Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today sought steps by the Centre to find a site at Barunei Fort near Khurda in coordination with Odisha Government for setting up a memorial to commemorate the Paika rebellion of 1817.
"I had urged that the Government of India along with the Government of Odisha should erect a befitting memorial at the Barunei Fort near Khurda as a national monument," Pradhan said in a letter to Union Culture and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma.
Thanking Sharma for organising the 200th year celebration of Paika rebellion in New Delhi on July 20, he said the then President addressed the gathering on the occasion as the Chief Guest along with Odisha Chief Minister.
This will be a year-long activity of Government of India, as pronounced in the Budget Speech of the Union Finance Minister on February 1, 2017, Pradhan recalled.
"At the inaugural event on 20th July 2017, I had emphasised that the Paika rebellion of 1817 AD be given its due recognition in the history of Indian freedom struggle," the Petroleum Minister said.
It may be noted that the Barunei Fort was the seat of power of the King of Khurda and the epicentre of Paika rebellion," he said.
"I would request to send a team from the Ministry of Culture to identify a suitable place in the Barunei Fort in coordination with Government of Odisha for erection of the proposed memorial to commemorate Paika rebellion," said Pradhan.
The Paika rebellion, also called the Paika Bidroha, was
an armed rebellion against the British East India Company's rule in Odisha in 1817. The Paikas rose in rebellion under their leader Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar and the rebellion spread across most parts of Odisha. The Paikas were warriors and traditional landed militia of Odisha.
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