Introduction
Bhadrak District is an administrative district of Odisha, lying in eastern India. Bhadrak town is the district headquarters. Bhadrak subdivision of the undivided Balasore District became a new district on 1st April, 1993. Bhadrak having a rich heritage and history derives its name as legend has it, from Goddess Bhadrakali whose temple stands on the bank of the river Salandi. This district is bounded by Balasore district in the north, Jajpur district and river Baitarani is in the south, Keonjhar district is in the west and Bay of Bengal and Kendrapada district is in the east. Total area covered by Bhadrak District is 2,677 sq kms. As per 2001 Census, total population of the district is 1,332,249. It is a level tract of alluvial soil with a gradual slope eastwards to the Bay of Bengal. The language mostly spoken by the people of Bhadrak district is Oriya language.
History of Bhadrak District
The legendary history of Bhadrak dates back to the age of the Puranas when Odisha achieved thriving maritime and agrarian prosperity. The antiquity of Bhadrak is eloquently confirmed by the gigantic tank of the Asura, the Buddhist remnants and the Buddhist caves of the 7th and 8th century, discovered in the villages adjacent to the core town of Bhadrak.
As far as the history of Bhadrak is concerned, king Mukunda Dev was the last sovereign indigenous ruler of Bhadrak, who was then the master of the major section of Odisha. But the freedom of Odisha was curbed when the erstwhile king Mukunda Dev was defeated and finally lost his life in 1568. The Muslim population began to settle in the pockets of Bhadrak district around the year 1575 following the discomfiture of the Afghans under Usman at the hand of raja Man Singh.
The episode of Muslim dynasty in the history of Bhadrak is deciphered from Ain-I- Akbari of Abul Fazal. As the history of Bhadrak depicts, during the Muhgal period Bhadrak survived as a Subha under the Nawabs of Bengal. When the majestic Muhgals diminished from the political scenario of Bhadrak, the zone consisted of a few principalities like Kanika, Ampo and Agarapada, with a few administrative sub-units called Chowparhies such as Kubera, Talapada, Nadigaon, Kasimpur, Kurigaon, Bindha etc., which came under the sway of the Rajput Kshatriya chiefs. In course of time Bhadrak has passed on to different hands and colonized by different dynasties till the British occupied the entire region of Odisha, with the grant of Diwani.
Bhadrak District is an ancient land noted in legends dating from the age of the Indian Puranas, contributing to Odisha's maritime and agrarian prosperity, trade and commerce down the ages and recorded in history. After the British occupation of Odisha, Cuttack and Balasore constituted one of the two administrative divisions, in June 1804. In 1828 when Balasore was made a separate district, Bhadrak became one of its sub-division with an Assistant Magistrate cum Deputy Collector as the Sub-Divisional Head, while the Munsif Court remained in Jajpur until 1901.
The historical records of Bhadrak relate that Bhadrak became a prominent seat during the era of National Struggle against the British. In the historic Quit India Movement of 1942 Bhadrak played a leading role. It was the vanguard of the national politics in 1920, when the non Co-operation Movement was initiated with the clarion call of Gandhiji, which soon assumes a national color. The non co-operation movement in Bhadrak as its history depicts, is marked with a huge popular support. Imbibed with the nationalistic fervor propagated by Gandhiji, non co-operation in Bhadrak involve an enormous public participation. As the historical records of Bhadrak narrate, several mass rebellions against the British breed out in the pockets of Bhadrak district.
In 1922, started the historical mass movement of Kanika, in the bosom of Bhadrak, which for the time being was crushed by the British forces. But the tenants of Kanika, with the leadership of Chakradhar Behera, triumphed the rebellion. After the gigantic mass movements lead by the people of Bhadrak, ardent political fervor swing the political scenario of Bhadrak and it was again the hotbed of politics during the Civil Disobedience movement.
During the Quit India Movement, Muralidhar Panda imbibed the inhabitants of Bhadrak to blaze their patriotic zeal with the fire of revolution against the British. The tenants raise movements against the British in the adjacent areas of Bhadrak. At Eram on 28th September 1942, in an enclosed place nearly 40 persons were stabbed ruthlessly by the British troops, which was the replica of Jallianwalabagh Massacre. The history of Bhadrak is inseparable with the history of Indian Struggle for Independence.
