Surada

Surada ସୋରଡ଼ା Sorada
Town
Nickname(s): SRD
Surada Location in Odisha, India
Coordinates: 19°45′N 84°26′E / 19.75°N 84.43°E / 19.75; 84.43Coordinates: 19°45′N 84°26′E / 19.75°N 84.43°E / 19.75; 84.43
Country	India
State	Odisha
District	Ganjam
First settled	1474
Founded by	Raja Sandhadhanu Singh(Abhaya)
Named for	Establishment of many temples
Government
• Type	Notified Area Council (N.A.C.)
• Body	Surada N.A.C.
• N.A.C. Chairman	Sanghamitra Swain(BJD)
• Executive Officer	Alekh Charan Parida
• Member of Legislative Assembly	Purna Chandra Swain(BJD)
• Member of Parliament	Nityananda Pradhan(BJD)
Area
• Total	2,663.89 km2 (1,028.53 sq mi)
Elevation	76 m (249 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	14,647
• Density	5.5/km2 (14/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Oriya<br/ > English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	761108
STD Telephone code	06819
Vehicle registration	OR-07/OD-07
Sub-division	Bhanjanagar
Block	Surada
Odisha Legislative Assembly Constituency	Surada
Lok Sabha Constituency	Aska
Shashi Bhusana Charitam

Surada (also known as Sorada or Suruda or Soroda) is a town which is a Notified Area Council and it is also a largest Block which area is about 2663.89 km² under the Bhanjanagar Sub-division in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Odisha. Surada Block consists of 364 villages, 25 Grama Panchayats and Surada (N.A.C.).

Grama Panchayats under Surada Block

1. Amrutulu 2. Asurabandha 3. Badabadangi 4. Badagada 5. Badagochha 6. Borada 7. Borasingi 8. Ekalapur 9. Gajalabadi 10. Gangapur 11. Genja 12. Gochha 13. Gopalpur Sasan 14. Goudagotha 15. Hinjalakuda 16. Hukuma 17. Kulangi 18. Lathipada 19. Merrikota 20. Nuagada 21. Palakatu 22. Raibandha 23. Sarabadi 24. Sidhapur 25. Suramani

Geography

Surada is located at 19°45′N 84°26′E / 19.75°N 84.43°E / 19.75; 84.43.^[1] It has an average elevation of 76 m (249 ft). It is situated at the North-Western side of Ganjam district.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[2] Surada had a population of 14,647. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Surada has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 54%. In Surada, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

It is a historical famous place. In ancient time, it was named as Surada Gada (ସୁରାଡା ଗଡ଼). Surada is a Sanskrit word (ସୁର + ଅଡ୍ଡା = ସୁରାଡା) which means The place of God. It was established by the 1st king of Surada which name was Raja Sandhadhanu Singh on 1474. Once this land was under Khidishingi kingdom. While partition among 4 sons of last Khidishingi king Raja Baliar Singh, it had divided into 4 kingdoms which are Badagada, Dharakote, Surada and Sheragada since 1574. Now, Badagada is a village under Surada Block and Dharakote, Sheragada are two separate blocks in Ganjam district. When the Britishers had ruled Surada they took this Zamindari along with undivided Ganjam district into Madras Presidency which is written in the List of zamindari estates in Madras Presidency.

Kings of Khidishingi

• Patta Mallick (Last Kandha king)
• Raja Sobha Chandra Singh (Nala descendant)
• Raja Purusottama Singh
• Raja Krushna Singh
• Raja Rai Singh
• Raja Preeti Singh
• Raja Kirti Singh
• Raja Padmanabha Singh
• Raja Bikram Singh
• Raja Baliar Singh (Last Khidishingi king)

Kings of Surada

• Raja Sandhadhanu Singh(Abhaya)
• Raja Bhagaban Singh
• Raja Harihara Singh
• Raja Krushna Singh
• Raja Gopal Singh
• Raja Rai Singh
• Raja Shyamasundara Singh
• Raja Gadadhara Singh (Raja Shyamasundara's brother)
• Raja Kunjabihari Singh (Raja Shyamasundara's brother)
• Rani Radhamani Devi (Raja Kunjabihari's wife)
• Raja Upendra Singh (Raja Shyamasundara's brother)
• Raja Shyamasundara Singh (Raja Upendra's son)
• Raja Radhacharana Singh (Raja Upendra's son)
• Raja Laxminarayan Singh (Raja Upendra's son)
• Raja Janardana Singh (Raja Upendra's son)

