Early Life of Bhanu Pratap Dev
The history of Kanker is inextricably linked with the birth and early life of Bhanu Pratap Dev. Maharajdhiraj Komal Deo expired in the year 1925, prior to his death since Maharajadhiraj Komal Deo had no sons, therefore as per the rules of the kingdom that was in vogue in those days he adopted his nephew, son of his sister in law Lalit Manjari devi of Ratu, as heir apparent to the throne of Kanker and he was named Bhanu Pratap Deo. At the time of his adoption Bhanu Pratap Deo was aged about 3 years and 2 months, having been born on 17th September 1922 to Maharaj kumar Nand Kishor Nath shah Deo of Dewarkhand Pargana of Ratu Zamindari in erstwhile Bihar.
Due to tender age of Bhanu Pratap Deo, the then British commissioner appointed Raghuveer Prasad Shrivastava as minister for administration of the state, and he proved to be a good administrator. Bhanu Pratap Deo was sent for formal education to Rajkumar College Raipur, where he excelled in sports and studies and passed his school in 1937, with best results in school. He was also a keen and gifted sportsman. Later on he went for further studies to Mayo College Ajmer Rajasthan and also attended the I.C.S. training camp at Dehradun and went for a study stint to England Bhanu Pratap Deo was a gifted sportsman and excelled in tennis and football and athletics. He was also a good shot with the gun and upon reports of man-eating tigers from adjoining areas went for hunting to remove misery of the people.
Personal Life of Maharajadhiraj Bhanu Pratap Dev
He married Rajkumari Amulya Prabha Devi of Sonepur State in Orissa in the year 1943 and was bestowed with the title of "Maharajdhiraj" and full ruling powers in 1943. He had one daughter and a son from the wedlock. Bhanu Pratap Deo established the township of Bhanupratappur at a distance of 52 kms from Kanker being an able and benevolent administrator he formed the home rule committee, ensuring participation of general public in administration of state as winds of independence from British rule had already started flowing.
Career of Maharajadhiraj Bhanu Pratap Dev
After independence Maharajdhiraj Bhanu Pratap Dev participated in the democratic system and was elected as member of the legislative assembly from congress as well as an independent candidate from 1952 to 1957 and thereafter from 1962 to 1967. Maharajdhiraj Bhanu Pratap Dev established a degree college in Kanker in the year 1962 by the name of Gramya Bharti College inviting participation from the public at large and also donated agricultural lands for financial support to the college, in addition to a large number of books and furniture and initially started the college adjacent to the palace premises, the first of its kind in the region benefits of the college are there for all to see as many persons of Kanker and adjoining areas after receiving college education are well placed in service in Chhattisgarh. A farsighted human who had the ability to be farsighted enough, the Kanker Bus Service and a Cinema Hall in Kanker was established by him.
Maharajdhiraj was also a gifted photographer and an automobile connoisseur and had a pair of Rolls Royces, in addition to other cars he also patronized sports and club activities of Komal Deo Club Kanker. A man for ahead of his times Maharajdhiraj Bhanu Pratap Deo also started Kanker Bus Service (now Kanker Roadways) and established Mahavir Talkies at Kanker and was also a path breaking member of the governing body of Rajkumar College, Raipur. Maharajdhiraj Bhanu Pratap Deo breathed his last untimely and unfortunately on 14th August 1969 at an early age.
