Rs 50 crore to preserve Paika memories

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to spend an estimated `50 crore for preserving the memories of Paika Bidroha (Paika rebellion) to mark its bicentenary celebrations.

A decision to this effect was taken at the State Secretariat in a meeting presided by Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Ashok Panda on Monday. The Minister said oil paintings on the storyline of Paika rebellion will be drawn at the State Museum here and wall pantings sketched in Khurdha and Barunei.

A Paika Park Market Complex will be set up in Khurdha town, Panda said adding, `8 crore will be spent on the establishment of a Paika Smruti Bhavan. A chair on Paika rebellion will also be established in Utkal University. The State Government has demanded that Centre should recognise the Paika rebellion of 1817 as the first war of Independence.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had written to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in this regard.Paikas were the peasant militias of Gajapati rulers of Odisha who rendered military service to the king during times of war while taking up cultivation during peace. Paikas revolted against the British rule under the leadership of Baxi Jagandhu Bidyadhara as early as 1817. Chief Secretary AP Padhi, Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan and senior officials attended the meeting.