FREEDOM FIGHTERS
Jagannatha Narayana Deo (2nd): 1730-1800:During his period Nawab Jafar Ali Khan attacked Ganjam and wanted to attack Paralakhemundi. But J.N.Deo fought bravely and defeated the Khan. He acquired the throne of Khurda by defeating Raja Bira Keshari Deo of Puri. During his period he mixed some area of Vijayanagar in his kingdom. He was a great warrior and also a great poet. He had written ‘NabaBrundaban Vihar’, ‘Prabhabati Parinaya’, ‘Maharahasa’ etc. in Oriya language.
Apanna Parichha (1878-1938): A great dramatist. He tried to unite the Oriyas during ‘Oriya Rakshya Andolan’ against the
British Raj.
Pandit Jugal Kisore Panigrahy (1911): While studying in the Maharajas High School at Paralakhemundi, he joined in the ‘Quit India Movement’ call given by Mahatma Gandhi and left the school education. After some time he joined in the Sanskrit College, Paralakhemundi and completed his education. Then he studied in the Madras University & Andhra University. He turn down the offer as an Oriya teacher (Class – II Gazzetted post) in the Raipur Prince College and came back to join in the Indian National Congress and worked as a member in the Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee from 1936-40. He left Congress, in the year 1940 and joined in the Forward Block of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He went to jail in the year 1942, during ‘Quite India Movement’. He worked as a reporter in ‘The Dainika Asha’, The Samaja’, ‘The Naba Bhaarat’, ‘The Niakhunta’ etc. He was a member of the Ganjam District Education Standing Committee of Orissa and a member of the Senate, Academic Council of Faculty of Arts and Oriental Learning, Oriya Board of Studies, Examiner Board of Andhra University. For some time he worked with the General Insurance Corporation & Life Insurance Corporation. He was also a member of the ‘Orissa Sahitya Academy (1966-1969). He was the chief examiner of H.S.C Examination, Orissa.