# Mayurbhanj State

Mayurbhanj State (Odia: ମୟୂରଭଞ୍ଜ ରାଜ୍ୟ; colloquially Morbhanj) was one of the princely states of India during the British Raj. It was one of the largest states of the Eastern States Agency and one of the four salute states of the Orissa States Agency. The emblem of the state was two peacocks, for according to legend the ancestors of the rulers had originated from a peafowl's eyes.
The state included a vast mountainous area inhabited by many different people, such as the Santal, Munda, Ho and Kisan. Its former territory lies in the present-day state of Odisha, bordering West Bengal. The capital of the state was the town of Baripada since the 15th century. Daspur was another important town. Large tracts of Mayurbhanj state were covered with forest.

## History

The rulers of Mayurbhanj state were descendants of the Bhanj dynasty of the Khijjinga mandala of the ancient local Kshatriya lineage. According to the early inscriptions of Ranabhanja and Rajabhanja, the dynasty has its origins from the mythical peahen likely pointing out to the early peafowl related traditions of the ancient Bhanja clans which is observed on their emblems which is also shared by the successive branches.
Their influence likely declined with the dominance of the Somavamshis in the Utkal region, but centuries later came back to prominence in the region with the rise of the Eastern Ganga dynasty after uniting the three realms of Trikalinga with the Bhanjas as their feudatories. Traditions point to numerous origins of the dynasty but lack of records renders them unlikely although it is generally accepted that the founder, Adi Bhanja of the 12th century established the current dynasty of the Mayurbhanj state with his brother Jyoti Bhanja founding the Keonjhar State succeeding from the Khijjinga Adi Bhanja dynasty.
Mayurbhanj State had been under Maratha rule during the 18th century and paid an annual tribute of 6000 rupees. It became a British protectorate in 1829, many years after the Third Anglo-Maratha War.
During the British Raj, the kings of Mayurbhanj pioneered the upliftment of the region. Under their enlightened rule Mayurbhanj became one of the most progressive areas. The Bhanj dynasty's kings established the first medical college of the state in Cuttack, donating funds and land for the establishment of higher education institutions such as Ravenshaw College and welfare schemes, such as the one undertaken by the Evangelical Missionary Society of Mayurbhanj (EMSM), established in 1895 at the instance of Maharaja Shree Rama Chandra Bhanja Deo. Mayurbhanj Palace was built by Maharani Sumitra Devi Bhanja Deo in 1804.
The Mayurbhanj State Railway was started by the erstwhile ruler of Mayurbhanj Maharaja Shree Rama Chandra Bhanja Deo. The first section of 52 km from Rupsa to Baripada railway station being opened for traffic on 20 January 1905.
After the independence of India, Mayurbhanj State under Maharaja Pratap Chandra Bhanja Deo acceded to the Dominion of India on 1 January 1949, and was merged with Orissa Province, which became later the state of Odisha.

### Rulers

The rulers of Mayurbhanj State of the Bhanja dynasty. They were entitled to a 9 gun salute. The rulers of Mayurbhanj are:
* Succession from the Khijjinga mandala Bhanjas (8th–10th cen)
* Adi Bhanja of Mayurbhanj
* Santai Bhanja
* Chakkai Bhanja
* Lakshmana Bhanja
* Kalpi Bhanja
* Surjya Bhanja
* Ramachandra Bhanja
* Batuli Bhanja
* Iswanath Bhanja
* Jagannath Bhanja
* Nilakantha Bhanja
* Baidyanath Bhanjadeba (1556–1600)
* Jagannath Bhanjadeba (1600-1643)
* Harihara Bhanjadeba (1643–1668)
* Sarvesvara Bhanjdeba (1688–1711)
* Viravikramaditya Bhanjadeba (1711–1728)
* Raghunath Bhanjadeba (1728–1750)
* Chakradhar Bhanjadeba (1750–1761)
* Damodar Bhanjadeba (1761–1796)
* Rani Sumitra Devi (f) - Regent of Mayurbhanj (1796–1810)
* Rani Jamuna Devi (f) - Regent of Mayurbhanj (1810-1813)
* Tribikram Bhanja Deo (1813–1822)
* Jadunath Bhanja Deo (1822–1863) - became a British protectorate during his reign
* Shrinath Bhanja Deo (1863–1868)
* Krushna Chandra Bhanja Deo (1868–29 May 1882)
* Sree Rama Chandra Bhanja Deo (29 May 1882– 22 February 1912)
* Purna Chandra Bhanja Deo (22 February 1912 – 21 April 1928)
* Pratap Chandra Bhanja Deo (21 Apr 1928–1 January 1949)

### Titular

* Pratap Chandra Bhanja Deo (1 January 1949 – 16 July 1968)
* Pradeep Chandra Bhanja Deo (16 July 1968 – 15 September 2000)
* Praveen Chandra Bhanja Deo (15 September 2000 – till date)

### Dewans and Superintendents

| Name | Position | Term |
| Prasanna Coomar Ghosal | Dewan | Died on 17th June 1905 |
| Mohini Mohan Dhar, M.A., B.L. | Dewan, State Judge Vice President of State Council | 20th June 1905 - 21st April 1912 |
| Hari Das Bose | Officiating Dewan | 22nd April 1912 - 12th May 1912 |
| C. L. Philip, I.C.S. | Superintendent | 13th May 1912 - 30th July 1912 |
| E. Mc. Leod Smith | Superintendent | 31st July 1912 - 3rd November 1912 |
| C. L. Philip, I.C.S. | Superintendent | 4th November 1912 - 9th February 1916 |
| J. E. Scott, I.C.S. | Superintendent | 10th February 1916 - 22nd April 1917 |
| N. F. Peck, I.C.S. | Superintendent | 23rd April 1917 - 12th October 1919 |
| H. Mc. Pherson, I.C.S. | Superintendent | 13th October 1919 - 5th August 1920 |
| H. Mc. Pherson, I.C.S. | Dewan | 6th August 1920 - 14th September 1921 |
| Rai Bahadur Hari Das Basu | State Judge, Dewan | 15th September 1921 - 6th January 1922 |
| E. Mc. Leod Smith | Dewan | 7th January 1922 - 28th November 1929 |
| No Dewan appointed | Dewan | 29th November 1929 - 18th June 1930 |
| Dr. P. K. Sen, M.A., (Cantab), LL.D., Barrister-at-Law | Dewan | 19th June 1930 - 17th June 1936 |
| K. C. Neogy, M.A., B.L. | Dewan | 6th July 1935 - 5th July 1940 |
| K. C. Neogy, M.A., B.L. | Political Adviser | 6th July 1940 - 31st March 1942 |
| Major B. P. Pande, B.A., LL.B., F.R.E.S. (London) | Dewan | 16th August 1940 - Last Dewan |

## Demographics

* Odia (41.02%)
* Santali (29.1%)
* Ho (12.42%)
* Bhumij (7.73%)
* Bengali (4.14%)
* Kurmali (2.94%)
* Others (2.64%)