The last king of Gadajat regime Brajaraj Birabar Kshatriya Champatisingh Mohapatra of Tigiria estate is now living a deplorable life in an old granary house after being de-affiliated from his family members for their family cause.
Mohapatra has three sons and three daughters, who live outside the State and are averse to take care of him. Queen Rasamanjari Devi who lives with her elder son at Puruna-Tigiria also is reluctant to look after the king.
Notably, Mohapatra was the last king of Tigiria estate before its merger with Odisha. Gone are the days when he was enjoying a luxurious life with a retinue of people at his beck and call.
His contribution to his kingdom was erection of the Prasannamani temple in which lord Jagannath in the name of Prasannamani is getting worshipped. The king celebrates a unique Car Festival here of the deities a day after the famous festival is held at Puri. The usual practice is that the kind pays a visit to Puri during the Car festival and after returning to his palace, he celebrates the festival a day later. He has also set up a medical, a college, several high schools and primary schools, apart from other philanthropic organisations. He was made the king of Tigiria estate in 1947 and the next year after several talks with former Chief Minister Harekrushna Mahatab he agreed to leave his kingdom for merger with Odisha without a condition. The King had told that Mahatab was a frequent visitor to his palace and it was he who disclosed him that Gandhi was shot dead. Immediately afterwards, he had rushed to Delhi.
He also got proposals from former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik for participating in direct politics in free India but he denied by saying that a king cannot be a Minister or a legislator. In his early life, he enjoyed a life full of merrymaking but now he is suffering a deplorable life. Some benevolent villagers and their children are extending some service to the king. However, the State Government is yet to come to the rescue of the forlorn and sick king.