Since Bhadrak was the hotbed of Indian Struggle for Independence, it was the seat of contemporary politics, education and culture, right from the British imperialism in India. As is evident from the history of Bhadrak, in the post independence period, Bhadrak keeping on pace with the changing scenario, retains the aroma of its traditionality in the multifarious progress of Education, Industry, Agriculture, Trade and commerce.
Geography of Bhadrak District
Bhadrak District is divided into three zones according to its soil condition namely Saline Soil, Alluvial Soil and Sandy Soil. Geography of Bhadrak District is divided into two well-designed tracks and these are the salt tracks along the coasts which are not arable and the arable track, which is called the granary of the state. As per the agro climatic condition of the district the areas are divided into four zones. These zones are Rain fed zone, Perennial irrigated zone, Flooded Zone and Saline zone. There are five types of forests in Bhadrak district. The climate of this district is generally hot with high humidity. May is the hottest month. December is the coldest month of this district. A number of deltaic rivers namely Salandi, Baitarani, Kansabansa, Gamol, Mantei, Genguti, Kochila, Reba and Kapali pass through Bhadrak District. The rivers are seasonal.
Administration of Bhadrak District
Administration of Bhadrak District comprises one sub-division that is Bhadrak. Total number of tehsils in Bhadrak District is seven namely Basudevpur, Bonta, Bhadrak, Chandbali, Dhamnagar, Tihidi and Bhandaripokhari. There are 193 Gram Panchayats in Bhadrak District and 1356 revenue villages.
Economy of Bhadrak District
Economy of Bhadrak District is hugely dependent on agriculture and allied activities as agriculture is the main income of the district. But many people in the sea cost area (Dhamara, Chudamani of Basudevpur and Chandabali area of Chandabali Block) depend on fishing. Thus, it is another sector that contributes to the economy of Bhadrak District. Paddy is grown as the main crop in Kharif, which constitutes around 94 percent of the total cultivable area. During Kharif season about 47 percent of cultivable area is rain fed and likely to remain exposed to the gambling monsoon and natural calamity. Around 9 percent of the total cultivable area is up-land, 36 percent is medium land and 55 percent is low land.
Education in Bhadrak District
Bhadrak has served as a key center of modern politics and culture during the British era. Hence the tradition of education was there since the British imperialism. But in the post independence period, when the entire country suffers a set back, Bhadrak was not an exception. Therefore the educational growth of Bhadrak was retarded in the post independence era. However with the commencement of the plan period, the Government had implemented steps to upgrade the condition of education in Bhadrak.
The first stride of the educational development commenced with the aim of the Sarva Shikshya Avijan or "Universalization of Education" launched in the year 2002 in April. The target was fixed that by 2010, the program of "Universalization of education" is to be completed, with the successful attempt to bridge the social, regional and gender gap and providing the basic elementary education to all the Children of the age group 6 to 14.
The committee of theUniversalization of Education collected the District Information System for Education (DISE) and find out the present educational status and data to the related facts, in order to develop the system of education in Bhadrak. To bring all the students in the school system, Government has enlisted their name and approved some of the schools of the district having classes` upto VII.
The education of Bhadrak makes a booming progress with the establishment of the Bhadrak Autonomous College in 1948. The college was the second one founded in the then undivided Balasore and took the pioneer role in the educational development of Odisha. When it was first established the college was affiliated to the Utkal University providing the courses of Intermediate Arts only. In the year 1954-55, with the establishment of Science Block including 3 laboratories and the Biology lecture theater, the Bhadrak College achieved prominence in the field of education. The College holds the leading role in the field of Higher Education and undergraduate degree since the time when the Physics and the Chemistry department started functioning in the year 1960-61.
The College experienced a new phase of development in the field of education in Bhadrak, when the State Government undertook it. At present the college provides the Honors Degree in the Humanities, Science and Commerce. The induction of the Post Graduate degrees in Bhadrak College, it assumes a new dimension in the field of education. The educational development in Bhadrak is solely centering round the Bhadrak College.
