Present Head
History
Origin and Foundation
The Surangi Zamindari (often spelled Sourangi) is one of the ancient and historic estates located in the southern frontier of the Ganjam district in Odisha. The ruling house of Surangi belongs to the Suryavanshi Kshatriya lineage. Historically, the rulers bore the hereditary title of Harichandan Jagadeb. The origin of the estate dates back to the medieval period, established by Rajput adventurers who migrated to the southern borders of the ancient Odia kingdom of Kalinga to guard the frontiers against southern incursions. Over the centuries, the rulers of Surangi maintained a semi-independent status, paying allegiance to the Gajapati monarchs of Cuttack and Khurda.
The British Colonial Period and Permanent Settlement
With the advent of the British East India Company in the Northern Circars during the late 18th century, Surangi was brought under British administrative oversight. According to The Manual of the District of Ganjam compiled by T.J. Maltby, the estate was recognized under the Permanent Settlement of 1802. Under this settlement, the *peishcush* (tribute) of the Surangi Zamindari was fixed by the British administration.
The relations between the British authorities and the Rajas of Surangi were generally stable, although the rulers fiercely guarded their traditional rights and local customs. The estate was bordered by other prominent Ganjam estates like Chikiti and Jarada, with whom the Surangi royal family shared close matrimonial and political alliances.
Cultural Contributions and the Shift to Ichchapuram
The Rajas of Surangi were great patrons of Odia literature, Sanskrit scholarship, and traditional temple architecture. They contributed significantly to the preservation of Odia culture in the southern borderlands, which faced intense linguistic pressure from the Telugu-speaking regions of the Madras Presidency. Rulers like Raja Chandra Choodamani Harichandan Jagadeb actively patronized local poets and artists.
By the late 19th century, around 1870, the royal family constructed a grand palace in Ichchapuram (now in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh). This town served as a vital trade link and railway transit point between the northern and southern parts of the Madras Presidency. The shift of the royal residence to Ichchapuram allowed the family to better manage their socio-political networks and engage with the developing colonial infrastructure while maintaining their ancestral fort at Surangi.
Post-Independence and Modern Era
Following India's independence in 1947, the princely states and estates were integrated into the Indian Union. Under the provisions of the Orissa Estates Abolition Act of 1951, the Surangi Zamindari was formally abolished, and its administrative lands were vested with the state government.
Today, the legacy of the Surangi Zamindari is preserved in the local folklore of Ganjam, the historical temples constructed under their patronage, and the remnants of the royal palace at Ichchapuram. The descendants of the royal family continue to be respected figures in local cultural and social initiatives.
References and External Links
- The Manual of the District of Ganjam in the Presidency of Madras (1882) by T.J. Maltby
- Official Website of Ganjam District, Government of Odisha
Genealogy
- Raja DINABANDHU Harishchandra Jagdev, Raja of Surangi, he was considered the Guru of Abhimanyu Samant Singhar, the famous 17th century composer.
- Raja KESHAB RAJ Harishchandra Jagdev, Raja of Surangi 1697/1715, he composed the Rasa Sindhu Sulakshana.
- Raja MUKUND Harishchandra Jagdev, Raja of Surangi, he was a composer and was also a musician and played the Veena.
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- Raja KISHORE CHANDRA Chandra Harishchandra Jagdev, Raja of Surangi 1876/1931, he composed Basant Rasa, Chandan Palla, Prahalad Natak and many other notable compositions.
- Raja CHANDRACHUDA MANI Harishchandra Jagdev, Raja of Surangi, he shifted from Surangi to Ichapurram where a statue of the Raja was later built, he composed Sangeeta Sarbaswa Kabya; he married the eldest daughter (Patajema) of Raja Sahib Mehrban-i-Dostan Sri Harihar Mardaraj Deo Bahadur of Khallikote, and had issue, three sons and two daughters.
- Raja Purna Chandra Deo Harishchandra Jagadev (qv)
- Rajkumari Patajema Manik Prava Devi [Rani Manik Prava Devi of Pal Lahara], married Raja Sarat Chandra Munipal of Pal Lahara.
- Rajkumar Majhia Deo Braja Chandra Deo, died unmarried.
- Rajkumari Sanajema Golap Prava Devi, married Kumar Sarat Chandra Deba of Chikiti, and had issue, one daughter and two sons.
- Rajkumar San Deo Hema Chandra Deo, died unmarried at an advanced age.
- Raja PURNA CHANDRA Deo Harishchandra Jagadev, Raja of Surangi, President of the Royal Athletics Club; married in June 1924, Rani Hira Kumari Devi, daughter of Raja Uday Raj Singh of Kashipur in Nainital, and had issue, two sons and three daughters.
