KalingaTV News Network
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik paid his tribute to Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo, who was the Maharaja of Mayurbhanj State, on his 147th birth anniversary on Sunday.
Taking to his Twitter page, Patnaik remembered Chandra Bhanja Deo’s contribution to create Odisha as a separate province and work for the educational and social progress of the state.
ମହାରାଜା ଶ୍ରୀରାମ ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ଭଞ୍ଜ ଦେଓଙ୍କ ଜୟନ୍ତୀରେ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାଞ୍ଜଳି।
Tributes to Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo on his birth anniversary. His contribution to creation of Odisha as a separate province and work for educational and social progress of the state will always be remembered. pic.twitter.com/Lmxl1JKgva— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) December 17, 2017
Chandra Bhanja Deo was born to Maharaja Krishna Chandra Bhanj Deo on December 17, 1870 and succeeded to the throne on 29 May 1882. However, at that time the State was ruled under a British Commissioner till Maharaja came of age; he was formally installed as Maharaja on 15 August 1892. The state affairs remained in the hands of his grandmother, the Dowager Maharani of Mayurbhanj, until he took charge some years later.
Maharaja Chandra Bhanja Deo, a native of Baripada, worked for the all around development of Mayurbhanj and implemented various welfare schemes designed to help the people. He was revered as a philosopher king. He constituted the state council for administration in the state and brought about reforms in the sphere of language, health and administration.
During his reign, the scientific operation of iron mines was started for the first time and Gorumahsini mines were leased to the Tatas. In 1903, he commissioned a narrow gauge railway line from Rupsa to Baripada known as Mayurbhanj State Railway. A 474 mile road was built in the State connecting all divisional towns with Baripada during his reign.
The Baripada Municipality was constituted by him in 1905. He also started an English High School with boarding facility, a government Press, a fully equipped hospital and a leper asylum in Baripada. He was also a patriot and great patron of the Odia language and presided over the first meeting of Utkal Samilani held on 3 December 1903 due to which he along with his father is widely acknowledged as the maker of modern Odisha.
The Cuttack-based Sriram Chandra Bhanja Medical College & Hospital (S.C.B) was named after him in year 1951 in recognition of the donation and efforts made by the ruler in his lifetime. A college in Ragdha in Mayurbhanj district founded by him has been named after him as Sriram Chandra Bhanja Degree College.
Ms Kalinga