Praja Mandala Movement or Garajata Movement is a part of the Indian independence movement, where the people of Garjat fought against their feudal rulers and the British administration simultaneously for their rights. The main demand of the Praja Mandal movements was the common rights.
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During Mughal rule, Odisha was divided into two parts, Mughal Bandhi and Garjat. Mughal Bandhi states were ruled by Mughals and Garjats were the princely states. In 1803, British occupied Odisha and the Mughal Bandhi was directly ruled by them.
Background
On April 1, 1936, Odisha state was separated from Bihar to form a separate province. During that time there were 27 Garjat in Odisha and had Monarch rule in it. People under Odisha administration had their own civil rights and freedom in their state. The Praja Mandal Movement in the Garjat states, basically a peasant movement was an epoch-making struggle that considerably influenced the politics of the province as well as the nation. The movement, which initially was directed against the misrule and autocracy of the rulers, subsequently demanded responsible government and the merger of the states of Orissa.
The attempt to gather the people of the states took real form during the Civil Disobedience Movement when the First All Orissa States People Conference was organized at Cuttack in 1931. Agitation against Garjat started because of higher taxes collected by the Kings and spending of the tax amount for their luxorious life. The first popular agitation against the Garjat the administration was witnessed in the state of Nilgiri, a small state in the border of Balasore. The punitive action of the ruler of Nilgiri on the people of the village of Ayodhya, incited the people and on 2 May 1938, disturbances started in Nilgiri.
On 29 October 1938, All Orissa Garjat Day was observed at many places, where the people urged the rulers to accept their charter of demands.
Aftermath
The Premier Biswanath Dash issued an appeal to the rulers on 12 November 1938 and urged upon them to accept the just demands of the people to restore peace and tranquility in the states. Following India's independence, on 15 August 1947, 27 princely states signed the document to join Odisha.