PREDECESSORS AND SHORT HISTORY:
The
Rajas of Aul are descendants of Raja Tailanga Mukunda Dev, a Chalukya
prince and the last independent King of Orissa, who ruled from 1551 to
1567. Raja Tailanga Mukunda Deb was attacked by the Afghan Ruler of
Bengal Province and died in battle while defending his territories. On
his untimely death, his throne was usurped by his Chief Minister
Janrdhan Vidhaydhar and there followed a period of chaos for 21 years
during which two petty Kings ruled, but were killed in the course of
battle and the country was then a scene of anarchic disturbances. The
Chief Minister of Raja Tailanga Mukunda Deva, Janrdhan Vidyadhar
managed to place his son upon the throne with the title of Gajapati Ram
Chandra Dev and thus, the Bhoi Dynasty of Khurda and Puri was founded.
However, Raja Tailanga Mukunda Deb had two sons, Tailanga Ram
Chandra Deb and
Chakkari Bhrambara, they attacked Khurda but could not wrest back the
throne. They approached the court of Emperor Akbar for a settlement of
their dispute. Emperor Akbar deputed Raja Todar Mal and Raja Man Singh
to march on to Orissa and settle the issue. The territories were
settled as follows:- The State of Medieval Orissa was thus divided into
two divisions. The House of Khurda was established and was given to
Gajpati Ram Chandra Deb with power to rule over 129 Killas of Orissa
and their seat of power being the estates of Khurda and Puri. Secondly,
Tailanga Ram Chandra Deb was granted the House of Aul and right to
control 23 Killas and 42 Zamindaris. Chhakri Bhramarbara,the second son
of Tailanga Mukunda Dev received the fort of Sarangarh and the
Zamindari of Patia.THE KINGDOM OF AUL in 1582 was as follows - Aul at
that time consisted of 23 Killas and 42 zamindaris, the Killas being
Kanika, Ryonta, Kujang, Kokilodeep, Harishpur, Marichpur, Bishnupur,
Jamukera, Cheedra, Darpani, Dholtang, Daljoda, Chatra, Amjera,
Balrampur, Alamgiri, Lalitagiri, Kalupara, Bhunia-Bhadrak, Noudih,
Barmatree, Alumpeda and Kaljang. The Aul Killa as reported in 1917 was
situated in a North Easterly direction from the town of Cuttack and was
divided into three Parganas, namely Utihar, Kutavsahi and Dera-Barimul,
having an area of 134 sq.mles. The rivers Brahmani and Kharosota form
the boundaries of the Killa and enormous embankments have been
constructed to protect the land from periodical floods.
- Raja Tailanga RAM CHANDRA DEB 1590/-, after he received the
Killa from Raja Man Singh, he defeated
the petty local Zamindars and became Raja in the year 1590. He also
conquered Basu Kalapataru, the Jogi Raja of Dera Bisi near Kendrapara
and proceeded to occupy his country, securing the Mahantship of a small
Math with power over the inhabitants of the Baishnava caste. The last
two privileges were enjoyed by his successors to the present time. A
lengthy period
of peace and prosperity ensued during the reigns of his successors.
- Raja GOPINATH DEB I, he continued the interest of the
preceding four Rajas in furthering trading relationships with other
places in India as well as other countries. They equipped a fleet of
around 200 sailing
vessels which visited Bombay, Burma, Borneo, Java and Sumatra. These
vessels continued to ply their trade till competition came from
steamers belonging
to a number of European Shipping Companies.
- Raja NILAKANTHA DEB II, he constructed a beautiful Temple
of Laxmi Baraha Jew and gave a Zilla of 8000Rs at that time for its
maintenance and worship. He also established many smaller temples,
including Dadhibaman Jew Temple at Dera Bisi. He introduced into his
Kingdom many high caste Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Karanas and bestowed upon
them lands for their sustenance, so that they in turn could serve the
society.
- Raja GOPINATH DEB II, he ruled around 1747, during this
period the Marathas invaded Orissa.
