c. 1700 BC–1948 → 1931 526 km (203 sq mi) | Established c. 1700 BC 1931 47,711 | |
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Ranpur State (Odia: ରଣପୁର ରାଜ୍ୟ; Hindi: रणपुर रियासत) was one of many princely non-salute states of India during the period of the British Raj. It was one of the four native states located in present-day Nayagarh district, Odisha.
Contents
Map of Manapur, Odisha
The state was bounded in the west by Nayagarh State and in all other directions by Puri district. It was very close to the seashore but had no coastline. Its southwestern part was thickly forested and was mostly uninhabited. The Ranpur ruling family claimed to belong to the most ancient lineage of the princely rulers of the Orissa Tributary States. The capital of the state was Ranpur, a small town near Kalupara Ghat railway station where the Raja resided.
History
According to tradition Ranpur State is of very ancient origin. The legendary date of its foundation is placed some time in the 18th century BC when the founder, a hunter named Basara Basuk, defeated a giant named Ranasura, established his rule in the area. The name of the place is derived from the demon's name and was initially known as Ranasurapura, shorteneding to Ranpur in the course of time.
The state became a British protectorate in 1803. Raja Benudar Bajradhar Narendra Mahapatra —who had been granted a sanad of adoption by the British in 1862 for his loyalty during the Indian rebellion— claimed in 1877 that 109 generations of rulers had been at the head of the state since the original founder 3,600 years before.
The rulers were Rajputs of uncertain origin, denying having any Khond blood, unlike most other rulers of princely states of Orissa. The last Raja of Ranpur signed the instrument of accession to the Indian Union, on 1 January 1948, merging hi state into Orissa State (now Odisha).
Rulers
The rulers of Ranpur State bore the title of Raja.