Paralakhemundi

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Parlakimidi
other_name = Parlakhemundi
type = Municipality
latd = 18.8
longd = 84.2
state_name = Orissa
district = Gajapati
leader_title = Chairman Of the Municipality
leader_name =
altitude = 145
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 42,991
population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = 91-6815
postal_code =761200
Languages spoken=Oriya,Hindi & English
vehicle_code_range = OR-20
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes = |

Parlakhemundi (Odia: ପାରଳାଖେମୁନ୍ଡି) is a small town and a municipality in Gajapati district in the Indian state of Orissa. Major language of this region is Oriya.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Parlakhemundi had a population of 42,991. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Parlakhemundi has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 77%, and female literacy is 61%. In Parlakhemundi, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Paralakhemundi has a an estimated population of 44,000 in the year 2007.Fact|date=September 2008 Majority of the people are Hindu, Christians being the second largest religious community .Muslims are only a handful in number.Most of the people can speak multiple languages( Telugu,Hindi, Oriya and English).

History

Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo, Maharaja of Paralakhemundi was the direct descendant of the historic dynasty of the Gajapati kings ruled Orissa for more than seven centuries. During the regime of these kings, the boundaries of Orissa extended from the Ganga in the North to Udoyagiri in Nellore district in the South. Kolahomee, one of the sons of Gajapati Kapilendra Dev, the mighty Gajapati king of Orissa in the later half of the 15th Century came to this part of Paralakhemundi (then in Ganjam district) and founded the Raj family of Paralakhemundi.

Paralakhemundi is an ancient Zamindari lying in the western corner of the Southern portion of the Ganjam district, and it is bounded in the West by the district of Visakhapatnam and on the North by the Jaipur state and the Eastern ghats which are called Maliyas or tribal agencies. The town of Paralakhemundi is: “a straggling town in plan much like the letter ‘L’ scattered around the foot of the well wooded hill which is the distinctive feature of the place. The horizontal portion of the ‘L’ faces South, and at the corner where the ‘L’ and the vertical portion join, is situated the palace, a most picturesque group of building”. This group of buildings was designed and built by Mr. Chisholm.

Gajapati district has been named after Maharaja Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Dev, the Ex-Raja Sahib of Paralakhemundi estate (the 1st Prime Minister of Orissa State), who is remembered for his contribution in formation of a separate Orissa province and inclusion of Paralakhemundi estate in Orissa. Gajapati district came into being with effect from 2nd October 1992. Prior to this it was a part (Sub-Division) of Ganjam district.

Geography and climate

Paralakhemundi lies in the south-east of the EastIndian state of Orissa. It is on the banks of Mahendratanaya river. Paralakhemundi boarders with a small town called Pathapatnam of Andhra-Pradesh. The town is located on a hilly terrain, covered by beautiful mountains. The climate is subtropical with high humidity. The temperature varies between 18-45 degree Celsius. Summer is extremely hot with some thunderstorms and minor cyclones, which occasionally cause power outages. Paralakhemundi receives rainfall from the southwest monsoons and the wettest months are July, August and September.

Civic Administration

The Paralakhemundi Municality is in charge of the civic administration of the town. As the headquarter of the Gajapati district, it houses several district level headquarters of Govt. and private organizations.

Economy

The town is poorly industrialized. Paralakhemundi once housed a large number of handicraft like Horn work, Jaikhadi bag, Cane & Bamboo work Now only a few artists are seen to practice the family tradition. The Chitrakar Sahi is famous for its clay, stone sculptures and water paintings. However, some medium scale granite factories are housed in the surroundings of the town.

Transport

Paralakhemundi is connected to other parts of Orissa by the State Highway No.17 which connects Berhampur at one end and Rayagada on the other. The nearest major town is Berhampur which is 120 Km away. The nearest National Highway (N.H–5) junction is at around 40 km from Paralakhemundi. The nearest operational railway station is Palasa, which is 43 km away. There was a narrow gauge railway line (called Naupada-Gunupur Rail line) running through this town. The work of conversion to broad gauge under Project Unigauge is going on.

The nearest Airport is the Visakhapatnam Airport , which is at a distance of 180 km.

O.S.R.T.C, A.P.S.R.T.C and private buses connect the town to other parts of Orissa and nearby towns of Andhrapradesh. The town is well connected to Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, Rayagada, Gunupur, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Palasa, etc. by road.

