Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

Banamali Das - A Revolutionary

Dr. Surendra Kumar Biswal

Banamali Das was a hero of heroes who fought to Bhagabati Charan Panigrahi, the Communist
valiantly against the royal dynasty and led leader of Cuttack. He was enrolled in the
successfully the Prajamandal movement in Nilgiri “Voluntary Corps” (3) founded by Bhagabati
state. He was the most illustrious as well as the Charan Panigrahi and became a communist
most influential figure, the history of Nilgiri has leader of the communist party. From this period
ever produced. He was the conquerer of he dedicated his life for the upliftment of the
conquerors, the liberator of Nilgiri, the soldier of downtrodden mass of the society. (4)
God whose words have been blessed by the
people and sanctified by the Lord. He was a Taking arms against the king, unmarried
staunch supporter of communism and had a deep Pranabandhu Agasti of Pratapada united all the
faith in proletarian Creed. He was an idol of people and founded an organization named
revolutionary ideas. “YUVAK SAKHA SAMITI” in 1931. In 1938
YUVAK SAKHA SAMITI first voiced against
He belonged to a higher middle class it and then Prajamandal was formulated.
Karan family. His father Harihar Das was a lawyer
and his mother Chintamani Devi was a pious and Nilgiri, the Garjat Sub-Division of
religious lady familiar with the religious texts like Balasore district marked a milestone in the Praja
the Ramayan and the Mahabharat. He was born Mandal movement in Odisha. The King Mardaraj
in Kadamsahi of native Nilgiri town of the Harichandan established absolute monarchy in
Balasore District in 29 th August 1918. (1) this kingdom. He ruled according to his own
Unfortunately he lost his father at the age of four. whims. He did not care to understand the real
But his mother was the source of inspiration for condition of the people. Because of the
him. She very much influenced him to liberal and indifference the king did not pay proper attention
patriotic. He passed matriculation examination to the miseries of the people. Oppressive rule, (5)
from the Balasore Zilla School in the year 1938. exploitation of the poor people, the tyranny of
(2)
the small officers of the Raja became the order of
As a student of Balasore Zilla school he the day. (6) The king delivered that oppressive
was very much influenced by Gopal Kumar methods were the only way to keep the subjects
Kanungo, a socialist teacher of the school. Under quiet. He did not pay any heed to the needs of
his personal guidance and care, he was introduced the people. So the subjects suffered from untold

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poverty, starvation, miserable existence and auspicious day both the President and the
extreme back in wilderness. (7) Secretary of Prajamandal inspired and infuriated
It is difficult to notice the type of taxes the people addressing against the inhuman rule of
collected by the king. Besides land revenue, the the king. The firing words of Banamali Das
ruler could impose any type of illegal taxes on the mentally prepared the people to start the
movement.
people. Even the landless labourers were not
spared. Tax collectors collected taxes on sale of The movement began and they
forest fruits, on salt, tobacco, coconut, betel and demanded to promulgate new agricultural policy
various other things. (8) and to establish a benevolent rule. It was totally a
nonviolent movement. But to foil the movement
The most hated system “Bethi and Begari”
a counter organization was established by the
was in vogue. People had to give free labour for
prince Rajkishore Chandra Mardaraj
the works of the king. They were severely
Harichandan. This movement was Praja welfare
punished if they failed to labour hard. Half of the
movement. The king in order to strengthen his
entire income was spent for the maintenance of
position tried to be friend of the Adivasis or tribal
his family. The king considered the state income
people. He even directed Adivasis to fight against
as his personal property. It is surprising that the
the non Adivasi with bows, arrows and spears
British Govt. remained blind towards the suffering
and to burn and destroy their houses. By such
of the Garjat people. But time came when the
actions the king believed he could terrorize the
discontent of the people forced them to rebel. (9)
Prajas and compel them to seek his protection.
The Prajamandal movement of Nilgiri in He could then impose his will on them as he had
1938 is a most significant in the history of Odisha. been doing. But matters turned out contrary to
This Prajamandal was organized in 1938 by the his expectation. The people could see through the
endeavour of Dr. H.K. Muhtab and Sarangadhar kings game and regrouped again to revolt against
Das. The most significant personalities of this him. (12)
Prajamandal were Banamali Das, Kailash One hundred twenty people were
Chandra Mohanty, Hadibandhu Raj, Krushna arrested by the order of the king. Out of them
Chandra Dhag, Pranabandhu Agasti, fifty people were fined fifty rupees each and rest
Gokulananda Nayak and Mohan Bose. Mr seventy people were imprisoned. The king sought
Kailash Chandra Mohanty presided the the police assistance from Govt. of Orissa when
Prajamandal and Mr. Banamali Das was the Banamali Das started Satyagraha taking five
Secretary of Prajamandal. (10) thousand people at Machhuapatna. (13) This was
In order to introduce reforms in the a rare opportunity for the then Prime Minister
administration they started agitation against the H.K. Mahtab who had been to Delhi promptly
despotic rule of the king, Mardaraj Harichandan and sought permission of the Home Minister
in 1938. The flame of the revolution crossed the Sardar Patel for the merger of Nilgiri with Orissa.
boundary line of Nilgiri and spread to Athagarh, The permission was granted immediately. On his
Tigiria, Ranpur, Daspalla, Dhenkanal and return from Delhi on 14th November Nilgiri was
Mayurbhanj. (11) merged with Orissa. (14)
Eleventh July 1938, the day of Car festival During post-independence era, Banamali
is memorable in the history of Nilgiri. In this Das mobilized the masses against the rich and

