Dr Kashinath
Singh
( This article is based on the book written by
Eminent historian Shankar Prasad Padhi ‘Danabira Dr Kasinath Singh’)
The political agent
Captain Hignis was unable to suppress
the revolution against the East India Company , raised by Vir Surendra Sai . On request , Captain Wikins
came with the soldiers from Hazaribag. Along
with the soldiers came Dr Kashinath Singh to Sambalpur . Dr Kasinath Singh
treated the members of royal family , when Narayan Singh was the king of Sambalpur
. He treated royal princes Ashakumari Devi, when she became serious . The King was
pleased with Dr Kasinath Singh, and gifted him with a lot of land.
In 1853, Col. Emerson joined as District Magistrate. During his
incumbency, there occurred rampant cholera in Sambalpur town and its adjacent places . The clerks and other office staff
absented themselves, due to cholera . The District Magistrate himself was bed
ridden due to cholera, and could not attend the office. As such, all offices
were closed in 1853.
The District Magistrate Col. Emerson proposed a dispensary and a guest
house (dharmasala) at Sambalpur . Prior to it, the public were used to the aurvedic medicine . It was approved by higher
authorities with the condition that when public of Sambalpur contribute Rs
2000, then the administration would contribute Rs 100. On 1854 August 7th,
the then Commissioner W.J.Elen wrote to
the then Dewan of Sambalpur Rai Rup Singh
Babu to raise funds for the dispensary and dharmashala. Due to sincere efforts
of Rup Singh Babu , first dispensary and one dharmasala were established at Sambalpur. In reply to
proposal sent by vide letter dated January 30th 1855, the
Commissioner sanctioned for the same ,
vide letter dated February 21st 1855 ,along with the details of
payment to the native doctor and other staff.
Dr Kashinath Singh served the
public of Sambalpur , when cholera broke out in Sambalpur, in 1853. He got
commendation for his service from the Commissioner ,vide letter dated August 14th
1854 . Dr Kashinath Singh was
appointed as the doctor of the first dispensary of Sambalpur .
Dr Kasinath Singh hailed from the village Baisotyara in Kanpur district
, Uttarpradesh. Medical profession dragged him to Sambalpur . He was the son of
Gurudayal Singh. He earned a lot of properties at Sambalpur . He remained a bachelor. He had
none to succeed him. Before his expiry. Through a deed, he dedicated all his properties to the public of Sambalpur. The deed was signed on 23rd December
1874 in presence of witnesses Padmalochan Sahani, Maharagu Mahapatra, Govinda Mishra, Chandra Mishra , and
Jagannath Panda.
Kashinath Trust presently
functions at Sambalpur, with Sri Madhab Chandra Panda,Advocate as the President and Sri Panigrahi,
Advocate as Secretary of the trust. Dr Kasinath Singh contributed about
250 Acres of land mostly located at villages Jander , Chichinda , near Bargarh , and some in another village near Sason . Kasinath High School is being managed by the
Kasinath Trust . Timni Gudi (temple) and some market complex (constructed
recently near Sambalpur Municipality Office) are also being managed by the
Trust . One Kalyan Mandap also has been
constructed by Government of Odisha over
the land of Kasinath Trust a decade back, near Jail Chowk and lot of vacant land
still available nearby . It is proposed
to install a statue of Kasinath Singh in a suitable place to show respect to a
great soul like him.
