Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo

Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo was only eleven years old when his father, Maharaja Krishna Chandra Bhanj Deo, the ruler of the Mayurbhanj State, passed away. On 29 May 1882, Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo succeeded to the throne. At that time, the State was under the Court of Words, governed by a British Commissioner P. Wylly, and the affairs of the state remained under the control of his grandmother, the Dowager Maharani of Mayurbhanj. On 15 August 1892, the Maharaja, having reached the age of 21, came of age and formally assumed the role of Maharaja.[3]

He was first married to Maharani Lakshmi Kumari Devi, daughter of a zamindar of Panchkot in Bengal, who died in 1902.[3] In 1904, he married Maharani Sucharu Devi, a daughter of Maharshi Keshub Chandra Sen. He had two sons, Purna Chandra Bhanj Deo and Pratap Chandra Bhanj Deo with his first wife.[3] Purna Chandra Bhanj Deo succeeded him to the throne, while Pratap Chandra Bhanj Deo succeeded his elder brother to the throne after the former's death.[3] He had a son, Dhrubendra Chandra Bhanj Deo and two daughters of his second wife, Sucharu Devi. Dhrubendra Chandra Bhanj Deo became an air force pilot and died in action during the Second World War.[4] The elder daughter was married to the Maharaja of Vizianagaram and the younger daughter, Rani Jyoti Manjari Devi was married to Mahant Sarveshwar Das, the Raja Bahadur of Nandgaon, a princely state of the erstwhile Central Provinces and Berar.[5]

Maharaja died due to an accident, while on a hunting trip, when he was accidentally injured by the bullet fired from the gun of his brother-in-law (brother of Sucharu Devi). He was severely injured and was treated in Calcutta, but died there of his injuries.[6]

He worked for the all around development of Mayurbhanj and implemented various welfare schemes designed to help the people. He was revered as a philosopher king. He constituted the state council for administration in the state and brought about reforms in the sphere of language, health and administration.[7]

During his reign, the scientific operation of iron mines was started for the first time and Gorumahisani mines were leased to the Tatas. In 1903, he commissioned a narrow-gauge railway line from Rupsa to Baripada known as Mayurbhanj State Railway.[7] During his reign 474 miles of road were built in State connecting all divisional towns with Baripada.[7] The Baripada Municipality was constituted by him in 1905. He also started an English High School with boarding facility, a government Press, a fully equipped hospital and a leper asylum in Baripada.[7]

He appointed Mohini Mohan Dhar the Dewan of Mayurbhanj.[7] Impressed with the noble qualities of Gopabandhu Das he made him his advocate.[2]

He was a great patron of Oriya art and culture. The famous Chhau dance of Orissa or "war-dance" was presented by him for a show in 1912 in Calcutta in honor of George V, the British emperor, who was impressed by its beauty and splendour.[8]

He was also a patriot and great patron of the Odia language and presided over the first meeting of Utkal Samilani held on 3 December 1903.

In 1892, he made major additions to the royal palace of Mayurbhanj, which has 126 rooms. The front of the palace resembles the Buckingham Palace, which was built in 1908. Two colleges, Maharaja Purna Chandra College, and the Government Women's College are now located inside the palace.[9]

Statue of Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo, ruler of Mayurbhanj State