Enduring Legacy, colonial past of Jashpur in its buildings

 

 

"Buildings are silent witnesses to power. They reveal who ruled, how they ruled, and for how long," remarked noted historian Eric Hobsbawm. Nowhere is this more evident than in the quiet town of Jashpur, where colonial-era structures stand with stoic grace, reminding passersby of a princely past and British administrative precision. Once under Maratha sovereignty, the princely state of Jashpur came under British subordination in 1804, with the arrangement formalized by the 1818 treaty. According to Dr Vijay Rakshit, retired Principal of Govt NES PG College, Jashpur, and a noted scholar of the region’s history, the princely state initially came under the Chota Nagpur Agency, later moved to the Central Provinces, and eventually became part of the Eastern States Agency, with its headquarters in Ranchi. Jashpur acceded to the Indian Union in 1947.

 

During this period, Jashpur was ruled by native monarchs under British suzerainty, including figures such as Raja Ranjit Singh Dev and Raja Vijay Bhushan Singh Dev. The British, known for their meticulous administrative frameworks, exercised control over princely states like Jashpur through “Residents” and “Political Agents” appointed by the Governor General or, later, the Viceroy. These officials reported to the colonial government and exercised authority over various domains of state administration, including revenue, education, justice, health, forests, and policing etc. Among the key political agents posted in Jashpur during the British era were H M Lari, EA Fibred, ES Laxley, FL Braford, KL B Hamilton, D H C Drake, and Lt Col A S Meek.

 

The most prominent of the colonial-era structures in Jashpur is the present-day Collector’s Bungalow. Once home to British residents and political agents assigned to the princely state, this stately building now serves as the official residence of the Collector and District Magistrate. Jashpur was carved out of Raigarh and became a separate district on 25 May 1998, marking the beginning of its administrative journey exactly 27 years ago. Since then, as many as twenty Collectors have resided in the bungalow.

 

“It is a significant heritage structure that reflects the administrative legacy of the British era,” said Dr Durgesh Chandra Mishra, retired IAS and former Collector of Jashpur. During the period from 1937 to 1940, the affairs of the princely state of Jashpur were overseen by Superintendent H J B Lepatourel. It was during this time that several infrastructural developments took place, shaping the civic landscape of Jashpur. The administrative apparatus during the British period included Diwan, the Provincial Chief Commissioner, and the Commissioner stationed in Bilaspur,all of whom exercised varying degrees of control over Jashpur. Among the buildings constructed during this era, the Govt High School, now known as Swami Atmanand Higher Secondary School, holds special significance. Shivnath Pathak, a former teacher with in-depth knowledge of the school’s history, recalls, “The institution was inaugurated in 1934 by Lt Col A S Meek”.

 

The building was constructed under the supervision of state engineer N Vishvas, and C D Sirka was appointed as its first headmaster. Initially affiliated to Patna University, the school later came under the Nagpur Board after independence and is now governed by the CG School Education Department. “The school soon gained repute for academic discipline,” Pathak notes, adding that its alumni include magistrates, academicians, scientists, doctors, pilots, and footballers. Another notable structure from this period is the Officer’s Club, now a local museum. Once a hub of social and cultural activity for colonial officials, it reflects the leisure culture of the time.

 

Also of note is the Deosaran Hospital, whose foundation was laid by Mrs A S Meek in 1935 and inaugurated by Mrs Lepatourel in 1937. This medical facility served as a vital centre for health services under the colonial regime. Around 1938, the Shri Harikeertan Bhawan was constructed during the tenure of the Assistant State Superintendent, further enriching the civic landscape of Jashpur. These colonial-era buildings, once central to British administration, now stand as enduring links between Jashpur’s historical legacy and its evolving present, reflecting a past that helped shape its civic and institutional identity.