Bhubaneswar, July 22: Expressing deep concern over National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) dropping the Odisha’s Paika Rebellion or Paika Bidroha from its text books, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to ensure that justice is done to Paika Bidroha and Odisha.
“Deeply concerned to know that the National Council of Educational Research and Training (@ncert) has dropped #Odisha’s Paika Rebellion or Paika Bidroha from its text books,” posted the former CM on ‘X’.
“The Paika rebellion was a watershed moment in Odisha’s history as our brave Paikas fought with extraordinary courage against oppressive British way back in 1817. I had urged the Govt of India many times to declare it as first war of Independence,” Patnaik said.
Patnaik observed, “The Paikas came together to fight against the tyranny of foreign, colonial rule with unparalleled bravery.”
“The omission of the epic rebellion from NCERT text books, which took place 40 years before the sepoy mutiny is a huge dishonour to our brave Paikas, 200 years after the rebellion- which became torchbearer for people’s movement against British rule. Urge Chief Minister Shri @MohanMOdisha and Union Minister of Education Shri @dpradhanbjp to ensure that justice is done to Paika Bidroha and Odisha,” added Patnaik.