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Haves in the society. In 1957 Banamali Das came 1971 to 14th June 1972 and Nandini Satapathy
against to the picture of Nilgiri. He arranged all from 14th June 1972 to 3rd March 1973. In 1974
Odisha Peasant Conference at Nilgiri from 4th he was elected to Orissa Legislative Assembly
April to 5th April in 1957 which was inaugurated for the last time under CPIM banner when Odisha
by Bankim Chandra Chatterji, the President of was governed by the Chief Minister Nandini
All India Peasants Association. (15) It was presided Satapathy. During the time of Satapathy land
by Banamali Das. The peasant conference reform was strictly promulgated. Banamali Das
demanded sealing law against lands of the rich, took part in the discussions like social reforms,
Zamidars and the kings. This peasant conference dowry Act, and the remuneration to the old and
demanded that the Government should enclose the disabled.(17)
the five thousand acres of land of Salvata chhak There were frequent flood at Rajnagar,
of Balangir king, Mahisi Gotha and coast stretch Marshaghai, Paradip and Chandbali.Banamali
of cultivated land Kalarapala of Nilgiri king. Das along with party members visited those areas
Thousands and thousands acres land of the king and distributed relief from village to village. He
of Dhenkanal and these lands distributed among raised a question in the Orissa Legislative
the landless peasants. This conference grew the Assembly for the permanent solution of the flood.
popularity of Banamali Das from the grass-root (18)
level. He paved the way for entry in to the Odisha
Legislative Assembly. In 1964 the All India In 1973 there was terrible famine in Nilgiri
Communist party which was founded in sub-division. It became acute. In 1974 due to
September 1924 at the initiative of Satyavhkta of the lack of rainfall, cultivation became standstill.
Uttarpradesh was divided in to two fictions on The misery of the people knew no bounds and
the basis of difference relating to ideological and the echo of the great famine was heard at Nilgiri
strategic stand of Communist in India. Jyoti Basu sub-division. Banamali Das drew the attention of
of Bengal, Sundaraya of Andhrapradesh and the Govt. of Orissa in Legislative Assembly and
Nambudipad of Keral declared CPIM in 1964 demanded the test relief. The Govt. did not pay
at Tabali in Andhra Pradesh. Banamali Das was any heed. Banamali along with the active party
the first comrade from Odisha attended the Tabali members started movements in front of the
conference and was influenced by the ideology Blocks. At last Rabindra Mohan Senapati, the
of these persons.Returning to Odisha he formed then collector of the Balasore provided relief to
a CPIM party and arranged a meeting at the famine stricken families. He demanded work
Sahadevkhunta of Balasore in 1964.It was instead of food in Odisha Legislative Assembly.
(19)
presided by Promod Dasgupta, the state secretary
of West Bengal.The prominent figures like Laxman Banamali Das was a reputed writer and
Pattanaik of Khurda, Jagannath Mishra of wrote a number of books both Odia and English.
Paralakhemundi, Shivaji Pattanaik of Khurda The unpublished books are ‘Peace against war’,
attended the meeting. Banamali Das became the “Prosperity against poverty” and “Against
first CPIM Secretary in Odisha.(16) communalism for Fraternity” in English.His
In 1967 he was the first CPIM MLA in unpublished auto-biography “Bud-Bud ra
Orissa Legislative Assembly. In1971 he was again Kahani” and his published poem “Godhulilagana
elected when Orissa was governed by two Chief bear the literary talents and wisdom of Banamali
Ministers named Biswanath Das from 3rd.April , Das. (20)

