Mayurbhanj district is one of the 30 districts of Odisha state in eastern India and the largest in the state by area, nearly equivalent to Tripura. The district's headquarters is located in Baripada, with other major towns including Rairangpur, Karanjia, and Udala. , Mayurbhanj ranks as the third-most populous district in Odisha, following Ganjam district and Cuttack district. The district also known for the Similipal National park.
The Archaeology evidence suggest that human settlements in the Mayurbhanj district date back to the Lower Paleolithic era of the Stone Age. These settlements thrived alongside the Budhabalanga River and its tributaries. The presence of a consistent water source not only supported early human inhabitants but also attracted wildlife from the Similipal forest, facilitating the hunting of smaller animals from the safety of caves. The region's thin forest cover also provided edible roots and fruits.
The tools used by these early settlers were quite basic, resembling split Pebble tools with minimal flaking, similar to those found in Paleolithic industries in Africa. These tools evolved over time to include Hand axe, cleavers, scrapers, Knife, rostrocarinates, and points, varying in complexity, shape, and size. Stratigraphy does not provide a means to categorize them into distinct groups for understanding their technical development. Typo-technological analysis suggests the presence of two specific tool types with manufacturing techniques akin to European Abbevillian, Acheulean, and Clactonian industries.
In 1751, it came under Maratha Empire. During the expansion of the Maratha Empire, the state lost all its territories along the coast as well as the Nilgiri State. The loss of the sea ports along the Balasore coast severely affected the state finances. It was around this time that the capital was shifted to Baripada. The river Subarnarekha served as the natural border between Bengal Subah and Maratha-controlled Odisha after a number of conflicts between 1742 and 1751. In 1803, the state submitted to the British who had conquered coastal Odisha and the state was recognised as a feudatory state – a position midway between a princely state and a . At that time, the state lost many zamindaris, including two northeastern bordering territories: Gopiballavpur I and Nayagram. However, the state remained semi-independent and acted as a buffer state between Maratha and British rule by maintaining friendly relations with British authorities. The left-out westernmost territory of the Mayurbhanj state, stretching up to the Porahat, retained its independence during both Mughal and Maratha invasions. It was primarily inhabited by the Ho people ( Larka Kol, the fighting Ho), a significant aboriginal group, who asserted their dominance over the indigenous tribe during their settlement period (). Though the state had de jure rights over that territory, de facto control was held by the Porahat estate due to geography and demographic nature, especially after the relocation of the state capital from Khiching to Haripur. In 1820, the Porahat estate acknowledged British authority, eventually leading to the gradual annexation of these left-out independent areas into the British-administered Singhbhum district following a series of conflicts between Kol and British army. In the mid-19th century, further territorial concessions were made to the British when large parts of Bamanghati area, such as Thai, Bharbharia, Anla, Lalgarh, Khuchung (now in Saraikela Kharsawan district), and Haludpukur (now in East Singhbhum district) were handed over to the British administrated Singhbhum district as a consequence of persistent . However, by the end of the 19th century, only two zamindaris, Bamanghati and Kaptipada Estate, had merged with the state. Thereafter, there were no further changes to the territorial boundaries. In 1912, the Mayurbhanj state became part of the Bihar and Orissa Province of British India as a feudatory state. In 1936, with the partition of the province, it became a part of Orissa Province.
The state was modernised during the short reign of Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo in the early 20th century, a legacy continued by his succeeding rulers Purna Chandra Bhanj Deo and Pratap Chandra Bhanj Deo till the merger of the state with Odisha. During Sriram Chandra's reign, major infrastructure and administrative developments took place, including the construction of the narrow-gauge railway from Rupsa to Baripada and from Gorumahisani mines to Jamshedpur. The circular road connecting four sub-divisional headquarters was also built, which is now part of SH-19, SH-49 and NH-18. Similarly, Maharaja established the Baripada Municipality and Udala Sub-divisional headquarters for effective governance. In a notable judgement during his reign, the Calcutta High Court held that the Mayurbhanj State as well as all other feudatory states of Odisha were practically not parts of British India, thus elevating them to the status of full princely states. Mayurbhanj was the largest and most populous of all princely states in Odisha and the Maharaja enjoyed a salute of 9 guns.
The western plains of Mayurbhanj are an extension of the Odisha Plateau. They are mostly flat with small hills and slopes but are at a higher altitude than the eastern plains, the height rising from north to south. The streams here drain into the Baitarani River in Kendujhar or flow into Jharkhand to the north. There are still isolated open forests to be seen, but paddy is the most common cultivated crop.
