Ban on the worship of Lord Jagannath.
Explanation
The Khurda Uprising of 1817, widely known as the Paika Rebellion, was an armed resistance against British colonial rule in Odisha led by Bakshi Jagabandhu. The rebellion was a direct reaction to the oppressive economic and administrative changes introduced after the British conquest of Odisha in 1803.Analysis of Grievances:
- Introduction of Silver Sicca Rupee: The British administration insisted on the payment of revenue in silver Sicca rupees, replacing the traditional cowrie currency. This demonetization of the local currency caused immense hardship to the peasantry and the Paikas. Thus, this was a genuine grievance.
- Auction of Local Estates: The rigid implementation of the sunset laws in revenue collection led to the auctioning of defaulting estates in Calcutta. This resulted in the dispossession of local Odia zamindars and the entry of absentee Bengali landlords, disrupting the traditional social structure. Thus, this was a genuine grievance.
- Salt Monopoly: The British administration established a monopoly over salt manufacturing and trade. This deprived the coastal people of their traditional rights to manufacture salt and led to an exorbitant rise in prices. Thus, this was a genuine grievance.
- Ban on Worship of Lord Jagannath: The British did not ban the worship of Lord Jagannath. While they took over the administration of the temple to secure revenue and political legitimacy, they did not prohibit religious practices. The rebels marched to Puri to liberate the King of Khurda (the temple's superintendent) from British political control, but the grievance was not a religious ban on worship itself.
Key Takeaway:
The Paika Rebellion was primarily driven by economic distress caused by the cowrie-to-silver currency transition, the salt monopoly, and the displacement of local landlords, rather than direct religious interference such as a ban on worship.