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Balasore

City in Odisha, India

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  • 10 chapters

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History

Excavation at villages near Balasore has given evidence for three distinct cultural phases of human settlements, viz., Chalcolithic (2000–1000 BCE), Iron Age (1000–400 BCE) and early historic period (400–200 BCE).

Baleswara district was part of the ancient Kalinga kingdom which later became a territory of Utkal, till the death of Mukunda Deva. It was annexed by the Mughal Empire in 1568 and remained as a part of their suzerainty up until the 1700s.

The British East India Company (EIC) established a factory at Balasore in 1633. In 1719, the Trieste Company merchants established a trading post there. As Calcutta rose in importance, Balasore became the centre for river pilot services for vessels seeking to ascend the Hooghly River. The city was bombarded by forces of the East India Company during the Anglo-Mughal War in 1686, however, the company was repulsed by the Mughal forces.

The old Pipili port was located near Baliapal, north of Balasore, along the coast near river Subarnarekha. The Portuguese arrived for trade and commerce, exporting Orissa products like rice, cotton and butter from Malaysia to Borneo, and bringing Chinese products and spices from Indonesia. Balasore gave its name to a type of cotton muslin.

The Marathas, then occupied this part of Odisha and it became a part of the dominion of the Bhonsle Maratha Rajas of Nagpur. They ceded this part through the Treaty of Deogaon in 1803 and it became a part of British Bengal Presidency until 1912.

Balasore as a separate district was created in October 1828 under the Bengal Presidency. On 7 November 1845, all of Danish India was sold to the British to form a part of British India.

With the creation of Bihar Province, Odisha, along with Balasore district, was transferred from Bengal to Bihar. But with the creation of Odisha as a separate state on 1 April 1936, Balasore became an integral part of Odisha State. The national movement of independence surged ahead with the visit of Mahatma Gandhi in 1921. Similarly, Praja Andolan was initiated against the ruler of Nilagiri State. The state of Nilagiri merged with state of Odisha in January 1948 and became a part of Balasore district. On 3 April 1993, Bhadrak sub-division became a separate district and from this day, Balasore remains a district of Odisha with two Sub-divisions namely Balasore and Nilagiri having eight Tehsils, namely Balasore, Soro, Simulia, Nilagiri, Jaleswara, Basta, Baliapal and Remuna and 12 blocks namely Bhograi, Jaleswar, Baliapal, Basta, Balasore, Remuna, Nilagiri, Oupada, Khaira, Soro, Simulia and Bahanaga. The name of the district is being derived from the name of the town.

Balasore is where the famous Indian independence activist Jatindranath Mukherjee, also known as Bagha Jatin, was injured and died fighting the British.

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