Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of people belonging to the Paika community dressed in traditional attire demonstrating their martial skills with swords, clubs, etc held a massive rally here today.
They were demanding recognition of Paika Bidroha or Paika Rebellion against the British as India’s first War of Independence.
They also demanded the constitution of a Paika Regiment in the Indian Army similar to Gorkha, Sikh, and Assam regiments.
“We demand recognition of the Paika Rebellion of 1817 as the First War of Independence. We also demand the constitution of Odisha Paika Regiment so that several Paika youths can join the army and serve the country,” said a participant in the rally.
Members of the Paika community marched from the Barunei shrine at the Barunei hills to Station Square in Bhubaneswar.
Congress veteran Jatni MLA Suresh Routray was one among the prominent persons leading the march under the banner of ‘Virat Paika Janagarjana Samabesh’.
Routray alleged that the Centre has backed out on its commitment to declare Paika Bidroha as the First War of Independence.
“If our demands are not met we will intensify our agitation. Two lakh Paika youths will march to Delhi and gherao Red Fort,” said Routray.
The Centre in December last year refused to recognise Paika Rebellion as the First War of Independence.
Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy in a written reply to a question by BJD MP Prashanta Nanda in the Rajya Sabha stated that the matter was examined in consultation with the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) and as per its comments Paika Rebellion cannot be called as the First War of Independence.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had urged the Centre to declare Paika Rebellion as the First War of Independence while laying of the foundation stone for Paika Rebellion Memorial at Barunei Hills in Khurda district on December 7, 2019, by President Ramnath Kovind.
Currently, the 1857 rebellion or the ‘Sepoy Mutiny’ that began in Meerut is referred to as the first major uprising in the country against the British.