- Rajkumari Patajema Snehelata Devi, married Lal F. N. Shah Deo of Jharia in Jharkhand.
- Rajkumari Majhia Jema Kunjalata Devi, married Kumar Bhawani Deo of Chikiti.
- Raja Kirti Chandra Deo Harishchandra Jagadev (qv)
- Rajkumari Sana Jema Labangalata Devi, married Lal Narayan Prasad Pal of Pal Lahara, and had issue, three sons and two daughters.
- Rajkumar San Deo Jay Chandra Deo, died unmarried.
- Raja KIRTI CHANDRA Deo Harishchandra Jagadev, Raja of Surangi -/1993, born , represented the Ichapuram constituency as a Member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1961, and was active in District and Local Elections in Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh; married 1stly, Rani Soubhagya Manjari Devi, daughter of the Thakur Saheb of Jharia in Jharkhand, married 2ndly, Rani Nirmala Devi [née Suram Nirmala Reddy] M.Sc., LL.B., a gold medalist in International Laws and has a double Masters Degree in Hospital Management, sometime Principal State Attorney to Kenya and has served in the department of Justice in Nauru, daughter of Sri Suram Venkat Reddy, and had issue. He died in Hyderabad, cremated at Ichapuram.
- Rani Manoja Manjari Devi (by Rani Soubhagya Manjari Devi) (Patajema: eldest daughter), educated at St. Joseph’s Convent and Sailabala Women’s College, Cuttack and has a diploma in Interior Decoration and a Post Graduate Degree in Psychological Counselling. She is a Reiki Grandmaster (Reiki is a healing therapy recognized by the W.H.O. as an alternate therapy). She is Director of the Svadhyaya Foundation involved in Reiki teaching and practising. She is also a Founder member of AOL Bhubaneswar Chapter. She is proud to have represented AOL in World Faith Conference in 1999 as its youngest delegate. She was associated with the Training Division of Amway International, which was awarded for its express efforts at setting up the Pick up Centre at Bhubaneswar. She is the Hereditary Trustee and President of Nilgiri Debotar and is involved in many religious and charitable services through it. She is a Trustee of Visamo Foundation involved in educating brilliant children from BPL families. Besides Social activities, her literary awards have been rewarded by Swami Tejomayananda in Chinmay International Magzines. Some of her works have been published in Asian Age, Sambad and Bhubaneswar Club Magazine of which she was on the Editorial Board. She has addressed the Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar on two occasions, once on Reiki and recently on Life After Death; she was adopted by the Senior Rani Srimanta Manjari Devi, wife of Raja Kishore Chandra Deo Samanta of Athmalik; married Raja Jayant Chandra Mardraj Harichandan of Nilgiri, and has issue, one son.
- Yuvraj Janmajay Mardaraj, born , married on 22nd January 2017 to Rajkumari Harshita Singh, daughter of Raja Bahadur Ghanshyam Singh and Rani Savitri Singh of Kothi, District Satna, Madhya Pradesh.
- Rajkumari Sana Jema Manjula Manjari Devi [Mrs. Manjula Pooja Shroff] (by Rani Soubhagya Manjari Devi), has been a first class student throughout from ICSE, ISC, B.A. (Hons) and M.A. (Pol. Science), she has work experience as Executive Trainee with IMFA, Bhubaneswar 1987/1988, Computer Programmer Administrator, CPDHE, University of Delhi 1988/1989), Management Co-ordinator Calorex India Ltd. 1989/1990, Executive Director Calorex Group 1990/1991 and Director in Charge Calorex Group of Companies since 1992, she is also the Managing Trustee of Calorex Foundation since 1995 and has launched projects like Delhi Public School at Ahmedabad in 1996/1997, School Reconstruction Project at Dhrangadhra after the Gujarat earthquake, Prerna, a programme for the Learning Disabled Child, Visamo Kids, a foster home of children below the poverty line, which provides medicine, clothes, food and education to the inmate. The children are provided the best education in the top English Medium Schools, The Calorex School, where the children learn by doing and exploring instead of rote learning, she has worked in Summer Eye camps as part of Rotary Club in 1980/1981, was awarded the Nightingale Award in Interact Club in 1980, has worked for the betterment of leprosy affected people, started a recreation park at Sahid Nagar, Bhubaneswar, supported CRY New Delhi in 1993, supported and adopted children through World Vision 1995, she is a Member on Advisory committee since 1999 of the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani School, Jamnagar, Surat, Patalganga, Gujarat, founded Coffee Drinkers Association for information Technology in 2000, founded the Calorex Institute of Technology, an engineering program on ASIC chip design in 2000, started the Visamo Shelter Camp for earthquake victims in 2001 