Born in 1809, Surendra Sai was a direct descendant of Madhukar Sai and therefore was legally entitled to be crowned as king of Sambalpur after the demise of king Maharaja Sai in 1827. But he was not acceptable to the British. He was strong, sharp and popular. Though very well mannered, he was a spirited swordsman and too proud to be subjugated.
British authorities were afraid of Oriya temperament for which they had broken down Orissa into four parts and merged each part in the adjoining province. In fact, the reasons for rejecting Frazer’s recommendations for amalgamation of the four divided parts of Orissa were because of the British fear for this temperament of the Oriyas. Surendra Sai personified this Oriya temperament. Hence the British authorities did not heed to his claim for the throne.
The authorities, S.C.De informs in the Guide to Orissan Records, wanted just a puppet who would dance to the tune of their....
