology at Ravenshaw University. He started his teaching career as a lecturer in Zoology at Shri Krushna Chandra Gajapati College, Paralakhemundi and after a long stint at various government colleges, he retired from Ravenshaw University in 2001. He was a valuable member of the Zoological Society of Odisha State.

Padmasri Satyanarayana Rajguru (1903-1997) was an Indian litterateur, epigraphist and historian. He was a curator and epigraphist at the Odisha State Museum and was a recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award, Bharati Bhushan award, Ganjam Sahitya Sammilani award, Odisha Sahitya Academy Award and Sarala Sanman. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri in 1974.

Bhrugu Baxipatra is an 46-year-old active politician from India. He is a member of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and represents the Jeypore constituency of Odisha. He is the son of Late Harish Chandra Baxipatra, ex-MLA of Koraput constituency of Orissa and an ex-minister from the state government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Autonomous College</span> College in Odisha, India

Shri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Autonomous College is an autonomous college situated in Paralakhemundi in southern Odisha.

Serango is a village in Gumma tahasil, Gajapati district, Odisha state, India. It is located 36 kilometres (22 mi) North of its district headquarters at Paralakhemundi, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Gumma, and 305 kilometres (190 mi) from the state capital at Bhubaneswar. It is close to Mahendragiri, one of the highest mountain peaks in the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gandahati waterfall</span> Waterfall in Odisha, India

The Gandahati waterfall is located on the Mahendratanaya River in the Gajapati District in Southern Odisha, India. It is a popular scenic attraction located about 30 km from Paralakhemundi.

Jagannatha Gajapati Narayana Deo II was the Odia monarch of the Paralakhemundi Estate in the southern part of today's Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh. He was from the Eastern Ganga dynasty of the Khemundi Ganga Branch from the year 1736 CE to 1771 CE. He had ascended to the throne at the age of eighteen and at a time when Odisha was torn apart due conflicts between external powers like the Mughals, Marathas, French and British for control of the territory. He invaded khurdha Bhoi dynasty king Birakishore Deva and Vizianagaram estate King Pusapati Vijayarama Raju II and defeated the both kings. He made the last great attempts on his own to revive the lost glory of Odisha and its unique Hindu culture that revolved around the tradition of Jagannath worship. He had defied the authority of the Nizam of Hyderabad and maintained his own sovereignty. He was one of the first rulers who indulged in conflicts with the new European colonists in the eastern part of India. He was also effort bound till the end of his life in framing strategic diplomatic plans to free the ancient land of Odisha from external aggressors and revival of its lost Eastern Ganga Dynasty-Gajapati glory from the past.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paralakhemundi Estate</span>

Parlakhemundi Estate was a Zamindari estate in the Orissa Province, India during the British era. Before the creation of the Orissa province, it was under the Madras Presidency.The state was ruled as an independent kingdom till 1769.The royal family belong to the Krishnatreya gotra Odia Kshatriya and traced their lineage to Eastern Ganga Dynasty. It was a zamindari estate lying in the southwestern portion of Ganjam district, covering an area of 615 square miles. It was bounded in the south by the district of Vizagpatnam and on the west by the Jeypore Estate and the tribal agencies of the Eastern Ghats.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "District Census Handbook 2011 – Gajapati" (PDF). Census of India . Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  2. Dāsa, P.; Sahitya Akademi (2002). Bhakta Kavi Gopāla Krishna. Makers of Indian literature (in Latvian). Sahitya Akademi. pp. 97–99. ISBN   978-81-260-1201-5 . Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  3. Acharya, P. (2008). National Movement and Politics in Orissa, 1920–1929. SAGE Series in Modern Indian History. SAGE Publications. p. 1. ISBN   978-81-321-0001-0 . Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  4. Orissa Tourism Development Corporation; Odisha (India). Dept. of Home (1980). The Heritage of Odisha. Produced by Odisha Tourism Development Corporation for the Department of Home, Government of Odisha. p. 87. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  5. Devi, B. (1992). Some Aspects of British Administration in Odisha, 1912–1936. Academic Foundation. p. 213. ISBN   978-81-7188-072-0 . Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  6. "Parlakhemundi FD :: Odisha Wildlife Organisation". Welcome. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  7. 1 2 Ministry of Panchayati Raj (September 8, 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 5, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  8. Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  9. "Table C-01 Population by Religious Community: Odisha". Census of India, 2023. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  10. US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-10-01. Solomon Islands 571,890 July 2011 est.
  11. "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2011-01-01. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Vermont 563,626
  12. 1 2 "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Odisha". Census of India 2011. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  13. Assembly Constituencies and their EXtent
  14. Seats of Odisha
  15. "List of Member in Fourteenth Assembly". ws.ori.nic.in. Archived from the original on 2 May 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2013. MEMBER NAME