The Budhabalanga is the main river of Mayurbhanj. It arises in the Simlipal Hills and forms the waterfall at Barehipani in a northward course. It then turns to the south east and flows between steep banks and sandbars. Both Baripada and the ancient capital of Haripur are located along its banks. The river receives two small tributaries before entering the Bay of Bengal beyond Balasore. Other important minor rivers are Deo, Sone, Gangahar and Salandi. Floods are uncommon except during exceptional rainfall in the hills owing to the seasonal nature of the streams and their steep banks.
The climate of Mayurbhanj is sub tropical marked by high humidity and rainfall during the Monsoon. The Simlipal Hills influence the weather substantially and exhibit higher rainfall and lower maximum temperatures than the rest of the district. The average annual rainfall is around . Summer temperatures in Baripada can occasionally cross 45-degree Celsius but thunderstorms in the evening are common which have a moderating influence. Minimum temperature in winter can go down to 8 degrees. Fog occurs occasionally during winters.
National Highway 49 also enters the district at Jamsola. It then crosses Bangriposi and Jashipur before entering Kendujhar district. This is the main highway connecting Kolkata with Mumbai and therefore sees heavy traffic throughout the year. National Highway 220 covers the stretch from Karanjia to Tiring passing through Jashipur and Rairangpur on the way. Odisha state highway 19 is another important state highways link the district headquarter Baripada from Jaleswar, Udala and Gopiballavpur I of West Bengal.
The Mayurbhanj State Railway was a narrow gauge line funded by the Mayurbhanj State that connected Talbandh in the Simlipal Hills to Rupsa on the Bengal Nagpur Railway mainline, mainly to carry timber. The major stations en route were Bangriposi and Baripada. The line was shut down in 2002 and reopened after conversion to broad gauge in 2007. The Talbandh-Bangriposi stretch has been abandoned for many years now and the line terminates at the latter station. The total length within the district is . Another electrified broad-gauge line from Jamshedpur enters the district at Bahalda before splitting at Aunlajhori. One branch goes to Badampahar while the other terminates at Gorumahisani. The total length of these lines is about and they are used exclusively to ferry iron ore from the mines at the above locations. Both these routes fall under the South Eastern Railway.
Mayurbhanj has no active airports, although RAF Amarda Road was a major base for the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Another abandoned airfield, once used by the Maharaja of Mayurbhanj, is located at Rajabasa near Baripada. However, the nearest Kalaikunda Air Force Station, located in Kharagpur, is used for official purposes.
The police force is headed by a Superintendent of Police belonging to the Indian Police Service who is assisted by Additional SPs at headquarters and SDPOs at subdivisional headquarters. There are a total of 32 police stations – each headed by an Inspector or Sub Inspector in-charge. While the Superintendent reports on general law and order matters to the District Magistrate, he is almost completely independent in practice as far as the police force is concerned.
Each subdivision is further divided into blocks and tahsils. The former are development units headed by a Block Development Officer. Each block is divided into numerous Gram Panchayats (GPs) for a total of 404 in the district. The GPs and Blocks report to the Project Director, District Rural Development Authority (DRDA), an ADM rank officer. The Collector is the CEO of DRDA and thus exercises direct control over its functioning. The tahsils on the other hand are revenue subdivisions with the Tahsildar also being an Executive Magistrate and reporting to the Sub Collector. He is assisted by a number of Revenue Inspectors and Amins. The district has a total of 26 blocks and tahsils, the highest in Odisha.
The Simlipal National Park, while formally a part of the four subdivisions noted above, is in practice under a Field Director belonging to the Indian Forest Service (IFS). The Deputy Director, also an IFS officer, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Park. Three other Divisional Forest Officers are in charge of the forests outside the National Park area.
The Judiciary is headed by a District and Sessions Judge who exercises both criminal and civil jurisdiction. He also enjoys revisionary powers over certain orders of the District Magistrate and Sub Divisional Magistrates. He is assisted on the civil side by Civil Judges of senior and junior divisions and on the criminal side by Chief Judicial Magistrate and Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrates.
