Soroda Estate Explained

Conventional Long Name:Soroda Estate
Common Name:Sorada
Nation:British India
Subdivision:Zamindari
Year Start:1476
Year End:1833
Event End:Revolt against British rule
P1:Gajapati Empire
S1:British Raj
Capital:Sorada
Stat Area1:46
Stat Year1:1877
Stat Pop1:15,324
Today:Odisha, India

Soroda Estate (Oriya: ସୋରଡ଼ା ଜମିଦାରୀ) present day Sorada or Surada, was a zamindari in the North-Western side of Ganjam district of Odisha, India.

The Soroda dynasty originates from the Khidisingi clan who were the descendants of the Nala dynasty of the Kalinga region. They are contemporary to Raja Mukunda Dev-I of Puri and the same is reflected in all the 24 volumes of Raja Mukunda Dev of Puri.

According to the Census Report of T.J. Maltobi of 1880, the Khidisingi Estate was established in 1168 by Raja Sobha Chandra Singh of Sabeijaipur. He was crowned by the Tribal Chief Pattamalik (Last Kandha king of Khidisingi) and his four sons on the order of Goddess Barahi. The Khidisingi estate was bounded by Hinjalak (Hinjilicut) in the east, Kalahandi State, Jeypore Estate and Gadapur (Kandhamal district) in the west, Khimandi (Badakhemundi Estate) in the south and Ghumusar in the north. They were devotees of Goddess Khambeswari or Stambeswari. Goddess Kandhuni Devi is one of the Chata Khamba. Their Gotra is Parasara.

Rajas of Khidisingi

In 1476, Raja Baliar Singh divided the Khidisingi (Sorada) kingdom into four different states due to early demise of his elder son. Sorada went to his third son, Raja Sandhadhanu Singh.

Soroda Dynasty

The Soroda estate was ruled by Raja Sandhadhanu Singh, his son Raja Shyam Sunder Singh and Raja Kunja Singh peacefully and without much trouble. Raja Kunja Singh accepted the British rule along with other princely states of Ganjam and Orissa. In 1830, Raja Janardhan Singh succeeded to the throne of Soroda. He was a tyrannical king and also a revolutionary ruler. He refused to pay cess and duties to the Britishers and as a result of that the Soroda estate was auctioned by the Britishers on 09.12.1833 and the king of Ghumusar auctioned it. Raja Janardan Singh organized the tribals of Khidisingi and revolted against the Britishers staying at the hilltop of Chakunda forest of Badagada. The Britishers compelled Raja Raghunath Singh of Badagada and arrested Raja Janardan Singh. Raja Janardan Singh and his son Yubraj Sunder Singh Deo again organized the tribals and fought with the king of Ghumusar to take revenge and become successful in their mission. At this instances the Britishers were compelled to grant the inam villages of Sundarrajpur(Lanjipally), Pitala and Dhobadi to Raja Janardan Singh and his son Yubraj Sunder Singh Deo. Raja Sunder Singh Deo was a peace-loving king and preferred to stay in Sundarrajpur (Lanjipally). Raja Sobha Chandra Singh Deo, son of Raja Sunder Singh Deo continued to rule Soroda in exile. The system was discontinued for some time and the rituals were continued by the freedom fighter and social activist Jagannath Singh Deo at the instances of Great freedom fighter Sashi Bhusan Rath and others and is being continued by his son Dr. Debadutta Singh Deo.