Correct Option
The correct option isThe hereditary Military Commander of the deposed king.
Explanation
The Khurda Uprising, also known as the Paika Rebellion of 1817, was an armed resistance against British rule in Odisha. It was spearheaded by the Paikas, the traditional landed militia of the region, in response to oppressive land revenue policies and the dispossession of their hereditary estates.
Detailed Analysis
- The King of Khurda. is incorrect: The King of Khurda at the time was Raja Mukunda Deva II. Although the rebellion aimed to restore him to power, he was a minor who had been deposed and imprisoned by the British following their annexation of Odisha in 1803.
- The hereditary Military Commander of the deposed king. is correct: Buxi Jagabandhu (Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mohapatra Bhramarabar Ray) was the hereditary military commander (Bakshi) of the King of Khurda. He was the central figure and leader of the uprising. His grievances stemmed from the British resumption of his rent-free estate (Rorung) and the general destitution of the Paika community under British administration.
- A British officer who suppressed the revolt. is incorrect: Buxi Jagabandhu was the primary antagonist to the British administration during this revolt, not a British officer.
- A tribal leader of the Kandhs. is incorrect: While the Kandh tribes of Ghumsur and other areas actively supported the rebellion, Buxi Jagabandhu was not a tribal leader. He belonged to the military aristocracy of the Khurda kingdom.
Key Takeaway: Buxi Jagabandhu was the hereditary military chief of the King of Khurda who led the Paika Rebellion (1817) against the British East India Company's exploitative revenue policies in Odisha.