- Raja RAM KRISHNA DEB, he received authority via a sannad
with the Maratha Government at Nagpur to be called the Maharaja of Aul,
and was invested with the Royal Insignia and given the authority to
keep 500 Cavalry. During his reign, in 1803, Orissa was conquered by
the
British and an agreement was concluded through the Treaty of Deogaon by
which a peshkash was permanently fixed and all powers of the
Killajat
Raja were conferred upon the Ruler. One of the provisions of the
agreement then entered into was that the Raja was required to pay an
annual sum of equivalent to 28,359Rs; he was a great warrior, and
rendered assistance to General Harcourt in December
1803, in a battle at Kendrapara, for which he received from the East
India
Company, a letter of acknowledgment of his services.
- Raja PRATAP RUDRA DEB, he was an opium addict and became
insane and during that period Aul became weaker and lost territories
through sunset laws and was henceforth managed by the Court of Wards
till 1847, he married and had issue.
- Raja PADMANABH DEB 1847/1888, during his long reign and
especially in 1866, Orissa was devastated by a terrible famine, during
which many died and the surviving subjects were reduced to the most
abject state
of misery, he was extremely pious and introduced many
measures to provide food and comfort to the subjects. He also
introduced into his Kingdom many high caste Brahmins, Kshatriyas,
Karanas and bestowed upon them lands for their sustenance, so that they
in turn could serve the society; he married and had issue, two sons,
the elder of whom died of cholera during the famine. He died 1888.
- Raja JADUNATH DEB 1888/1900, during his reign the last
settlement of the District of
Cuttack was completed, he was a man of strong religious principles, and
a considerable portion of his income was spent in
constructing temples, tanks and wells, and for the establishment of a
new
deity, named Jadukulo Chandra Jew, for which he gifted property worth
2000Rs for its maintenance. He held a great festival annually lasting a
whole week at a cost of several thousands of Rupees and provided ample
food for the brahmins, baishnabs and the needy poor of his territories.
He ruled his subjects with firmness tempered with justice and did all
in his power to promote their happiness; he married Rani Binod Kumari
Patta Mahadei, a princess of Panchkote, now
in West Bengal, and had issue, three sons and
one daughter. He died in 1900, whilst
worshipping in the temple of Lakshmi Baraha Jew, reciting his own
written
couplets in honour of the Lord.
- Rajkumar Sunamoni Bansidhar Deb, adopted to neighbouring
Kanika
and succeded there as Raja Bahadur Sir RAJENDRA NARAYAN BHANJ DEO
Bahadur of Kanika.
- Raja BRAJA SUNDAR DEB (qv)
- Rajkumari Jemamoni Labanya Kumari, married to the Raja of
Chikiti in Ganjam District of Orissa.
- Raja PITAMBER DEB 1900/1905, succeeded his father on his
death in 1900; married Rani Swarna Manjari
Devi, daughter of Raja NILAMBAR CHANDRA DEO of Bonai, and had issue,
one daughter. He died spm 1905, when a steam motor launch in
which he was returning from a hunting expedition encountered a violent
storm in the River Kharasota and sank beneath the waters, carrying
along with it the Raja and his attendants.
- Rani Sarat Kumari Devi, married 25th November 1925,
Rana BIRPAL SINGH of Bhajji, and had
issue. She died February 1986.
- Raja BRAJA SUNDAR DEB 1905/1946, he inherited the praise
worthy qualities of his predecessors. He was wise in administration,
devoted to music and
religious pursuits, protecting uprightment and punishing evil doers. He
contributed liberally to the maintenance of Temples and the cause of
education. He funded from his private purse Sanskrit and Upper Primary
Schools at Aul in 1908. He provided scholarships to needy students
residing at a distance from his Killa. He is the founder donor for the
construction of the Town Hall at Cuttack, called Sriram Chandra Bhawan.
He increased his Estate by purchasing and retrieving some of his old
territories which had been taken over by the British under the sunset
laws, like the Killas of Harishpur, Marichpur, Bishnupur and Alamgiri.
