Military History of Orissa

The military history of Orissa has not been systematically studied or analysed by competent scholars. To fill up the lacuna Dr. R. P. Mohapatra, a reputed museologist and archaeologist, brought out this volume with meticulous care.

History of Orissa although is history of military and chivalrous war-fare. Militarism of this heroic land rests on a series of illustrious personalities like Kharavel, Yayati-II, Narasimhadeva-I and Kapilendradeva at the helm of affairs, the character of her sturdy, stubborn and adventurous people, the geographical phenomena, favorable natural bounties and the immoveable herds of elephants of high breed provided by her vast and dense forests. Her invincible army stuck terror in the hearts of the enemies of the neighbouring dominions. The ancient dictum “Kalingah Sahasikah” identifies people of Kalinga as a valorous race full of vitality, chivalry and the spirit of adventure.

The glory of the past diminished, still survives to-day like the fire in a flint in the martial races of the land. This monumental volume is based upon authentic historical records, examination of original weapons and other military accessories preserved in different museums and private collections and actual field study of archaeological sites and monuments. The work has been divided into seven long chapters covering the period from the great Epics till the end of Mutiny of 1857 A.D. The military achievements of imperial power and dynastic rules have very extensively been dealt with under appropriate headings of the first five chapters. The sixth chapter deals with organization of army, technique of war-fare and traditional weapons right from the beginning to the end of our period. The last chapter exclusively relates to the antiquity of fortification in Orissa names of the forts, their location and brief description with special reference to the role they have played in shaping the history of ancient and medieval Orissa.

The short bibliography of the published works on various aspects of military history of Orissa at the end of the work will no doubt help scholars in the line to pursue the matter further. The original Sanskrit texts and later Oriya works on military science have also been thoroughly examined for utilisation in the present work. The author spared much labour and patience in the preparation of several hundreds of line drawings of weapons, military costume and other war accessories. Photographs of war pane of temple walls and layout plans of military strongholds to subtonic literary descriptions with visual illustrious.