New Odia Book Paika Bidroha1817 Krupasindhu Biswal

1. New Odia Book Paika Bidroha1817 Krupasindhu Biswal

2. New Odia Book Paika Bidroha1817 Krupasindhu Biswal The Paikas were peasant Militia of the Gajapati rulers of Odisha who offered military services to the kings while taking up cultivation during peacetime. The Paikas were organised into three ranks distinguished by their occupation and the weapons they wielded. These were the Paharis, the bearers of shields and the khanda sword, the Banuas who led distant expeditions and used matchlocks and the Dhenkiyas archers who also performed different duties in Odisha armies.With the conquest of Odisha by the East India Company in 1803 and the dethronement of the Raja of Khurda, the power and prestige of the Paikas began to decline. The attitude of the company to the Paikas was expressed by Walter Ewer, on the commission that looked into the causes of the Rebellion, stating that now there is no need of assistance of Paikas at Khurda. It is dangerous to keep them in the Presidency armies. Thus they should be treated and dealt as common Ryots and land revenue and other taxes should be collected from them. They must be deprived of their former Jagir lands. Within a short period of time the name of Paika has already been forgotten. But still now where the Paikas are living they have retained their previous aggressive nature. In order to break their poisonous teeth, the colonial Police Force must be highly alert to keep the Paikas under their control for a pretty long period, unless the Paika community is ruined completely Company rule cannot run smoothly.