Worship Places

Hindu

• Jagannath Temple;
  • On 18th 1st half century, a Dadhi Bamana(Jagannath) statue probably had established. On this 2nd half century, Raja Kunjabihari Singh (1775-1815) had built a Jagannath temple and established that Dadhi Bamana statue at Jagannath temple. This temple is on the land which length is about 125 foot in North-South region and about 87 foot breadth in East-West region. The Jagannath temple is about 65 foot length in East-West region, about 31 foot breadth in North-South region and about 60 foot in height. The speciality of this temple is to only worship of Jagannath statue. So, it is also known as Dadhi Bamana temple.
• Gopinath Temple
• Raghunath Temple
• Panchanan Temple;
  • This temple is famous in the state wide. It consists of 5 shiva lingas. It is said that the lingas are established by Lord Rama while going to Lanka. The Panchanan temple had built by Raja Narendra Dhabala (935-965).
• Chandra Kalpeswara Temple
• Dakhineswara Temple;
  • Once this Shiva linga was at the village which is now under Surada Dam. So, this linga was then established at Surada near Rushikulya river on 18th century.
• Gopeswara Temple;
  • This temple had built in 1947.
• Balukeswara Temple
• Mukteswara Temple
• Brudha Lingeswara Temple;
  • This temple had built by Khindirisrunga Raja Bhimasen Dev (900-935)
• Purakeswara Temple;
  • This temple had built in 18th century.
• Lord Nrusinghnath Temple;
  • There are 3 nos of Nrusinghnath Temple at Baradi, Matha Sahi and Sana Surada.
• Sri Laxmi Nrusinghnath Temple
• Sri Chaitanya Temple
• Maa Kandhuni Devi Temple
• Maa Khunteswari Temple;
  • Situated at the hilltop of Khunteswari Hill. In the outside there is a Shiva temple called by people Lord Siddheswara Temple is there.
• Maa Giri Shobhini Temple
• Kanaka Durga Temple
• Krushnalila Kalika Temple
• Ramalila Kalika Temple
• Gramyalila Kalika Temple
• Ganesh Temple
• Maa Santhoshi Temple
• Lord Hanuman Temple
• Lord Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple

Muslim

• Mosque
  • In the 17th century some Muslims had come to Surada. Nawab Zafer Ali built a mosque in Surada at that time for worship. That old mosque had collapsed. So, in that place a new mosque was built. It has two minars. It establishes now at Office Lane of Surada.

Christian

• Roman Catholic Church
  • Christians had come to Surada on 1853. They built a big and very beautiful Roman Catholic church from 1916-1919. This church has many beautiful stone works. A big bell was at the top of the church which sound can be hear in between 5 km. around Surada. In front of this church four missionary schools had established by Christian missionary. The Father of the Church is head of these four institutions still now. The Bollywood Movie Bheegi Palkein starring Raj Babbar and Smita Patil was filmed here.
• Dantilingi Church
  • This is a big church at the Dantilingi village. Every year a special worship is done in accordance to Mother Lurdu Marry. She was very helpful for this local people and gave blessings for prosperity.

Others

• Sai Baba Temple
• Gayatri Temple at Gayatri Nagar
• OM Shanti Organisation
• Satsanga Kendra

Educational Institutions

• Rushikulya Degree College, Surada
• Rushikulya Junior College, Surada, Estd: 1978^[3]
• P.C.M. Women's Junior College, Surada, Estd: 1999^[4]
• Rushikulya Industrial Training Center (I.T.C.), Tatabali, Surada, Estd: 2009
• Sashi Bhusan (Govt.)High School, Surada, Estd: 1920^[5]
• Technical High School, Surada, Estd: 1954
• Govt. Girl's High School, Surada, Estd: 1964^[6]
• Roman Catholic Mission (R.C.M.) U.P School, Surada, Estd: 1904
• Jagannath Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Surada, Estd: 1930
• Saraswati Sishu Mandira, Surada, Estd: 1995
• R.C.M. Boy's Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1854
• R.C.M. Girl's Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1927
• Ex. Board Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1895
• Girl's Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1914
• Mahammadiya Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1921
• Govt. Aided Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1942
• Baradi Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1959
• Block Colony Primary School, Surada, Estd: 1975

Notable Persons from Surada

• Sashi Bhusan Rath - He was serially a Social reformer, Industrialist, Politician and Editor cum founder of ASHA newspaper(The 1st Oriya daily) which is published from Brahmapur till now. He borned at Surada on 1.1.1885. He was the 2nd son of Lambodara Mahapatra. He had adopted by his fraternal uncle Digambara Rath by the order of his grandfather Nilakantha Mahapatra. So from childhood he adopted Rath as his surname. By use of his name many educational institutions has established such as Sashi Bhusan (Govt.)High School at Surada and Sashi Bhusan Rath (Auto.)Women's College at Brahmapur. He had elected as Vice-chairman of former Berhampur Municipality now it is Brahmapur Municipal Corporation (BMC) and further he had elected as "Public Representative" from Ganjam district to "Madras Assembly Council" during British Raj.