The
Raja always encouraged sporting activities, was a keen marksman with
rifle and gun, in which he had few equals. His hunting expeditions led
him to take a deep interest in the habits of the wild beasts and his
great
courage which was one of the most noticeable features in his character
- together with the knowledge of his power over those animals,
doubtless, caused him to become a Shikari in earnest. There is
probably no other occupant of a throne who has captured and trained
wild animals, and the success of the Raja in that direction resulted in
the formation of a travelling circus of which he was the controlling
spirit. Lions, tigers, bears and other ferocious inhabitants of the
jungle seemed to be as harmless as the domestic cat, when they were
brought face to face with him, and the marvellous manner in which he
compelled submission to his will was striking proof of the power of the
man. The Raja had his own methods of training and was invariably
successful in the end. His skill in subduing an animal was no less than
the wonderful patience he exhibited. The Aul Raj Circus was known
throughout India and Burma, numerous letters as to the high class
character of the performances had been received at Ranchi, Purulia,
Bankipore, Ramnagar, Vizagapatnam and other places, while in 1916 H.E.
Lord Carmichael, Governor of Bengal presented a Testimonial to the Raja
in recognition of his extraordinary courage. Medals were also received
at the Delhi Durbar in 1911 and Cuttack Coronation Durbar in the same
year and from many Rajas, Maharajas and prominent Europeans at
Calcutta. He was one of the patrons for the Publication of the first
ever Oriya Dictonary called Purna Chandra Bhasa Kos. He was a close
confidante of Shri Janaki Nath Bose, the consulting attorney of the
Aul Zamindari at that time and the father of Netaji Subhash
Chandra Bose. In the latter part of his life
he was supportive of Indian Revolutionaries like Netaji Subhash Chandra
Bose. He was a pioneer for the formation of a separate Province of
Orissa and contributed liberally and supported the Utkal Sammilani;
married Rani Maithali Devi Patta Mahadei of Bonai, a cousin of Rani
Swarna Manjari Devi of Aul, and had issue. He died 1946.
- Raja CHANDRA BHANU DEB (qv)
- Raja CHANDRA BHANU DEB 1946/1961, who stayed mostly at
Benaras and at
Puri. He was twice the President of Orissa Musical Society and had been
trained by the famous musician Pt. Omkar Nath Thakur at Benaras and was
very adept at playing the violin; married Rani Ramraj Kumari
Pattamahadei of Lakhanpur, Surguja, who as Rani Saheba of Aul, was
also a member of
the Orissa Legislative Assembly from 1952 to 1957, and had issue, two
sons and five daughters.
- Rani Padma Devi (+), married Justice Raja CHANDRA SHEKAR
PRASAD SINGH, Raja Saheb of Daiya in
U.P., Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court U.P., died in office after
being mistakenly killed by dacoits, and had issue, four daughters.
- Rajkumari Sabitiri Devi (+), married Kunwar Tribhuvan
Shah
Deo (+) of Kanker, a sportsman of
repute, and has issue, one son.
- Raja BAN BIHARI DEB (qv)
- Rani Shanti Devi, a former member of the Orissa
Legislative Assembly, married Raja ANANTA NARAYAN SINGH DEO (+) of
Dharakote, a former
Minister in Orissa and a former Member of
Parliament, and had issue, one son and three daughters.
- Rajkumari Shashikala Devi, married Lal Saheb
Dhurandhar Singh Deo (+) of Khariar,
and has issue, two sons and four
daughters.
- Rajkumari Usha Devi, married Kunwar Ravi Nath Shah Deo
(+) of Kanker, younger brother of
Kunwar Tribhuvan Shah Deo, a teacher
of repute in Rajkumar College, Raipur; and had issue, two sons.
- Raja SARAT KUMAR DEB (qv)
- Raja BAN BIHARI DEB 1961/1967, educated at Benaras and was
a keen marksman; married Rani Jayshree Devi (+),
daughter
of Tikayat Nrupendra Narayan Singh Deo of Seraikella, and his wife,
Tikayet
Rani Kusum Manjari Devi, and had issue, two daughters. He died spm
1967.
- Rani Sangita Devi, married Raja AKHILESH PRATAP MAL of
Majhouli, U.P., and has issue, two sons.
- Yuvraj Ark Pratap Mal
- Rajkumar Anirudh Pratap Mal
- Rajkumari Pritilata Devi, married Kumar Tarani Prasad
Singh Deo, son of Lal Saheb Dhurandhar Singh Deo of Khariar, and
Rajkumari Shashikala Devi of Aul (see above), and has issue one son and
one
daughter.
