Dharanidhar Naik facts for kids

Dharanidhar Naik was a brave tribal leader from Keonjhar. He led a fight against King Dhanurjay Bhanja. This happened during the time of British rule in Odisha. He stood up for his people against unfair rules.

Early Life and Work

Dharanidhar Naik was a smart young man. He finished high school. After that, he trained to become a surveyor. A surveyor is someone who measures land. He worked for the King of Keonjhar as the state surveyor.

The Keonjhar Uprising

Keonjhar: A Small Kingdom

Keonjhar was one of many small kingdoms in India. Most of the people living there were from tribal groups. The main groups were the Kols, Bhuyans, and Juangs. These groups lived in different parts of the kingdom. They had their own traditions and ways of life.

Why People Rose Up

The king of Keonjhar, Dhanurjaya Bhanja, had very strict rules. These rules made life hard for his people. For example, there was a rule called Bethi. This meant people had to work for the king for free. Farmers also had to sell their crops to the state at very low prices. These unfair rules made the people very unhappy.

In 1891, the people decided they had had enough. The Kol, Bhuyan, and Juang tribes joined together. They started an uprising against the king. Dharanidhar Naik became their leader.

The uprising lasted for about three years, from 1891 to 1893. At first, the rebels had some success. They took grain from the state's storage. They also took weapons and even captured the king's chief minister, Fakirmohan Senapati. The king got scared and ran away to Cuttack.

However, the British government sent soldiers to help the king. The British forces were very strong. They eventually stopped the rebellion. Dharanidhar Naik was caught and put in jail in Cuttack. He stayed there until 1897.

After his release, Dharanidhar built a quiet place called a hermitage in Ali. He spent the rest of his life there, away from the struggles.