• Ranganath Mahapatra - He was the inventor and the first user of Oriya typewriter which was the first regional language typewriter of India. In the year 1888, on December 15, the day named as Bakula Amabasya, Ranganath Mahapatra had taken birth in a Brahmin Family at Surada. He was the 3rd son of Lambodara Mahapatra and younger brother of Sashi Bhusan Rath. In 1953 the typewriter of Late Mr. Mahapatra was approved by the Odisha State Assembly.

Transport

Road

Surada is connected with National Highway 59 (India) (Ahmedabad – Gopalpur) and State Highway 36 (Odisha) which connect Surada to other cities and towns of Odisha and India. The three-wheeler auto taxies and buses are the most important mode of transportation in this town.

Rail

Nearby Brahmapur city Railway station

Air

• Biju Patnaik Airport
• Berhampur Airport

Port

Gopalpur Port

Financial Institution/banks

• State Bank of India, Surada
• Utkal Grameen Bank, Surada
• Aska Central Cooperative Bank Ltd., Surada^[7]
• Micro Leasing & Funding Ltd., Surada
• Sahara Credit Co-operative Society Ltd., Surada
• Punjab National Bank, Surada
• Bank of India, Badagada
• Andhra Bank, Badagada

Government offices

• Judicial Magistrate's(1st Class) Court
• Tahasil Office^[8]
• Panchayat Samiti (Block) Office^[9]
• Block Education Office
• Notified Area Council Office^[10]
• Special Planning Authority (Surada)^[11]
• O.F.D.C. Office
• Sub-Divisional Office (Minor Irrigation)
• Sectional Office (Irrigation)
• Lift Irrigation Office
• Asst. Engineer's Office (R&B)
• Public Wealth Department(P.W.D.) Office
• P.H.E.D Office
• Govt. Hospital
• Child Development Project Office (ICDS Project)^[12]
• Sub-Jail^[13]
• Police Station
• Fire Station
• Forest Range Office
• Sub-Post Office
• Govt. Veterinary Hospital
• Sub-Registrar Office^[14]
• Sub-Treasury Office^[15]
• Sub-Divisional Office(Southco)
• Sectional Office(Southco)
• Asst. Engineer's Office(Southco)
• R.I. Office, Surada
• R.I. Office, Amrutulu

Attractions

• There are 8 no. of Shiva Temples. So, this town is also called as Asta Sambhu.
• Danda Nacha - Danda Nacha(Jatra) are ritualistic performances held during the month of Chaitra for a period of 14days. This is considered to be the one of the traditional form of worship. The performers showcase their performances in different villages. The performances are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali, which are symbolically represented by a Agni Danda. The participants showcase various items Agni Danda & a Pole decorated with multi-coloured clothes. The closing ceremony is known as Meru Yatra, which is observed on the day of Maha Vishuba Sankranti.
• Surada Dam (Surada Ghai) - A Big water reservoir popularly known as Sorada Ghai, holds in its bosom a reservoir amidst uncommon scenic charm. It blends itself beautifully into an enchanting picnic spot. This dam built on 1896. The water of Padma river (popularly known as Patma river) is reserved in it. At times, the water of this reservoir is channelised to Rushikulya river for irrigation. Now there is a Biju Patnaik Children's Park is on construction.
• Ratha Jatra - This town is famous for Ratha Jatra of Lord Jagannath.
• Kanta Pidha Jatra - It is a very famous fastival of Surada. In this festival Maa Kandhuni Devi is worshiped specially. So, every year on this occasion 'Maa Kandhuni Devi Mahosava is celebrated.
• Kumar Purnima - Birthday of Lord Kartika. All will wear new cloth & play cards from Dasahara to Kumar Purnami of all 5 days.
• Rushikulya River - This river is meant to be a holy river in Ganjam district. Every year there have Baruni Mohosava to celebrate the birthday of Rushikulya. It originates from Rushi Hills of Kandhamal district and the mouth of this river is at Puruna Bandha, Chhatrapur of Ganjam district. It believes that Rushikulya is 100 year elder than The holy river Ganga. The name of Rushikulya river has written in many Hindu epics like Brahmanda Purana, Mahabharat etc.

Politics

Surada is the part of Surada Assembly Constituency. Current MLA from Surada Assembly Constituency is Purna Chandra Swain of BJD, who won the seat in State elections in 2009. Previous MLAs from this seat were Kishore Chandra Singhdeo (2004) of BJP, before Usharani Panda of INC who won this seat in 2000, Ananta Narayan Singh Deo representing BJP in 1995 and representing JNP in 1977, Shanti Devi of JD in 1990, Sharat Chandra Panda of INC in 1985, and Gantayat Swain of INC(I) in 1980. The Son of the Soil Biju Patnaik(ବିଜୁ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକ) elected from Surada during 1957 state election.^[16]

Surada is part of Aska (Lok Sabha constituency). ^[17]

References