Culture

In Paralakhemundi Oriya culture is prominent.People are highly religious. Sankranthi, Dasahara, Gamhapurnima, Rathajatara, Holi, Gajalakshmi Puja, Ganesh Puja, Kali Puja etc. are major Hindu festivals observed in the town .The town is famous for its Ratha Yatra .

Sports

Cricket is the major sport of the town. Volleyball, Basketball, Hockey being the other popular sports in the town. Little boys and girls can still be seen playing silly games on the streets in the evening.The town has a small stadium named Gajapati Stadium. There are several other large play grounds that host some district and state level sport events.

Sons of the soil

FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Jagannatha Narayana Deo (2nd): 1730-1800:During his period Nawab Jafar Ali Khan attacked Ganjam and wanted to attack Paralakhemundi. But J.N.Deo fought bravely and defeated the Khan. He acquired the throne of Khurda by defeating Raja Bira Keshari Deo of Puri. During his period he mixed some area of Vijayanagar in his kingdom. He was a great warrior and also a great poet. He had written ‘NabaBrundaban Vihar’, ‘Prabhabati Parinaya’, ‘Maharahasa’ etc. in Oriya language.

Apanna Parichha (1878-1938): A great dramatist. He tried to unite the Oriyas during ‘Oriya Rakshya Andolan’ against the British Raj.

Pandit Jugal Kisore Panigrahy (1911): While studying in the Maharajas High School at Paralakhemundi, he joined in the ‘Quit India Movement’ call given by Mahatma Gandhi and left the school education. After some time he joined in the Sanskrit College, Paralakhemundi and completed his education. Then he studied in the Madras University & Andhra University. He turn down the offer as an Oriya teacher (Class – II Gazzetted post) in the Raipur Prince College and came back to join in the Indian National Congress and worked as a member in the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee from 1936-40. He left Congress, in the year 1940 and joined in the Forward Block of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He went to jail in the year 1942, during ‘Quite India Movement’. He worked as a reporter in ‘The Dainika Asha’, The Samaja’, ‘The Naba Bhaarat’, ‘The Niakhunta’ etc. He was a member of the Ganjam District Education Standing Committee of Orissa and a member of the Senate, Academic Council of Faculty of Arts and Oriental Learning, Oriya Board of Studies, Examiner Board of Andhra University. For some time he worked with the General Insurance Corporation & Life Insurance Corporation. He was also a member of the ‘Orissa Sahitya Academy (1966-1969). He was the chief examiner of H.S.C Examination, Orissa.

POET & WRITER

Kabiraj Hari Krushna Purohit: 1st part of 18th Century: A great poet (Sanskrit) in the court of Raja K.C.Rajendra Deo of Chikiti

Madhu Tripathy : 1st part of 18th Century: A poet (Sanskrit) in the court of Prataparudra Gajapati Narayan Deo. He was helping the Senapati in the war giving secret messages in the form of Slokas.

Kabiratna Purushottam Mishra: 1600-?: He was the classical teacher of Gajapati Jagnnatha Narayana Deo. He had conferred with ‘KABIRATNA’ for his outstanding performance in the poetry(Ramachandradwaya Prabandha).

Kabibhushan Gopinath Patro: 1st part of 18th Century: A poet in the court of Parala Maharaja Jagannatha Narayana Deo. He had conferred with ‘ KABI VISAKBAR’ for his outstanding performance in the poetry. (Ramachandra Vihar, Kabi Chintamani)

Gopal Krushna Pattanayak: 1784-1862: His father was working in the Court of Maharaja of Paralakhemundi as a PANJIA’. He started his education at the age of seven (1790-94). Then he came across Pandit Baikoli Mohapatra and learnt Sanskrit, Astrology, Ayurveda etc. After the sad demish of his father he was appointed in his father’s place in the Court of Maharaja of Paralakhemundi. He had conferred with ‘KABI KALAHANSA’ & ‘BASANTA KOKILA’ by the Gajapati of Paralakhemundi. He had written much poetry in Oriya & Sanskrit. (Sri Guru Panchak, Tri Tatwa Nirnaya)

Kabichandra Raghunath Parichha: 1795-1872: A great poet. He had mastery in Oriya, Sanskrit, Bengali & Telugu. During his visit to Puri he came across a competition and defeated the poets of Puri and praisede by the pandits of Mukti Mandap and conferred with ‘KABI CHANDRA’by the Puri Gajapati. (Gopinath Ballava Natak, Vasudev Natak)

