Most of the books on Indian history based on in depth research are written by Westerners. There are few nptable exceptions - the one about late 19th Century Odisha, "A Time Elsewhere" written by Mr. H. P. Das. Let me recapitulate few more excerpts from it in my own words....
The monsoon failed miserably in the middle of the rainy season in Odisha in the year 1864. In late August instead of rain and drizzle, a common sight in Odisha at that time of the year, unusual hot, dry winds wafted in dust to the desk of the British Collector of Puri. Came September, followed by October - still no sign of rain. Barlow, the British Collector got reports of massive failure of rain fed crop, especially paddy in Puri district and reported it to his boss T.E. Ravenshaw in Cuttack.
He also instructed his Superintendent of Police, Ramakhoy Chatterjee (almost all government officials of Odisha were Bengalis) to be prepared for any law and order situation for the approaching crisis of Tsunami propertion.
But Barlow's raising the red flag in communicating the impending disaster using Telegrams and in person to his bosses got initial lukewarm response. Ravenshaw after whose name the famed College of Cuttack is named after had just arrived from Calcutta. He was a laid back person who didn't want to stay in Odisha for long. So rather than taking effective measures to fight draught he went on a sight seeing trip of Odisha as winter set in - the best time to tour the state when the weather is salubrious.
Ravenshaw, the Commissioner of Cuttack was no intellectual and a poor administrators. But we Indians in general and Odias in particular are known to reward mediocrity. The famous Ravenshaw college of Cuttack should have been named after the Collector Barlow who foresaw the unprecedented draught, took the right steps and did a commendable job in relief and rehabilitation that followed. His work extended well beyond the jurisdiction of his district Puri, his noble work as an able administrator brought benefit to Cuttack and faraway Balasore district.
Barlow was followed by Armstrong (a road in Puri connecting to the sea beach is named after him) as the Collector of Puri. He was a strict guy with short temper. During his tenure the crime in Puri district and the muggery by dacoits on Jagannath SADAK (Road) connecting Puri to Cuttack and beyond was drastically reduced.
He also enured that the annual RATHA JATRA or Car Festival goes smooth and any mischief monger gets punished. A man snatching earings from a woman from western India was nabbed. One Kanungo of Khurda was caught fondling breast of a woman in the melee and was appropriately rewarded by the police. This happended in July 1873, 145 years ago. Apparently there were Odia CHHATARA TOKAs (Girl chasing vagabonds) who took advantage of large gathering to outrage the modesty of women. History will repeat itself as another Ratha Jatra approaches.
The monsoon failed miserably in the middle of the rainy season in Odisha in the year 1864. In late August instead of rain and drizzle, a common sight in Odisha at that time of the year, unusual hot, dry winds wafted in dust to the desk of the British Collector of Puri. Came September, followed by October - still no sign of rain. Barlow, the British Collector got reports of massive failure of rain fed crop, especially paddy in Puri district and reported it to his boss T.E. Ravenshaw in Cuttack.
He also instructed his Superintendent of Police, Ramakhoy Chatterjee (almost all government officials of Odisha were Bengalis) to be prepared for any law and order situation for the approaching crisis of Tsunami propertion.
But Barlow's raising the red flag in communicating the impending disaster using Telegrams and in person to his bosses got initial lukewarm response. Ravenshaw after whose name the famed College of Cuttack is named after had just arrived from Calcutta. He was a laid back person who didn't want to stay in Odisha for long. So rather than taking effective measures to fight draught he went on a sight seeing trip of Odisha as winter set in - the best time to tour the state when the weather is salubrious.
Ravenshaw, the Commissioner of Cuttack was no intellectual and a poor administrators. But we Indians in general and Odias in particular are known to reward mediocrity. The famous Ravenshaw college of Cuttack should have been named after the Collector Barlow who foresaw the unprecedented draught, took the right steps and did a commendable job in relief and rehabilitation that followed. His work extended well beyond the jurisdiction of his district Puri, his noble work as an able administrator brought benefit to Cuttack and faraway Balasore district.
Barlow was followed by Armstrong (a road in Puri connecting to the sea beach is named after him) as the Collector of Puri. He was a strict guy with short temper. During his tenure the crime in Puri district and the muggery by dacoits on Jagannath SADAK (Road) connecting Puri to Cuttack and beyond was drastically reduced.
He also enured that the annual RATHA JATRA or Car Festival goes smooth and any mischief monger gets punished. A man snatching earings from a woman from western India was nabbed. One Kanungo of Khurda was caught fondling breast of a woman in the melee and was appropriately rewarded by the police. This happended in July 1873, 145 years ago. Apparently there were Odia CHHATARA TOKAs (Girl chasing vagabonds) who took advantage of large gathering to outrage the modesty of women. History will repeat itself as another Ratha Jatra approaches.
No comments:
Post a Comment