Bamra
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts.Many units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Bamra
Feudatory State in Bengal, lying between 21 9' and 22 12' N. and 84 8' and 85 13' E., and occupying a tract of hilly country between the valley of the MahanadI and the Chota Nagpur plateau. Up to 1905 the State was under the political control of the Central Provinces. The eastern portion of the State consists of a mass of hill and jungle, but to the west and north there is open and fertile country. The total area is 1,988 square miles, and the capital is Deogarh. The only important river is the Brahman!, which flows through a small strip on the eastern border. Wild elephants are found in the State. The ruling family are Gangabansi Rajputs.
They have a genealogy dating back to a. d. 1602 ; and according to their traditions the first Raja of Bamra belonged to the royal family of Patna State, and was stolen from his home and made king of Bamra by the Bhuiyas and Khonds. The late Raja, Sir Sudhal Deo, K.C.I.E., was a gentleman of advanced education and enlightened views who did much to improve his State. He died in 1903 and was succeeded by his son, Raja Tri- bhuvan Deo. The relations of the State with Government are controlled by a Political Agent subordinate to the Commissioner of Orissa. The population in 1901 numbered 123,378 persons, showing an increase since 1891 of 18 per cent. About 77 per cent, of the population speak Oriya and 18 per cent, the Oraon and Mundari dialects. As is shown by the language, the population is mainly Oriya, Chasas, Kisans, Gahras, and Gandas being the most important castes numerically.
There are also a number of Gonds and Bhuiyas. The soil is light and sandy, the best quality being found under the hills. The area cultivated in 1905 was 227 square miles, or 11 per cent, of the total, having largely increased during the last decade. The principal crops are rice, til, and castor, about 140 square miles being always under rice. There are 974 irrigation tanks. The State forests cover 1,734 square miles, and contain valuable sal timber (Shorea robusta), which has only been exploited within recent years. Saw-mills have been established at Sirid, 20 miles from Deogarh, at which about 50,000 sleepers are at present annually produced for export. Lac, silk cocoons, catechu, and myrabolams are other forest products. The State also contains considerable deposits of iron ore and mica. At Balam, 10 miles from Deogarh, the late chief established a factory with an irrigation pump, and also flour-mills, sugar-cane-mills, and an oil-mill worked by two portable engines. There are 2^ miles of metalled and 183 miles of unmetalled roads, maintained from the State funds under the direct supervision of the chief. The Bengal-Nagpur Railway passes through the north-eastern corner of the State with two stations— Bamra Road and Garpos — within its borders.
The revenue from all sources amounted in 1904 to Rs. 1,54,000, the principal items being land revenue, Rs. 68,000; forests, Rs. 16,000; and excise, Rs. 10,000. The taxation of land is about 10 annas per cultivated acre. A regular assessment has been made on the basis of soil classification. The expenditure in 1904 was Rs. 1,48,000, the principal items being the private expenses of the chief's family, Rs. 50,000; general administration, Rs. 8,200; police, Rs. 12,000; and education and medical, Rs. 5,000 each. Rs. 1,500 is paid as tribute to the British Government. In 1904 the State had 28 schools with 1,005 pupils, including a high school at Deogarh. At the Census of 1901, 5,011 persons were shown as literate, all in Oriya, and 4 per cent, of the population (7-6 males and 0-3 females) were able to read and write. The State maintains two dispensaries, at Deogarh and Kuchinda, in which nearly 19,000 cases were treated during 1904.