Gourahari Parichha: (1797-1868): A great poet, singer and a sitarist. He was a contemporary of Kabi Gopal Krushna Pattanayak & Kabichandra Raghunath Parichha.(Prahalad Natak)

Haribandhu Beborta Pattanayak: (1826-1896): He had mastery in Oriya, Sanskrit, Bengali, Telugu, Astrology, Violinist and a poet. (Sri Krushna Lila)

Sunamani Devi (Panda): (1853-?): Being an illiterate, she had composed 11 poets by the blessings of Goddess Kamakshi in Oriya & Sanskrit. (Kamakshi Strotra, Bhajans)

Patta Maharani Radharani Devi: (1867-1938): She was the Maharani of Paralakhemundi. She had narrated so many poems. (Radharani Krandana, Antardaha Chautisha, Satya Harischandra)

Jhatat Kabi Nilamani Ratha Sharma: (1773-1960): An instant poet of great repute. He was famous for his distinction work for the poem ‘Parala Prasansa’.

Manika Sabaruni: An oldest women poet.

Sports

Lalit Kumar Adhikari

Highlights of Achievements

1.1974: Mr. India (Bronze Medal Winner), Arjuna Shree of India2.1975: Mr. India (Silver Medal Winner)3.1976: Mr. India (Gold Medal Winner), Himalaya Shree of India 4.1977: Mr. India (Silver Medal Winner), Atlas of India5.1978: Mr. India (Silver Medal Winner), Arjuna Shree of India6.1979: Mr. India (Gold Medal Winner), Atlas of India7.1980: Mr. India (Silver Medal Winner) After passed the H.S.C examination he joined in the Indian Navy in the later part of 1970 and completed graduation while in the service. From his childhood he was a keen lover of bodybuilding exercise and being guided by his paternal uncle Late Laxmi Kanta Adhikari, he concentrated himself in this field. After joining the Indian Navy he got a bright scope in the field of bodybuilding exercise and participated in the contests organized by the Defence Services initially. For his meritorious performance he was conferred with the “MASTER AT ARMS” award, the prestigious award of the Defence Services in the field of Sports & Games.

Some of his achievements are as follows.1. 1974 to 1981: Mr. Navy Title (Contest among the Body Builders of the Indian Navy)2. 1974 to 1980: Mr. Services Title (Contest among the Body Builders of the Indian Army, Navy & Air Force)He has represented India twice in the Mr. Asia contest in the year 1975 and 1979 at Singapore (Malaysia) and Manila (Philippines) respectively besides four-world meet to his credit.After retirement from the service, he is working as Sports Officer in the TATA Steels presently.

Culture

Krushna Sri Chandan: 1590: A minister in the Court of Khemundi Maharaj Padmanabh Deo. He was a great poet and a dramatist.

Hari Krushna Maharana (Mahapatra): 1662-1734: A great artist/painter.

Chaitanya Rajaguru: 1758-1702: A poet in the Court of Gajapati Jagannatha Narayana Deo. He was a great Astroleger. He had prepared the horoscope of Mohgul King Aurangz Jeb.

Aparna Panda: (1860-1927): A teacher by profession in the Maharaja’s High School of Paralakhemundi, was the private tutor of Maharaja Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo, Secretary of the Gajapati Press & also an Astrologer of repute.

Apanna Parichha: (1878-1938): A great dramatist. He had established a theater in the name of ‘Padmanabha Rangalaya’.

Nilamani Panigrahy: (1869-1967): A great Astrologer. For his outstanding performances he was conferred with ‘Sidhanta’ by the maharani of Nabarangapur. (Nakshetra Nirnaya)

Padmanabha Narayana Deo: (1872 December, 15 - *10 February, 04): He had mastery over Oriya, Hindi, Bengali & Telegu language. He had established the ‘Gajapati Press’. He is memorable for his distinction work in ‘Drama’.

Ananta Charan Patra: A radio artist of great repute. He was a master in playing Sitar. For this he was awarded by the ‘Orissa Sangita Natak Academy’ in the year 1989. (Ardha Chandra, Tala, Sura, & Laya on playing Sitar)

Dr. Benimadhab Padhi: (1919): A distinguished scholar of great repute. He is famous in Orissa for his research in ‘Lord Jagannath Sanskruti’ and critical analysis of works in Oriya & Sanskrit language .He was awarded by the ‘Orissa Sahitya Academy’, ‘Writers Forum’, ‘Jagannatha Research Foundation’, ‘Kedarnath Research Foundation’, Indian Sanskrit Foundation’ etc.

