Present Head
Raja Shri DHANANJAY NARAYAN BHANJA Deo, 49th and present Raja Saheb of Keonjhar, married on 19th April 2017 to Tikkarani Sahiba Sunandanee Devi, daughter of Raja Veer Vikram Sen and Rani Vijay Jyoti of Keonthal and has issue, one daughter.
- Pat Jema Hemsudha Manjari Bhanja Deo, born on .
History
Founded sometime in the first half of the 12th century, the founder being Jati Singh (Jyoti Bhanj), brother of Adi Singh (Adi Bhanj), founder of the state of Mayurbhanj, a slightly different version goes like this:- "Jai Singh, a son of Man Singh, the Maharaja of Jaipur in Rajputana, came to visit the shrine of Jagannath in Puri. He married Padmavati, the daughter of the Gajapati King of Puri, Pratapendra Deb, and received as her dowry the State of Hariharpur, which then comprised the two States of Moharbhanj and Keunjhar. Two sons were born to him, the elder of whom was named Adi Singh and the younger Joti Singh. In mauza Rarua in kila Hariharpur, there was a petty Zamindar named Mayura Dhwaja in possession of five pirs. He was conquered by Prince Adi Singh, and deprived of his Zamindari. The Gajapati King of Puri, hearing of the success of Prince Adi Singh, conferred on him the title of Bhanj." The Maharaja maintains a military force of 2949 infantry and 32 guns (as of 1892).
Genealogy
- Raja GOVIND BHANJ, Raja of Keonjhar fl.1480
- ......
- Raja JAGANNATH BHANJ, 35th Raja of Keonjhar 1688/1700
- Raja RAGHUNATH BHANJ, 36th Raja of Keonjhar 1700/1719
- Raja GOPINATH BHANJ, 37th Raja of Keonjhar 1719/1736
- Raja NARSINGH NARAYAN BHANJ, 38th Raja of Keonjhar 1736/1757, married and had issue.
- Raja Daneshwar Narayan Bhanj (qv)
- [?Raja Chakradhar Bhanj, adopted by Raja Raghunath Bhanj of Mayurbhanj]
- Raja DANESHWAR NARAYAN BHANJ, 39th Raja of Keonjhar 1757/1758
- Raja JAGATESHWAR NARAYAN BHANJ, 40th Raja of Keonjhar 1758/1762
- Raja PRATAP BALBHADRA BHANJ, 41st Raja of Keonjhar 1764/1792 or 1762/1797, married and had issue.
- Raja Janardhan Bhanj (qv)
- Raja Tribikram Bhanj, adopted by the Raja of Mayurbhanj.
- Raja JANARDAN BHANJ, 42nd Raja of Keonjhar 1794/1825 or 1797/1832, he received the estate of Pal-Lahara as dowry, but the people there objected to his succession and Pal-Lahara subsequently became independent, married 1794, Rani Krishnapriya, died , daughter of Raja Munipal of Pal-Lahara, aand had issue.
- Raja GADADHAR NARAYAN BHANJ Deo, 43rd Raja of Keonjhar 1825/1861 or 1832/1861, married (a), Senior Rani Bishnupriya, married (b), a daughter of Kunwar Ajambar Singh of Seraikella, and had adoptive issue, as well as natural issue. He died spl in March 1861.
- (A) Kumar Brundaban Bhanj Deo, adopted by Rani Bishnupriya, as the intended successor, but he was not recognized as such by the British Authorities.
- Maharaja DHANURJAI NARAYAN BHANJ Deo, 44th Raja of Keonjhar 1861/1905, born , he succeeded to the gadi on 4th September 1861, he was formally confirmed in the title of Raja as a hereditary distinction in 1874 and the title of Maharaja was granted on 1st January 1877 as a personal distinction, married and had issue.
- Raja Gopinath Narayan Bhanj Deo (qv)
- Routrai Saheb Basudev Bhanj Deo, married and had issue.
- Kumar Janardan Bhanj Deo, educated at Rajkumar College, Raipur (Undergraduate); entered politics after the merger of the Princely States into the Republic of India; M.L.A. (Orissa) 1952/1965 (three terms); interests were Reading, Sports, Shooting and Horse riding; married Kumari Sarada Sundari Devi, and had issue, one son and two daughters. He died .
- Prabir Bhanj Deo
- Kumar Radheshyam Bhanj Deo.
- Prasanta Bhanj Deo
- Mukesh Kumar Bhanj Deo
- Pratap Bhanj Deo
- Pradyumna Bhanj Deo
- Prasanta Bhanj Deo
- Kumar Janardan Bhanj Deo, educated at Rajkumar College, Raipur (Undergraduate); entered politics after the merger of the Princely States into the Republic of India; M.L.A. (Orissa) 1952/1965 (three terms); interests were Reading, Sports, Shooting and Horse riding; married Kumari Sarada Sundari Devi, and had issue, one son and two daughters. He died .
- Raja GOPINATH NARAYAN BHANJ Deo, 45th Raja of Keonjhar [27.10.1905] - [12.8.1926], born , he succeeded to the gadi on 27th October 1905, married and had issue. He died .
- Raja Shri Balbhadra Narayan Bhanja Deo (qv)
- Chotrai Saheb Shri Laxmi Narayan Bhanj Deo M.A., born , educated at Rajkumar College, Raipur; M.L.A. (Orissa) 1946/1957 (two terms); Member of the Lok Sabha; Development Commissioner, Keonjhar; Revenue Minister, Keonjhar (xx.8.1945) - (xx.6.1947); Chief Minister, Keonjhar in 1947 (June to December); Nominated Member, Orissa Legislative Assembly 19491952; Member, Orissa State Red Cross Society; Member, Nrutya Natyakala Parishad, Orissa; Member of Senate, Utkal University since its inception till February 1948; an Elected Fellow from Registered Graduates Constituency till 1952; Fellow, Royal Economic Society and Royal Society of Arts, London; Member, South Club, Calcutta; National Sports Club, New Delhi; and Gymkhana Club, New Delhi; interests were Shikar and Photography, Motoring and Travel; married A. Sau. Preemlatika Raje, and had issue, one son and three daughters. He died .
- Raja Shri Anant Narayan Bhanja Deo (qv)
- Rajkumari Laxmi Priya, married (as his first wife), Raja Kishor Chandra Deo Samant of Athmalik.
- Raja Shri BALBHADRA NARAYAN BHANJA Deo, 46th Raja of Keonjhar [12.8.1926] - , born and succeeded 12th August 1926, educated at Rajkumar College, Raipur; married Rani Manoj Manjari Devi, daughter of Raja Sriram Chandra Singh Deo of Kharsawan, and his wife, Rani Giriraj Devi, and had issue, one son and one daughter.
- Raja Shri NRUSINGH NARAYAN BHANJ Deo, 47th Raja of Keonjhar fl.1970, married (div.), a daughter of HH Thakore Saheb Shri Pradyumansinhji Lakhajirajsinhji of Rajkot, and his wife, HH Thakorani Padma Kunverba Sahiba, no issue. He died after 1970.
- Raja Shri ANANT NARAYAN BHANJA Deo, 48th Raja Saheb of Keonjhar, married and has issues. He died on .
- Tikayet Sahab Dhananjay Narayan Bhanja Deo (qv)
- Rajkumar Janmejay Narayan Bhanja Deo
- Raja Shri DHANANJAY NARAYAN BHANJA Deo, 49th Raja of Keonjhar (see above)
