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{{Short description|Key figure in the formation of Odisha state in India}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[Captain]] [[Maharaja]]
| name = Krushna Chandra Gajapati
| honorific-suffix = Narayana Deva [[Order of the Indian Empire|KCIE]]
| image = Painting of Gajapati Maharaja Krushna Chandra Dev, Bhubaneswar - Oct 2010.jpg
| caption = Painting of Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayana Dev
| image_size = 200px
| office = [[Prime Minister]] of [[Odisha]]
| term_start = 29 November 1941
| term_end = 29 June 1944
| predecessor = [[Bishwanath Das]]
| successor = [[Harekrushna Mahatab]]
| term_start1 = 1 April 1937
| term_end1 = 19 July 1937
| predecessor1 = Post created
| successor1 = [[Bishwanath Das]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1892|4|26}}
| birth_place = [[Paralakhemundi]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1974|5|25|1892|4|26}}
| death_place = [[Paralakhemundi]], [[Orissa]], [[India]]
| birthname =
| nationality = Indian
| party =
| otherparty = 
| parents = Goura Chandra Gajapati Narayan Dev Radhamani Devi
| spouse = Maharani Naleeni Pattamahadevi, princess of [[Kharsawan State]]
| children = 3
| residence = Paralakhemundi
| alma_mater = Newington College, [[Madras]]
| module2 = {{Infobox royalty|embed=yes
|reign=1913 CE – 1947 CE 1947 CE – 1974 CE (titular)
|predecessor=Goura Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo II
|successor=[[Gopinath Gajapati|Ramachandra Gajapati Narayan Deo]]
|house=[[Eastern Ganga dynasty]] (Paralakhemundi branch)
}}
}}

'''Krushna Chandra Gajapati''' [[Order of the Indian Empire|KCIE]] (26 April 1892 – 25 May 1974), also known as [[Captain]] [[Maharaja]] Sri Sri Sri '''Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayana Deva''' [[Order of the Indian Empire|KCIE]], was one of the key figures in the creation of the Indian state of [[Odisha]]. He was a scion of [[Paralakhemundi Estate]] (then [[Ganjam district]] of [[Odisha]] and [[Srikakulam]] taluk of [[Andhrapradesh]]) and the owner of Delanga estate of [[Puri district]] of Odisha. His family belonged to the great [[Eastern Ganga Dynasty]]. He was the first [[Prime Minister]] of Odisha. The present-day [[Gajapati District]] of Odisha was named after him.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://gajapati.nic.in/|title=District Portal of Gajapati }}</ref>

==Early life and education==
[[File:Caricature of Krushna Chandra Gajapati.png|thumb|Caricature of Krushna Chandra Gajapati by [[Emery Kelen]]]]
Krushna Chandra was born on 26 April 1892 to the [[Zamindar]] of [[Paralakhemundi]], Goura Chandra Gajapati and his wife Radhamani Devi.

He received his elementary education at the local Maharaja High School of [[Paralakhemundi]] and then went to [[Newington College]] in Madras for higher studies. During his studies in [[Madras]], he lost his father.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.talentodisha.com/odisha-orissa-information-directory/great-odiya/shri-krushna-chandra-gajapati/print.html?tmpl=component |title= Shri Krushna Chandra Gajapati |work= talentodisha.com |year= 2012 |quote= At the age of 12, his father, Goura Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo, died and ... Krushna Chandra Gajapati was still a minor |accessdate= 3 July 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
After the completion of his education he returned to Paralakhemundi and in the year 1913 married the princess of [[Kharsawan State]]. In the same year he succeeded as the next zamindar of his estate on 26 April 1913.

==Role in the formation of Independent Odisha State==
Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, Utkal Gourav [[Madhusudan Das]], Utkalamani [[Gopabandhu Das]], [[Fakir Mohan Senapati]] and other eminent members of [[Utkal Sammilani]] demanded a separate Odisha state with an amalgamation of [[Odia language|Odia]] speaking areas in the then Odisha-Bihar-Bengal province.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.india9.com/i9show/Gajapati-Maharaja-Krushna-Chandra-Dev-16198.htm |title=Gajapati Maharaja |accessdate=3 July 2012}}</ref>

