My maternal grand-mother had a well designed grain-measure
which she brought from Ambikanagar . This was
Chintamoni pai- the unit of grain
measure- a common instrument that had been used in Ambikanagar & its
adjoining areas. Chintamoni pai has its legacy with the first King of
Chintamoni Dhoba, the Raja of Dhalbhum, headquartered
at Ambikanagar. In course of time his kingdom was wrested by Jagannath Dev of
Dhalpur, Rajasthan. Oral story goes with
Dev’s ascending to the throne Dhalbhum. The story is:
Jagannath Dev went to Puri in pilgrimage and on his way back
he met the King of Orissa. Looking at the handsome look of Dev the king
addressed him “Sahajada”. Sahajada connotes to Nabwab or prince. In a quick reply to the king Jagannath said “ Please confirm the title”. The king was so pleased that he handed over a troop soldiers and
ordered “ Go and curve out your principality any where with your battalion.” Thereafter, Jagannath marched with his
commandos and reached Supur-Ambikanagar
and overpowered Chintamoni . In memory of his conquest he named his kingdom Dhabalbhum. Dev dynasty ruled the Supur-Ambikanagar
parganas of Khatra, and extended jurisdiction to the western part of Midnapore
district and parts of eastern and south eastern Singhbhum. After 32 generations of Supur-Ambikanagar
raj, there were internal conflicts among
the family members and accordingly the kingdom was divided into two sub-parts.
Tekchand became the authority of Supur parganas etc and based his regime at Supur while Khargeswar made his
kingdom at Ambikanagar. Khagreswar built his palace,forts etc at Ambikanagar.
The ruins of the palace ,forts and temples
witness the glory of Devs.
RaiCharan Dev was the most revered king of Ambikanagar. His generosity for poor and
people is heard everywhere. Another cap is with Rai Charan- he was a
freedom fighter . He used to donate large sums to the freedom fighters of twentieth
century. He was involved with the Anusilon Samiti. Under his care, Khudiram Bose, Prafulla Chaki &
others used to come Ambikanagar. Hasadanga jungle was the testing zones of bombs
and strategic actions. The matter reached to the British government.
They ransacked the place and jailed Rai Charan for revolutionary activities.
Every brick of the Rajbari witnesses the bravery of Rai
Charan.
The raja has gone, the kingdom has gone but RaiCharan is
still in the heart of Ambikanagar.
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