Tourism in Bhadrak District
The tourism of Bhadrak develops round the historical and religious significance of the place. The key attraction in Bhadrak centers round the Akhandalamani, Bhadrakali, Dhamrai , Aradi, Dhamanagar, Guamala Nuasasan, and Chandabali.
Akhandalamani Temple: On the bank of river Baitarani, the Akhandalamani Temple is the abode of Lord Shiva. The chief interest of the place is its legendary history for which it shares a significant position in the tourism of Bhadrak. As the history runs, king Niladri Samara Singha Mohapatra started worshipping the God Akhandalamani some 350 years ago, when the black glazed granite stone was found underground and the king dreamt of the god. However the religious and historical significance with which the place is invested, constitute it to be a center of special interest in the tourism of Bhadrak. Moreover the artistic carvings of the temple deserve special worth to the tourist.
Surrounding the temple many fairs and festivals are organized, the chief among whose is the Mahashivaratri. During this festival, tourists including a vast chunk of pilgrims flocked in the core of the temple. On the month of Sravana, people from nationwide assemble here to pour the holy water on the Siva Linga and to offer their worship to Lord Shiva. The Akhandalamani Temple is the principal source of the profitable development of the tourism industry of Bhadrak.
Bhadrakali Temple: The famous temple of Maa Bhadrakali is another renowned name in the tourism of Bhadrak.As depicted by the history; the district of Bhadrak derives its name from the presiding goddess Maa Bhadrakali. The temple is located at the outskirts of the revenue village of Bhadrak. The key attraction of the Maa Bhadrakali is her posture. The statue of the Goddess is seated in a lion posture on a lion and is made up of black granite. However there is controversy regarding the identity of the goddess as Kali or Durga, but in the tourism industry of Bhadrak Maa Bhadrakali demands a special interest.
The legendary folk tales regarding the deity and temple constitute Dhamrai to be an important name in the tourism of Bhadrak. As the chronicle legends suggest, the merchant named Dhaneswar who traded with the Singhalese, brought a deity from Sri Lanka and worshipped it as Pashana Mangala, which later was popularized with the name Maa Dhamrai. The temple presently survives as the eroded ruins of the original one. The eroded ruins of the temple depict the contemporary art and sculpture, which is of profound interest for the tourist.
Chandabali: Chandabali, the important tourist center is perhaps the most significant place in the tourism industry of Bhadrak. Chandabali is profused with diversified flora and fauna with exquisite scenic beauty. The historical interest of the place is no less important to fetch the tourist to its center. In the British Period it was existed as the natural port and some of its extant ruins still existed on the land of Chandabali.The remains of two 9th century monuments and a temple dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva constitute an added attraction for the tourist of Bhadrak. Chandabali however draws spotlight in the recent times centering the tourist spot cum sanctuary Bhitarkanika. Bhitarkanika in the east coast of Odisha, is an, over increasing delta form of the alluvial deposits of river Baitarani, Dhamara and Brahmani. The sanctuary, with an enticing appeal, is the abode of 63 species of mangrove.
The Mangrove supports the rich marine life including diversified crabs, prawns, mudskipper and a variety of fishes, which collectively forms the foundation of biological pyramid. Apart from these, the tourist assemble here to observe a variety of reptiles including a wide range of water monitor lizards, estuarine crocodiles, pythons, king cobras, kraits and other mammals like chital, fishing cat, wild boar, porcupine, hyena, mongoose, otter etc. Moreover the natural habitat of Bhitarkanika supports eight varieties of Kingfisher in its habitat. About 170 species of migratory and residential birds is an added beauty to the splendor of the wild beauty of Chandabali. From January to March, the Olive Ridley sea turtles lay eggs in the region is of enormous interest for the tourist. The rich bio-diversity with fine vicinity makes Chandabali an important center in the tourism of Bhadrak.
Other Tourist Places in Bhadrak District
Rakta tirtha Eram in Basudevpur is a historic place that is worth exploring. Brahmangan is another village in Basudevpur constituency of Bhadrak district that is famous for its century old Prasanna Khemeswar Mahadeva temple.
Bhadrak town is situated at a distance of 159 km from the state capital, Bhubaneswar. It is easily accessible by railway, roadway and even via air from all major cities of India.
