Abstract

In brief it is mainly a discussion on the tribal and non-tribal structure of society of the state of Sambalpur. Within this social hierarchy, the Chauhans stood first, followed by various tribal groups like the Binjhals, Kondh, and Sahara etc. The Chauhans maintained a balance of relationship within their tribal population. They created all possible conveniences to attract people of the higher social groups from outside to settle in their kingdom. To arrive at a definite historical conclusion as to how the social structure was designed by the Chauhans of Sambalpur, the author of the article consulted the only contemporary as well as authentic Sanskrit courtly chronicle of sixteenth century, ‘Kosalananda Kavyam’, the eighteenth century authentic Lariya courtly chronicle ‘Jaya Chandrika’and other vernacular sources of seventeenth century such as ‘Sasisena Kavya’, ‘Sambala Mansa’. Nineteenth century British accounts are used adequately as well. This paper is an attempt at providing certain observations on the social structure of western Orissa under the Chauhans of Sambalpur during sixteenth to eighteenth century.