Kalahandi
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Kalahandi
Feudatory State in Bengal, lying between 19° 3' and 20 degree 28' N. and 82 degree 32' and 83 degree 47' E., and formerly known as Karond. It is bounded on the north by the Patna State, on the north- west by Raipur District, and on the east, south-east, and south-west by the Jeypore zamindari of Vizagapatam District. The area of the State is 3,745 square miles; and its head-quarters are at Bhawani Patna, a village of 4,400 inhabitants, 140 miles from Sambalpur and 130 from Chicacole station on the East Coast Railway. From the north-east to the south-west of the State runs an almost continuous range of hills, a part of the Eastern Ghats, with several peaks approaching 4,000 feet in elevation. To the north of this range lies a stretch of comparatively open country interspersed with low hills. The uplands are generally well wooded, except in tracts where the forest has been burnt off for cultivation. The Indravati river rises in the south of the State and passes into Bastar after a short course through the hills. The open country is drained by the Tel river and its affluent the Hatti.
The ruling family are Nagvansi Rajputs, and are said to be con-
nected with the Satrangarh Rajas of Chota Nagpur. The State appears
to have existed from a remote period without being subject to any
definite suzerainty. The payment of tribute and acknowledgement of
their supremacy were, however, imposed by the Marathas. In 1878 the
chief, Udit Pratap Deo, obtained an hereditary salute of 9 guns. In 188 1,
on the death of Udit Pratap Deo, discontent broke out among the
primitive Khond tribe, who form a large proportion of the population.
The late Raja had encouraged the immigration of members of the
Kolta caste, who are excellent agriculturists and keenly acquisitive
of land; and many of the Khond headmen and tenants had been
ousted by them. The smouldering grievances of the Khonds had been
suppressed by Udit Pratap, but they now found expression in acts
of plunder. A British officer was dispatched to Kalahandl to inquire
into their complaints, and a settlement was arrived at, which it was
thought would prove satisfactory. These hopes, however, were illusory ;
and in May, 1882, the Khonds rose and slaughtered more than
80 Koltas, while 300 more were besieged in the village of Norla, the
Khonds appearing with portions of the scalps and hair of the murdered
victims hanging to their bows. On the arrival of a body of police,
which had been summoned from Vizagapatam, they dispersed, and the
outbreak was soon afterwards suppressed, seven of the ringleaders
being arrested, tried, and hanged. A settlement was made of the
grievances of the Khonds, and the tranquillity of the State has not
again been disturbed. The next chief, Raghu Kishor Deo, was installed
in 1894 on attaining his majority, but was murdered in 1897 by a
servant. He left an infant son of two years of age, Brij Mohan Deo,
who is now being educated at Bhawani Patna. During his minority
the management of the State is in charge of a Political Agent
subordinate to the Commissioner of Orissa,
The population in 1901 was 350,529, having increased by 7 per
cent during the previous decade. The number of inhabited villages
is 2,198, and the density of population 94 persons per square mile.
About 81 per cent, of the population speak Oriyi and 15 per cent.
Khondi, the language of the Khond tribe. Khonds number 103,000,
or 29 per cent, of the total ; and next to them the most numerous
castes are Gahras or Ahirs, Doms, a menial caste of sweepers, and
Gonds. There is a very slight sprinkling of Telugu castes.
Along the base of the hills is found a light alluvial soil, fertile and
easily tilled, and yielding good crops of almost any grain. The open
country is covered by black cotton soil mixed with limestone nodules
and with the yellow clay or gravel formed from metamorphic rock.
The hilly country on the south and east, amounting to 62 per cent,
of the whole State, has not been surveyed. Of the remaining land,
632 square miles, or 45 per cent of the available area, are occupied
for cultivation, and 437 were cultivated in 1904. The staple crops
are rice, covering 285 square miles ; til, 68 ; "and kodon and kutki ,
22. The State contains 1,464 tanks, from which 289 square miles
can be irrigated. The numerous streams flowing from the hills
also afford natural irrigation to land lying on their banks, and soil in
this position gives two crops in the year. Oranges and plantains are
grown on irrigated land. The prevailing forest tree in the north of the
State is sal (Shorea rofiusta), teak being rare and local. With the sal
are associated the other common trees of Peninsular India. Farther to
the south between the Tel and Indravati, where a range of hills inter-
venes, the sal disappears and saj (Terminalia tomentosa) is the com-
monest tree. Owing to the distance of the forests from the railway,
exports of timber are inconsiderable. No minerals are worked, but
graphite occurs in veins and pockets in the metamorphic rocks. The
State contains 48 miles of gravelled and 1 16 of embanked roads. The
principal routes are those from Bhawani Patna to Raipur, and to
Sambalpur through Bolangir in Patna, and from Junagarh to Rajim
through Deobhog. Exports are sent principally to Raipur and the
Madras Presidency, while imports are received from Raipur, Sambal-
pur, and Madras.
The total revenue in 1904 was Rs. 1,11,000, the principal items being
land revenue and cesses, Rs. 59,000 ; forests, Rs. 14,000 ; and excise,
Rs. 24,000. The unsurveyed territory on the south and east is com-
prised in six minor zamindars estates, and a hilly tract called Dongurla,
mainly occupied by Khonds who practise shifting cultivation. The
revenue paid by the zamindars is Rs. 3,500. Two of the zatmnddri
families are related to the chief. The remaining area has been cadas-
trally surveyed and a settlement effected. The taxation of land is
about 8 annas per cultivated acre. About Rs. 30,000 of the gross land
revenue has been assigned in revenue-free grants. The total expenditure
in 1904 was Rs. 1,36,000, the principal items being tribute, Rs. 12,000;
allowances to the ruling family, Rs. 20,000 ; general administration,
Rs. 14,000 ; and police, Rs. 18,000. The tribute is liable to revision.
In twelve years since 1893 the State has expended 3.23 lakhs on public
works under the supervision of the Engineer of the Chhattisgarh
States division. The works carried out include, besides the roads men-
tioned, the construction of a palace, public offices, a hospital, police
station, school, and sarai at Bhawani Patna. The educational institu-
tions comprise 48 schools with 3,876 pupils, including one English
and two vernacular middle schools and a girls' school. The total
expenditure on education in 1904 was Rs. 7,000. At the Census of
1 90 1, 6,129 persons were returned as able to read and write, the
proportion being 1-7 per cent (3-3 males and o-i females). Dispen-
saries have been established at Bhawani Patna, Junagarh, Kashlpur,
and Thuamal, and a separate dispensary for females at Bhawani Patna.
About 63,000 persons were treated in these institutions in 1904.