Eminent Personalities

Gourachandra Gajapati Narayan Deo (2nd): Father of Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo. He had established many Schools for the spread for education. Constructed Railway line from Paralakhemundi to Naupada (now in Andhra Pradesh). For his able leadership and a good ruler, the British Government had conferred him with K.C.I.E.

SRI KRUSHNA CHANDRA GAJAPATI NARAYAN DEO:The sleepy town of Paralakhemundi made its tryst with history in the ‘30s when Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati lead the movement for the formation of Orissa. Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo, the scion of the great Ganga Dynasty of Paralakhemundi, belongs to both the leagues. An illustrious son of modern India, he played a significant role in the formation of Orissa as a separate state.

He was born on April 26, 1892. At the age of 12, his father, Goura Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo, died and as Krushna Chandra Gajapati was still a minor, the Paralakhemundi zamindari passed into the hands of the Court of Wards for administration.

The young and enthusiastic Krushna Chandra Gajapati received his elementary education in the local Maharaja High School. After, finishing school, he entered the Newington residential College at Madras. In the college, his mentor and guardian tutor Mr. Cameron Morrison, had an indelible influence on his life.

He returned to Paralakhemundi in 1912. Mr. N. Macmichale, ICS agent to the Court of Wards handed over the charge of the estate to him in Ganjam on April 26, 1913. A year later, he was married to the princess of Kharsuan (now in Jharkhand).

Maharaja Krushna Chandra has made immense contribution, towards the literary movement and other institutions, which were engaged in creating a sense of awareness among not only the people of Orissa but also the Oriya-speaking people in other provinces. For this he had established one printing press named Gajapati Press and published the writings to create awareness among the Oriya-speaking people. He was one of the few men of vision, who thought of the unification of the Oriya-speaking tracts into one province, before the people of Orissa could think in terms of broader perspective of Indian nationalism. An agitation, popularly known as Odiya Raksha, which lasted for 45 years till 1948, was lead by Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati under the common banner of Utkal Sammilani. He took the leadership for formation of the Swatantra Utkal Pradesh and shouldered the responsibility in conducting the 10th Utkal Sameelani at Paralakhemundi in the year 1912. He attended the 1st Round Table Conference on January 16, 1931 at England and presented the memorandum for a separate Oriya province. For this he had again attended the 2nd Round Table Conference on September 07, 1931 and argued for the separate Oriya province. The people of Orissa will ever remain grateful to Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati’s stellar role in the formation of Orissa state.

During World War I, he was made honorary second lieutenant of His Majesty’s Indian Land Forces and later promoted to the rank of Captain. His sincere and efficient discharge of duties as a military officer was very much appreciated by His Majesty’s government. The distinction of Raja Saheb was conferred on him and subsequently, in 1936; he was given the title of Maharaja. Incidentally, he also has the distinction of being the first Prime Minister of the state of Orissa during April 01 to July 18, 1937 and again from November 24, 1941 to June 30, 1944.

Irrigation system in the state received a philip when the Maharaja took personal interest in agriculture and constructed many reservoirs such as Ram Sagar, Seeta Sagar, Laxman Sagar and Krushna Sagar. His approach to agriculture was methodical and scientific, which even drew the attention of the then Madras government and the central government. The central government had gone a step further and appointed him as a member of the Royal Agricultural Commission in 1927. He established the Central Rice Research Institute of Bidyadharpur, Cuttack, which is arguably one of the best institutes of its kind in the world.

The Maharaja has made exemplary contributions to the field of education and activities for the welfare of the people. He had made provisions for free boarding and lodging facilities and also for scholarships for meritorious students who were poor. For the education of women he had constructed one Girl’s High School at Paralakhemundi, tried and succeeded in giving first class status to the Maharaja’s College of Paralakhemundi, which is named in his name as Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati College. He was also behind the formation of Utkal University in Bhubaneswar and the SCB medical College at Cuttack.

He accomplished the seemingly impossible work of bringing railways to a remote area like Paralakhemundi at a staggering cost of Rs.18.00 lakhs from his own exchequer. The 52 km narrow gauge railway line was extended from Paralakhemundi to Gunupur. The Maharaja, who choose to distinguish himself through his deeds rather than living in the glorious past, breathed his last on May25, 1974. The pages of Indian history will always have a fond remembrance of this truly majestic king of Paralakhemundi, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati.

