Bhanja Dynasty of Mayurbhanj: Exploring the Contribution of Maharaja Sri Ram Chandra Bhanj Deo (1890-1912)

The role of Kings in Princely states of India generally and Orissa particularly was an important aspect during the British rule. There policy towards people and the policy with British government are very interesting in historical context. In this context, Mayurbhanj played a vital role in terms of number of tribes, prajamanda movement, expansion of railways and forest resources. Here, the paper tries to explore the origin of Bhanja dynasty in Mayurbhanj through critical analysis of different sources and most importantly to define the role and contribution of Maharaja Sri Ram Chandra Bhanja Deo.