Rairakhol State

Rairakhol State (Odia: ରେଢ଼ାଖୋଲ ରାଜ୍ୟ) was a minor princely state during the British Raj in India. It was one of the Chota Nagpur States and had its capital at Rairakhol (Redhakhol), located in the present-day Sambalpur district of Odisha. It had an area of 2,157 square kilometres (833 sq mi) and a population of 26,888 in 1901. The average revenue was Rs. 55,000 in 1904.

Rairakhol State ରେଢ଼ାଖୋଲ ରାଜ୍ୟ
Princely State of British India
1825–1948
Flag
Rairakhol State in the Imperial Gazetteer of India
Area
• 1901	2,157 km2 (833 sq mi)
Population
• 1901	26,888
History
• Established	1825
• Accession to the Union of India	1948
Succeeded by India

Most of the state was covered by forest where wild elephants roamed. Rairakhol State's inhabitants spoke mostly the Odia language, although there were also large Kol people groups speaking Munda and Oraon language. The Chasa were the predominant caste in the state.

History

Although records are obscure but according to traditions, around 17th century a branch of Kadamba dynasty of the Bonai State was ruling in the region and the chiefs were feudatories of the Bamra State until the 18th century, when the rulers of the Sambalpur State freed it from its dependence.

During the 19th century, Raja Bishan Chandra Jenamuni whose reign lasted 75 years, was recognized as Raja and in 1867 a sanad was granted by the British recognizing Rairakhol as a state in its own right. The state was under the political control of the Commissioner of the Chhattisgarh Division of the Central Provinces until 1905, coming then under the Bengal Presidency. His successor Gaura Chandra Deo adopted Bir Chandra Jadumani Deo Jenamuni, a scion of the Kadamba dynasty branch of Bonai as his successor. On 1 January 1948, he signed the instrument of accession to the Indian Union. The princely state then became part of the Sambalpur district.

Rulers

The rulers of Rairakhol State of the Kadamba dynasty branch:

• 1 Bishan Chandra Jenamuni (10 March 1825 – 10 June 1900)
• 2 Gaura Chandra Deo (10 June 1900 – 3 July 1906)
• 3 Bir Chandra Jadumani Deo Jenamuni (3 July 1906 – 1 January 1948)

Titular

• 3 Bir Chandra Jadumani Deo Jenamuni (1 January 1948 – 14 November 1973)
• 4 Girish Chandra Jadumani Deo Jenamuni (14 November 1973 – 7 April 1975)
• 5 Hari Shankar Jadumani Deo Jenamuni (7 April 1975 – 15 December 2014)
• 6 Nav Chandra Deo (15 December 2014 - current)

See also

• Eastern States Agency
• Orissa Tributary States