OTHER EMINENT PERSONS

PADMASHREE DR. SATYANARAYANA RAJGURU : Some men are born great, while some achieve greatness during their lifetime. Dr. Satyanarayana Rajguru was a man of multidimensional character. He was a poet, a writer, a dramatist, a stage director, an actor, a freedom fighter, a linguist, an orator, an historian and a research scholar.

He started his education at the age of five. From his childhood he was a man of independent mind. Though a meritorious student, he could not be qualified in the matriculation examination, intentionally. However, he passed the Oriental Title Examination in ‘Oriya & Sanskrit’ from the Andhra University. In the year 1929 he worked as the manager of the ‘Parala Padmanabha Rangalaya’ and entered in to the field of theater during 1935. He took active part in the ‘Utkal Sameemani’ & ‘Odiya Rakshya’ and helped Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati in the formation of ‘Utkal Pradesh’. He will be remembered for his thesis presented before the State Re-organisation Commission. He was the President of Ganjam District Education Council from 1942-1945. In the year 1946, he joined as an assistant in the Kalinga Historical Research Society at Bhawanipatana. He worked as a Curator in the Orissa Museum from 1950-1961 and an Epigraphist from 1963-1970. He also worked as a member in the working committee of the ‘Orissa Sahitya Academy’. He was also the Chairman of the Paralakhemundi Municipality for 16 years.

The Andhra Mahasabha conferred him with the ‘Bharati Bhushan’ award. He was also awarded by the Ganjam Sahitya Sammilani (1968), Orissa Sahitya Academy (1968), “PADMASHREE” by the President of India Shri V.V.Giri (1974), D.Litt. by the Berhampur University and a life member in the University Senate (1975), Utkal Pathak Sansad (1977), Orissa Congress (1980), “SARALA SANMAN” (1989) for his outstanding and meritorious research work. Some of his works are: -

‘PALINKI BAHAKA’: A poem translated IN Oriya from ‘The Palanquin Bearers’ of Sarojini Naidu‘SWAPANE CHUMBAN’, ‘JANANI UTKAL’, ‘RADHAVISEK’, ‘ODIALIPIRA KRAMABIKASH’, ‘HISTORY OF GANGAS’, ‘THE KORASANDA COPPER PLATE GRANT OF VISAKHAVARMMA’, ‘HISTORY OF EASTERN GANGAS OF KALINGA’, ‘HEIROGRAPHIC LETTERS OF NARAJ’, ‘THE ODRAS AND THEIR PREDOMENANCY’, ‘THE HISTORICAL RESEARCH IN ORISSA’, ‘THE KONDULI COPPER PLATE GRANT OF NARASIMHA DEVA OF SAKA 1305’, ‘SUMANDAL PLATES OF DHARMARAJ’.

KABIRAJ DR. ANNANTA TRIPATHY SHARMA:A contemporary of Dr. Satyanarayana Rajguru, Dr. Annanta Tripathy Sharma was born in the year 1905 in the village Gunthapada under Jagannathpur Sasan of Ganjam district. But came down to Paralakhemundi and stayed for a long time. He had mastery in Oriya, Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, English and Ayurvedic. After completion of school studies, he took admission in the Maharaja Sanskrit College, Vijayanagar and studied there for four years. He was awarded ‘SAHITYA SIROMANI’ by the Madras University in the year 1923. In the year 1924, he joined in the Sanskrit College, Paralakhemundi as a lecturer. He established one Ayurvedic Dispensary at Paralakhemundi named ‘VESAJ MANDIR’, in the year 1929. He got ‘MIMANSA VIDYA PRABINA’ from the Andhra University. In the year 1946 he was elected to the State Assembly from Paralakhemundi constituency and to the Lok-Sabha from Berhampur Parliamentary Constituency in the year 1961. He was the President of the ‘All India Ayurvedic Society’. He was also a member in the Senate, Academy of Council & Board of Studies of Andhra University.

MANCHASRI SATYANARAYANA PANDA:A born dramatist by nature came to lime light by teaching classical song/dance to the actress Bhanumati Devi, who later entered into the cine field and acted in Annapurna Theater.He was a great dramatist, actor, director, singer, composer and a critics. He was awarded with ‘MANCHASHREE’, ‘MANCHANIDHI’ & ‘NATYA SIROMANI’. The ‘ORISSA SANGEET NATYA ACADEMY’ awarded him in the year 1987-88, for his contribution to the drama field. He had also acquired distinction in the field of Ayurvedic Sastra. Some of his works are: -1.‘Bijaya Kumar’ (Nrutya Natika) staged in the Padmanabha Rangalaya, Paralakhemundi and also in the Sri Ramachandra Bhaban, Cuttack in the year1934.