Finally, with the efforts of this [[Utkal Sammilani]], the separate state of Odisha was formed on 1 April 1936.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infocera.com/Utkal_Divas_also_called_Orissa_day_is_being_celebrated_on_April_1st_today_8600.htm |title=Utkal Divas also called Orissa day is being celebrated on April 1st today |work=infocera.com |year=2012 |quote=Utkal Sammilani lead[sic] by Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das, Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati, Pandit Nilakantha Das, Bhubanananda Das and many others played a key role in the formation of Odhisa state |accessdate=3 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505195146/http://www.infocera.com/Utkal_Divas_also_called_Orissa_day_is_being_celebrated_on_April_1st_today_8600.htm |archive-date=5 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> From that day, 1 April is celebrated by the [[Oriya language|Odia]] people as [[Odisha Day|Utkal Divas]]. His estate in Vizagapatam district was partitioned into two – with the capital and major parts coming under Odisha whereas the remaining Telugu-majority areas remained in the Madras Presidency. In 1937, the first Governor of Odisha, Sir John Austin Hubback invited Krushna Chandra to form the cabinet. He became the first Prime Minister of Odisha from 1 April 1937 to 18 July 1937, elected again for the second time from 24 November 1941 to 30 June 1944.

==Social and philanthropic services==
He was instrumental in the establishment of the [[Utkal University]], the [[SCB Medical College]], the famous Central Rice Research Institute in Bidyadharpur, Cuttack and later MKCG Medical College & Hospital in Berhampur. He set up many hospitals, schools, colleges, industrial institutions, modern agricultural farms and provided a record number of 1281 irrigation sagars or water-tanks in his agriculturally dominant native taluk. For this reason, the undivided Ganjam District was given the title 'the rice-bowl of Odisha'. Under Gajapati, scholarships were awarded to thousands of poor and meritorious students in humanities, science, agriculture, medicine, and engineering, among others.

Apart from these, Maharaja was a well-known patron of the arts and research scholars in various fields. He supported the historical research of Padmasri Dr. [[Satyanarayana Rajguru]] and the production of gramophone records of the renowned Odishi musician ''Gayaka Siromani'' [[Apanna Panigrahi]], who was his court musician (rajasangitagya) as well as a friend. He was devoted towards ancient poets, especially Kabi Kalahansa [[Gopalakrusna Pattanayaka|Gopalakrusna]] of Paralakhemundi. Maharaja was himself an expert in ancient [[Odishi music]] and literature and has a number of original compositions to his credit, such as ''<nowiki/>'Manu Jau Nahi Ma', 'Radhadhara Sumadhura''<nowiki/>' and others.

==Political services and honours==
Krushna Chandra served as a Captain in the [[First World War]]. He received a rare Sanad in 1920 from the then Viceroy and Governor General of India, in recognition of his services rendered to the Indian Army during the Great War and as a mark of commendation. He was a Member of the Royal Commission on Agriculture, under the Chairmanship of Lord Linlithgow. He was also a Member of the Madras Legislative Council.

He was awarded honorary Doctorates by the Utkal University and the Berhampur University, and was appointed a Knight Commander of the [[Order of the Indian Empire]] (KCIE) in the [[1946 New Year Honours]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37407|supp=y|page=10|date=28 December 1945}}</ref>

Krushna Chandra died on 25 May 1974 at the age of 82. He was accorded a state funeral by the Government of Odisha and was cremated with full honours at [[Paralakhemundi]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* http://gajapati.nic.in/sonsofsoil/eminent%5Cemiperson.htm
* http://orissa.gov.in/portal/LIWPL/event_archive/Events_Archives/69Maharaja_Krushna_Chandra_Gajapati.pdf
* http://orissa.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/2010/April/engpdf/56-57.pdf
* Orissa Review, January-2009 issue. Published by the Govt. of Orissa.

{{s-start}}
{{Succession box
|before= Post created [[Bishwanath Das]] (2nd term)
|title= [[List of Chief Ministers of Odisha|Prime Minister of Odisha]]
|years= 1 April 1937 to 19 July 1937 (1st term) 29 November 1941 to 29 June 1944 (2nd term)
|after= [[Bishwanath Das]] (1st term) [[Harekrushna Mahatab]] (2nd term)
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gajapati, Krushna Chandra}}
[[Category:1892 births]]
[[Category:1974 deaths]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Indian knights]]
[[Category:Scholars from Odisha]]
[[Category:Members of the Constituent Assembly of India]]
[[Category:People from Paralakhemundi]]
[[Category:Politicians from Odisha]]

Krushna Chandra Gajapati - Revision history

BellEggers2 at 17:12, 23 March 2026