Bhubaneswar, June 8: The state government is all set to present facts and records before the Centre to argue why it should acknowledge the Paika revolt of 1817 as the first war of Independence instead of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.
The Odisha State Archives has prepared a publication on the Paika revolt, which will be inaugurated tomorrow on the occasion of International Archives Day. The archival document, The Paika Rebellion: A Documentary Study, of 700 pages has brought together facts that recognise Paika as the first Independence revolt.
"The Paika mutiny is a landmark in the history of Odisha. It is imperative to document the records of the event," said culture secretary Manoranjan Panigrahy.
Paikas (a martial race) had first raised the banner of revolt against the British in 1817 at Barunei near Khurda.
There are around 60 documents in the book, including articles by historians.
It will also include interviews of government officials and other reports relating to the cause and effects behind the revolt.
"The single-volume publication has around 15 articles by international, national and regional historians that recognise the Paika revolt," said superintendent in charge of the archives Bhagyalipi Malla.
"We will write to the central government and place our facts at a national seminar in New Delhi and urge them to declare Paika revolt as the first war of Independence," added Panigrahy.
Tomorrow, the department will organise a state-level seminar at the archives where historians will talk about the nature and activities of the movement and its leaders in various districts of the state.
The archives will also host an exhibition of photographs of the records and popular leaders who took part in the movement.
Also, an e-library will be opened for the public tomorrow. The various books that are in the library of the archives have been catalogued for easy access to users.