2.‘Mahalaxmi Puja’ was picturised in the year 1954.

3.‘Meghaduta’ of Kalidas translated into Oriya (Nrutya Natika) and staged in the ‘All India Congress Conference-1963.

NABIN CHANDRA PATTNAIK:A trade union leader of Khargapur Railways Union, Nabin Chandra Pattnayak left service and started one news agency named ‘UTKAL NEWS AGENCY’ in the year 1962 at Paralakhemundi and entered into the field of journalism. During 1964, he published One magazine (critical analysis) named ‘BARUD’. The Maharaja of Paralakhemundi Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo selected the name of the magazine.

Narayana Mangaraj: A minister in the Court of Khemundi Dynasty. He had composed ‘Haribhakti Sudhakar’.

Ananda Mishra: 1st part of 18th Century: A great scholar and a great tantrika also.

Purushottama Mohapatra: (1853-1905): A reputed Ayurvedic doctor of his time. He was the primary teacher of Padmanabha Narayan Deo. (Bratakathabali)

Shyamsundar Rajguru: (1863-1909): Passed matriculation in 1st division and the 1st Graduate of Ganjam. A teacher by profession was the private tutor of Maharaja Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo. He had established ‘Utkal Hiteshini Sabha’. He was the Chairman of Paralakhemundi Municipality for 15 years. Member of Srikakole Taluka Board & Ganjam District Board.

Pandita Gopinatha Nanda: (1869 August, 21 – 1924 January, 12): A great Scholar. He is known for his unique work ‘Oriya Bhasatatwa’. He had mastery over Oriya, Hindi, Bengali & Telegu besides Tamil, Kannada, Parsi & English language. (Janaki Parinaya, Draupadi Bastra Harana)

Kamakshi Prasad Panda: (1873-1934): He had mastery over Oriya, Hindi, Bengali & Telegu language. He had depth knowledge in Astrology & Ayurveda. He was a noted Daivi Sadhak of Goddess Kamakshi, Doctor, Singer & also a composer. (Kamakshi Puran.

Binayaka Padhi: (1887-1962): He came from Puruna Patana (boarder village adjacent to Paralakhemundi) and settled at Paralakhemundi. He had a good command over the language and wrote books like ‘Ramakurshna Abhidhan’, ‘Ananda Abhidhan’ & ‘Kuni Sabdamala’.

Education

Parlakhemundi is also considered a learner's paradise. With its serene hills and beautiful surroundings, it offers a good learning experience to the students. Paralakhemundi is was one of the leading educational hub of Orissa during the British Raj.It's the home to one of the best colleges of Orissa, Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati College (S.K.C.G. College), which is the 2^nd oldest college of Orissa. [http://wikimapia.org/364351/ Wikimapia] .The Sanskrit college of Paralakheumndi is also one of the best of its kind.Parlakhemundi is the home to following technical and management institutes.

* Jagannath Institute for Technology and Management ( [http://www.jitm.org JITM] )
* Centurion School for Rural Enterprenership and Management ( [http://www.csrem.ac.in CSREM] )

There are several state owned Primary, Upper Primary and High schools in Paralakhemundi.The MahaRaja's Boys' High School(M.R.B.H. School) is one of the best in Orissa. The Maha Raja's Girls 'High school(M.R.G.H. School) provides basic education to most of the girls of Paralakhemundi and nearby places. Parlakhemundi has a Kendriya Vidyalaya and few small and not well known convent school.It also has a Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir and Sri Aurobindo integral education centre.

Politics

Current MLA from Parlakhemundi Assembly Constituency is Trinath Sahu of INC, who won the seat in State elections in 2004 and also in 2000 and in 1985. He also won this seat as an independent candidate in 1995. Other previous MLAs from this seat were Darapu Lachana Naidu who won this seat representing JD in 1990, and Bijoy Kumar Jena who won this seat as independent candidate in both 1980 and in 1977. [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/March2004/pollupd/ac/states/s18/Partycomp79.htm
title = State Elections 2004 - Partywise Comparision for 79-Parlakhemundi Constituency of ORISSA
publisher = Election Commission of India
accessdate = 2008-09-17]

Parlakhemundi is part of Berhampur (Lok Sabha constituency). [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2000/background/S18/Orissa_AC_Dist_PC.pdf
title = Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies of Orissa
publisher = Election Commission of India
accessdate = 2008-09-17]

References