The Government of India through a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on December 2, 2021 said the Paika rebellion cannot be called the first War of Independence.
- Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy stated this in a written reply to a question by BJD MP Prashanta Nanda.
- Since 2017, Odisha has demanded that the rebellion of Odisha be declared as the first war of Independence.
- At present, the Indian Mutiny or Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 is called the first war of Independence against British Rule.
- The Paika Bidroha (Paika Rebellion) of 1817 took place nearly 40 years before the first sepoy mutiny.
- The Paikas were peasant militas of the Gajapati rulers of Odisha who offered military services to the king. However, the minister declared that it would now be included in the curriculum of Class VIII history textbook of NCERT.
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