Tribals are the largest group forming 58.72% of the population. The Santal people are the largest tribe and are the second-largest group in the district as a whole. Increasingly, the Santals settled in Mayurbhanj acquired some degree of fluency in Odia language while continuing to speak Santali among themselves. The Ho people form the second largest tribal group followed by the Bhumij people. All three tribes speak languages that are a part of the Munda languages family and are therefore distinct from the prevalent Indo Aryan languages of Odia, Hindi and Bengali language, that are spoken nearby. The Bhumij, on the other hand, have mostly adopted Odia as their language. Other tribes include the Odia-speaking Bathudi Tribe, Bhuiya and Gondi people, as well as the Sounti and Kharia people. As per 1931 census, the district comprised 131 different communities, primarily by Santal people (28.61%), Ho people (12.07%), Bhumij people (8.71%), Kudmi Mahato (6.77%), Bathudi Tribe (5.19%), Goura (4.39%), Pana Tanti (3.38%), Bhuyan (2.62%), Khandaita (2.23%), Bhanja Purana (2.2%) and other communities like Kamar, Kumhar, Gondi people, Kharia people, Brahmin caste, Teli, Sounti, Dhobi, Tanti, Gola, Dom, Bhandari, Karana, Patra, Baisnaba, Ghasi, Sadgop, Mahli tribe, Sabara, Amanta, Sundhi, Pan (Jena Pan), Purana, Keut, Hadi, Dhandachhatra Majhi, Raju, Kshatriya, Ujia, Bagal, Gouria, Rarhi, Kurukh people, Baisa, Karua, Thatari, Sahara, Kayastha, Rajuar, Munda people constitute 20.35% with each community shared by 0.9% to 2.0%. The rest of 3.24% was shared by minority communities whose population below 1,000 in the district.
Muslims and Christians comprise a tiny minority. The former are almost all migrants from Coastal Odisha except for a sizeable population of Bihari Muslims near the border with Chaibasa. They immigrated into the district after , settling mainly in urban areas, and by the 1891 census, the district was inhabited by 2,982 Muslims, mostly from the Sunni Islam. Christians in the district are mostly converts from tribal communities, with 85.31% (12,803 out of 15,008 adherents) belonging to tribal groups such as the Santals, Kolhas (Ho), Mundas, and Bhumijs. Historically, Christianity was not prevalent among the district's inhabitants but gradually gained followers after through missionary efforts. Initially, 783 person returned as Christian in 1911 census, contributed by the Roman Catholic Church (1879) and the Evangelical Church (1896), established in the district headquarters, Baripada, a town that had recorded only 20 Christians in the previous census. Kate Allenby, one of the missionaries, who made significant contributions to the spread of Christianity, along with welfare of the population. Buddhism and Jainism, although forming an insignificant portion of the current population, historically flourished in the region before the emergence of the Bhanja dynasty. At present, semi-Buddhistic practices, including the worship of Mahayana deities such as Tara and Avalokiteshvara under different names, are observed in some rural areas.
By linguistic family, 60.6% of the population speaks Indo-European languages, 36.7% speaks Austroasiatic languages, 0.2% speaks Dravidian languages, and 2.5% speaks other unclassified languages. The Austroasiatic languages are mainly spoken by Scheduled Tribes, who are also fluent in Odia alongside their native language. The Mayurbhanj dialect, locally known as Mayurbhanjia, closely resembles Coastal Odisha's Baleswari Odia but incorporates certain tribal words for everyday objects, especially in villages. The native language of Santali is largely used in its spoken form, Odia or Hindi being preferred for writing. The Ol Chiki script is rarely seen and the Odia script is used to write other tribal languages as well. Bengali is used in the parts of Sadar subdivision that adjoin Jhargram district, although there is significant Odia admixture. Kudmali is another important language, primarily spoken by the Kudumi Mahato in the border areas of Jharkhand and West Bengal. Where they have significant population. Other tribal languages include Ho language and Bhumij language (sometimes regarded as a Mundari dialect). Lodhi language is spoken by several thousand people.
The fame of Mayurbhanj’s Chhau has crossed geographical limitations and has claimed world wide fans for its beauty, vigor and marvel of the art. Every year in Baripada, Chhau dance is organized at the famous Chhau field in Baripada.
Mediaeval to modern history
Merger of the state
Geography and climate
Transport
Administration
Demographics
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! colspan="4" Administration
! colspan="6" Population
! colspan="2" Education
! colspan="3" Employment 60.76 63.37 53.04 54.18 56.65 52.39 58.02 44.98 56.32 56.14 56.71 57.55 51.27 58.78 59.18 53.6 44.81 63.53 63.06 51.3 66.72 61.24 62.55 57.89 57.54 57.01 15.24 14.03 15.91 22.19
Tribes and communities
Religion
Languages
Culture and heritage
Ratha Yatra
Chhau dance
Jhumar
Amarda Road Airstrip
Rasik Ray Temple
Cusine
Notable people
See also
Footnotes
Sources
Gazetteers
External links
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