and provided Psychological healing to women and children through various therapies, adopted the Karuna Trust Hospital for one month to provide orthopaedic surgeries for the earthquake victims, she has been awarded Honourary Membership Research Advisory Board, American Biographical Society in 2002/2003, Awarded Honourary membership of Rotary Club of Greater Ahmadabad in 2002/2003, Awarded Honourary Membership (Lok Adalat) Legal Advisory Cell, High Court of Gujarat 2002/2003, awarded Honourary Member of Jury, Eklavya Education Awards 2002/2004, awarded Honourary Fellowship of Australian Asian of Civil Leadership, 2005, awarded the 'Secular India Harmony Award by the then President of India, Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma in 1996, awarded the Bharat Vikas Award from International Business Council in 1997, Awarded the 'Eminent Citizen of India Award by National & International Compendium 1998, Awarded 21st Century Millennium Award by International Institute of Education and Management in 2000, awarded 'Educational Excellence Award' by Management Studies Promotion Institute in 2001, awarded Vidya Ratan Award by Management Studies Promotion Institute in 2002, Awarded 'Contemporary Who's Who & Woman of the Year by American Biographical Society, North Carolina, in 2002, she likes Travelling and has travelled the length and breadth of India, USA and Europe, is fond of Indian Classical Music and English Country music and instrumental, she likes studying Human Behaviour and likes to read Psychology, Fiction, Human Development and Management, Philosophy and Spirituality; married Pratul Shroff, a BE in electronics Engineering from BITS and MS in Electrical from Cornell, has worked 8 years with Intel and Daisy Systems, he is at present the CEO of e-Infochips, spotting the synergy between Indian engineering talent and the requirements of the US market, he founded e-Infochips in 1988. Today e-infochips with multiple Development Centers at India, offers solutions and services to global clients, and has issue, one son.
- Adwait Shroff, born .
- Raja Hrudaya Chandra Deo Harishchandra Jagadev (by Rani Soubhagya Manjari Devi) (qv)
- Rajkumar Prapurna Chandra Deo Surangi (by Rani Nirmala Devi), born , educated at Gulbarga, Karnataka (B.Sc. Computer Science), he is presently (2008), a software professional working for a major company in Chicago.
- Rajkumari Dr. Snigda Deo Surangi (by Rani Rani Nirmala Devi), born , educated at the University of Belarus (Bachelor of Medecine), she has successfully completed her studies in the field on Onchology and is presently in the USA working as a Doctor, she has participated in various health camps held country wide, married Ashutosh Vakharkar, an environmental engineer, son of Satish Vakharkar.
- Rani Manoja Manjari Devi (by Rani Soubhagya Manjari Devi) (Patajema: eldest daughter), educated at St. Joseph’s Convent and Sailabala Women’s College, Cuttack and has a diploma in Interior Decoration and a Post Graduate Degree in Psychological Counselling. She is a Reiki Grandmaster (Reiki is a healing therapy recognized by the W.H.O. as an alternate therapy). She is Director of the Svadhyaya Foundation involved in Reiki teaching and practising. She is also a Founder member of AOL Bhubaneswar Chapter. She is proud to have represented AOL in World Faith Conference in 1999 as its youngest delegate. She was associated with the Training Division of Amway International, which was awarded for its express efforts at setting up the Pick up Centre at Bhubaneswar. She is the Hereditary Trustee and President of Nilgiri Debotar and is involved in many religious and charitable services through it. She is a Trustee of Visamo Foundation involved in educating brilliant children from BPL families. Besides Social activities, her literary awards have been rewarded by Swami Tejomayananda in Chinmay International Magzines. Some of her works have been published in Asian Age, Sambad and Bhubaneswar Club Magazine of which she was on the Editorial Board. She has addressed the Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar on two occasions, once on Reiki and recently on Life After Death; she was adopted by the Senior Rani Srimanta Manjari Devi, wife of Raja Kishore Chandra Deo Samanta of Athmalik; married Raja Jayant Chandra Mardraj Harichandan of Nilgiri, and has issue, one son.
- Raja HRUDAYA CHANDRA Deo Harishchandra Jagadev, Raja of Surangi 1993/2004, born , died unmarried 13th September 2004.
- Raja of Surangi, married and had issue.
- Rajkumari (name unknown), married Raja Balakeshwara Singh Marda Raja Deo of Khallikote.
- Raja of Surangi, married the fifth daughter of Raja Sahib Mehrban-i-Dostan Shri Raja Narayana Marda Raja Deo of Khallikote.