- Kumari Priyanka Devi, studying
in USA
- Kumar Adideb Singh Deo
- Raja SARAT KUMAR DEB B.A. 1967/1988, born 16th October
1942, educated at Rajkumar College, Raipur and was
the Head
Boy of the school in 1959/1960, where he was an all round sportsman and
excelled in Football and qualified for the university and State
selections at that time; he further studied at
Christ College, Cuttack and BJB College
Bhubaneswar for his graduation. He was an excellent Debater and Orator,
and
was chosen as the best N.C.C. Sr. Division Cadet in 1964, he
entered politics in 1967, President of Krushak
Samaj, Aul; President of various
cultural and social institutions; President of Khendrapara District
Janata; Member of the Technical Advisory Committee 1977/1978 and
1978/1979, he served the Orissa Government as Deputy Minister
for Works, Transport and Excise from 1971 to 1972 and Minister for
Irrigation from 1978 to 1979. He was elected as member of the Orissa
Legislative Assembly for four terms. He was Leader of the Opposition in
the Orissa Legislative Assembly from 1980 to 1984. He was elected as a
member of Parliament in 1985 and continued as a member till his
untimely death in 1988; he married 27th January
1969, Rani
Sushree Devi,
born 10th October 1950 in Raipur, Chattisgarh; daughter of Raja ANUP
SINGH
DEO of Khariar, and his wife, Shrimati
Rani Saubhagya
Manjari Devi, Agriculturist,
Political and Social Worker, B.A.
Educated at S.B. Women's College, Cuttack (Orissa), 1990-95
Member, Orissa Legislative Assembly
April 2002 Elected to Rajya Sabha
May 2002 onwards Member, Committee on Industry Aug. 2002 onwards
Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Water Resources, she participated
in the (i) peasant movement against
the hike in agriculture water tax in 1971 at Aul
and Kendrapara sub division and (ii) relief operation
for the flood victims in the 1971 cyclone in the area; spearheaded the
movement in Kendrapara district to set up Girls High School in 1977;
and carried out extensive relief operation in Aul in the 1999 Super
Cyclone; has keen interest in (i) conservation of ancient heritage and
important archeological monuments and (ii) aquaculture activities;
inclined towards experimenting various aquaculture production
activities such as prawn and fisheries in Kendrapara district,
Interests: Reading,
touring new places, cooking, wildlife
protection and conservation, folk theatre in rural areas and
agriculture, Director,
Lift Irrigation Corporation, Orissa, for three years; Member, (i) Board
of Secondary Education, Orissa, for five years, (ii) TAC, Orissa, for
four years, (iii) Consultative Irrigation Committee, Orissa for four
years and (iv) Sri Vihar Sanskrit University, Puri (Orissa) for two
years; previously associated with the Janata Dal, and
had issue, two sons
and one daughter. His passing on 24th March 1988 of stomach cancer
created a void in Orissa politics.
- Raja BRAJ
KESHARI DEB (qv)
- Thatraj Pratap Keshari Deb, born 21st
December
1971, educated at Rajkumar College, Raipur and graduated with
Political Science
Honours from Ram Jas College, Delhi University; Gold Medalist in
shooting competition for Junior Division NCC Cadets held at Udaipur in
1986, represented his school in Football and Hockey at the natonal
level in
the Iner Public School Championships in 1986/87, and was ajudged the
Best Goalkeeper of the tournament on both occasions, he entered
politics in
1993, elected to the Orissa Legislative Assembly from 2000 to 2004 and
now has been elected for the second term as a Member of the Orissa
Legislative Assembly from 2004 to 2009; married Rajkumari Avantika
Singh, daughtr of late Yuvraj Rajesh Pal Singh Judeo and Yuvrani (now
Rajmata) Raj Devi of Gopalpura, Dist. Jalaun, and has issue, one
son and one daughter.
- Kumar Karmanya Pratap Deb
- Rajkumari Gitanjali Devi, married to Kunwar Amaresh
Pratap Singh, son of Rajkumar Akhil Pratap Singh, fourth son of Raja
AJIT
PRATAP SINGH of Pratapgarh
U.P., and has issue, one son.
- Kumar Abhyuday Pratap Singh
- Raja BRAJ
KESHARI DEB (see above)
The generous assistance of Raja Braj Keshari Deb is
gratefully acknowledged, December 2007.
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