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He was also the editor of the remain a constant source of inspiration for the
‘Samyabadi’ from 1969 to 1982 published from coming generations.
the Party Office, Cuttack. He was a paragraph References:
writer of the Newspaper “The Dharitri”.His
1. Das,B, Biplabi Banamali Das, Eka Jivan Alekhya,
favourite Newspaper was “The Samaj”. Banamali
(Odia) Balasore, 2015- PP-1-2.
Das was not a pessimistic. He believed the Radha
Krishna religion and went to Radha Krishna 2. Records found in Banamali Das’s house
temple everyday, situated near the royal palace 3. Samyabadi-1982
of Nilgiri. Towards the fag end of his life he was 4. Interview with Sivaji Pattanaik 12.06.2006
influenced by Manoj Das who was the firm beliver 5. Parida, P-Nilgiri Ladhei, Cuttack 1918, P8
of Srima Aurobindo. Sometimes topics on the
6. Mohapatra R.C., Nilgiri Yuvak Sakha Samiti, (Odia)
Aurobinda were discussed in his own resident.
Nilgiri, 1990, p-5
He had been joining Aurobinda Pathachakra of
Nilgiri since 1992. 7. The Sambad- 14 Nov. 2007
8. Ajikali 7th March 2007
Banamali Das occupied a unique place
among the leaders of modern Odisha. He was a 9. Interview with Banamali Das, 29.12.2002
great freedom fighter, revolutionary and an astute 10. Desakatha, 4th May 1931.
communist leader. An ardent believer in 11. Utkal Dipika, 27th June 1931.
communist ideology, he was the champion of poor 12. Ekjut Hua (a pamphlet) Nilgiri, 30 July, 1937.
and downtrodden throughout his life. In him we
13. Krushak, 3 Feb, 1938 AISPC, File No. 124 NMML.
find the organizing ability of the great communist
leader Mao-Tse-Tung and the courage and 14. Samal J.K. “Comprehensive History of Odisha,
fearlessness of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Kavari Publication, New Delhi, 2007, pp-328-329.
15. Ibid
As a leader of the ‘Prajamandal’
movement in Nilgiri state, he was instrumental in 16. Patra. S.- Odisha Krushaka Andolana Itihas-1999,
BBSR, P-53
galvanising the illiterate and half fed masses into
own action against the tyrannical rule of the Raja, 17. Ranabhumi-May 2003, BBSR.
protected by the mighty British. As a result of his 18. Das. S-Namanuha Itihas, Banamali Das,
valiant efforts, Nilgiri had the distinction of being Bhubaneswar, 2007, PP-33-32
the first princely state to be merged into Indian 19. Das. S- Prajamandal Movement in Nilgiri, an
union in 1947. He also played an active role in unpublished M.Phil Dissertation, submitted to
Post-Independence electoral politics. He Sambalpur University, 1987, PP-61-62.
execised tremendous influence over the people 20. Rath B and Nayak S – Asit Para, Uttarayan, 2002,
of his area. This was proved by the fact that he PP 29-22.
was thrice elected from the Nilgiri constituency in
1967, 1971 and 1974.
His fearless struggle, revolutionary spirit, Dr. Surendra Kumar Biswal, Srinibas Degree College,
indomitable will power, love for human being will Mangalpur.

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