Correct Answer - Option 4 :
Odisha
The correct answer is Odisha.
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The Paika Rebellion also called the Paika Bidroha was an armed rebellion against the British East India Company's rule in 1817.
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The Paikas rose in rebellion under their leader Bakshi Jagabandhu and, projecting Jagannath as the symbol of Odia unity, the rebellion quickly spread across most of Odisha before being ruthlessly put down by the company's forces.
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It is the first war of independence that started in 1817 much before the Sepoy mutiny of 1857.
- Soon after taking over Odisha from the Marathas in 1803, the British started to introduce a system of administration that angered the King of Khurda, Mukunda Deva II.
- His planned revolt in collaboration with the Paikas was soon discovered by the British and he was torn apart.
- They then usurped all the land from the Paikas under the deposed King’s estate.
- Besides, many other activities of the British like the introduction of a new currency system, oppression of the Paikas in the hands of the officials of the company, ban on making salt from seawater gave rise to widespread dissatisfaction and hatred against the British.
- In 1817, a strong group of 400 Khonds from Ghumusar marched to Khorda and declared their intentions to free Khorda and Ghumusar from the British rule. The group was joined by the Paikas of Khurda as well.
- On 24th December 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative stamp and coin on the Paika Rebellion. Along with the stamp and coin, PM announced to set up a Chair on Paika Rebellion in Bhubaneshwar’s Utkal University.
- The Union Budget speech of 2017-18 mentioned about the commemoration of the 200 years of the Paika Rebellion.
