This wildlife sanctuary in Odisha is deeply connected with Veer Surendra Sai’s Indian freedom movement

In western Odisha, the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in the Bargarh district tells a story of grit and resilience that predates its recognition as a biodiversity haven. It was here, amid rugged hills and dense forests, that the legendary freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai fought an enduring battle against British colonial power.

Notably, Barapathara, inside the sanctuary, served as his guerrilla base, where he and his loyal followers used the terrain to their advantage by launching ambushes, planning resistance, and evading capture.

The Guerrilla Heartland of Veer Surendra Sai:

Veer Surendra Sai, one of the most iconic figures in Odisha’s anti-colonial resistance, launched a prolonged insurgency against the British East India Company from within the forests of Debrigarh.

He opposed the imposition of foreign rule after being denied his rightful claim to the throne of Sambalpur, and with support from local tribal communities and loyal followers, he orchestrated a decades-long revolt, turning Debrigarh’s hills, ridges, and caves into a military stronghold.

The sanctuary’s terrain and natural fortifications helped Veer Surendra Sai avoid detection and mount effective strikes.

It became a theatre of armed rebellion where numerous skirmishes unfolded. Additionally, the British, unfamiliar with the topography and repeatedly outmanoeuvred, found it nearly impossible to subdue Sai’s forces.

As a result, the resistance continued well into the mid-19th century, long after the 1857 revolt had been quelled elsewhere.

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To this day, many locations within Debrigarh, such as Barapathara, are regarded as sacred spaces where the freedom struggle was born from the soil. The sanctuary is not just a geographical site but a living testament to Odisha’s place in India’s larger independence movement.

Sanctuary Beyond Struggle:

Today, the fight has shifted from colonial oppression to ecological preservation. Debrigarh, declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985, is vital for the conservation of eastern India’s dry deciduous forest ecosystem.

Spread across 354 sq. km, it shelters more than 40 species of mammals, including Indian bison, leopards, and four-horned antelopes, and is bordered in part by the Hirakud reservoir, which is a lifeline for wildlife during the scorching summer months.

Seasonal migratory birds, including bar-headed geese and diving ducks, find refuge here in large numbers; over 32,000 were recorded in a single census. The sanctuary’s rare blend of grasslands, bamboo clumps, and aquatic ecosystems sustains a complete food chain, from eagles to antelopes.

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Patrolling units, camera traps, and strict ecotourism guidelines keep this balance intact. Visitors can trek through forested trails or stay at eco-cottages in Barkhandia, where nature unfolds alongside memory.

In all, Debrigarh is not just a protected area but a preserved history, where every path remembers the cries for freedom and every canopy shelters a legacy.