Parlakhemundi deaths: Gajapati Dynasty and Odisha becomes controversial for wrong reasons

Odisha, Aug 22: It is said that one should keep a distance from Naresh (King), Nadi (river), Nari (woman) and Nag (snake). One who becomes close to these four elements or develops rivalry pays a price. The famous Gajapati Palace here, which has a rich historical significance and played a vital role during formation of separate Odisha State, for the first time, hogged the limelight for the wrong reasons.

Nearly a week after the successor of Gajapati dynasty of Pralakhemundi and former MP Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deb was shifted to Chennai for treatment, his palace manager Anang Manjari Patra, who was at the centre of controversy over the deteriorating health condition of the king, allegedly committed suicide along with her two siblings at her house here. And this was the price the family paid for the rivalry.

She and her sister were suspected to have consumed poison while the body of her brother Sanjay Patra was found hanging in the same room. Another brother of the palace manager, identified as Tulu Patra, has been rescued in a critical condition and admitted to MKCG hospital in Berhampur.

People in the area informed the police after foul odour emanated from the house. The police broke open a door in the presence of an executive magistrate and found the bodies inside the house. Mr. Thakur said the victims were under police scanner after allegations of confining the Maharaja were made against them.

They said that the house was locked from inside for the last three days and no one was seen entering or coming out.

Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on August 21 ordered a probe by Crime Branch into the incident. “The chief minister has ordered Crime Branch of Odisha Police to probe into the mysterious death of former palace manager and her two siblings,” a release issued by the chief minister’s office said.

SP along with a team of police rushed to the spot and started investigation. IG Amitabh Thakur said the prima facie evidence revealed that it is case of suicide. However, the exact reason of the death can only be ascertained after post-mortem, he added.

The statement of the rescued brother of the deceased will also be recorded, Thakur said.

On the other hand, Purnima Patra, the sister of the deceased, said, “They might have taken the drastic step after losing mental balance in wake of the hue and cry over allegations of financial misappropriation.”

Anang Manjari had recently hogged the headlines for allegedly keeping the scion of Gajapati dynasty under house arrest leading to his deteriorating health. She allegedly did not allow anybody, including the relatives of the former parliamentarian, to meet him.

In a letter to the chief minister, the daughter of the king, Kalyani Devi, who is currently staying in Chennai, had urged him to inquire into the property transactions of the royal family for the past 35 years.

Local leaders cutting across party lines had also demanded the arrest of the manager.

Anang Manjari and her brother Sanjay Patra were accused of keeping Deb under house arrest and not allowing anyone to meet him.

Gajapati District SP Sushil Panigrahi said, “It appears to be a case of suicide.”

Meanwhile, the family members of deceased Patras have blamed a particular news channel, local MLA and others for forcing them to commit suicide. They said that Patras were publicly criticized by media. There was media trial of the Patras before the court considers their case.

They were also accused of being involved in illegal property transaction of the royal family as the king was ailing and his family members were not staying with him.

Earlier, king’s wife and son had died while his daughter lived in Chennai.

Yesterday former MP’s daughter Kalyani Gajapati had written a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik requesting him to probe into the suspected illegal property transaction of the royal properties.

Police suspected that the trio committed suicide after being socially criticized for their activities.

The key-role of Gajapati Dynasty in formation of Odisha

Be it the exemplary sacrifice of the little child Dharama in the construction of the great Sun temple of Konark or the unparalleled heroism shown by the then King Maharaja Shri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo, the statehood has passed though relentless struggle to save itself from complete disintegration and merger with other state.  From the dark ages, when the state was victim to Maratha and Mogul attackers, generations have fought hard to save their mother-tongue and safety of the borders.

As various parts of the state lay scattered without formal recognition as a separate statehood, the brave sons of soil fought a persistent struggle for three decades in the pre-Independence era to save their motherland from complete disintegration. On the day of 1st April, 1936, the final shaping of the scattered parts of the province took place as a separate state.  Although, eighty-one years have passed in the meantime, it brings alive the history of its struggle as a separate entity and the heroes and visionaries, who transformed the dream into reality and brought back the lost glory of its golden past. The great scions of their motherland including the King played remarkable role in shaping the destiny of people and making Odisha vibrant and prosperous.