Berhampur: For the first time in its 600-
year history, a 14-year-old girl has become the head of the
Dharakote royal family in Orissa.
Geetanjali Devi took over the reins of leadership
following the death of her father and former MLA Kishor
Chandra Singhdeo, who died of heart attack on May 28.
Geetanjali was coronated amid chanting of slokas in
presence of thousands of people who turned out to watch the
royal ceremony. She arrived for the occasion riding a silver
chariot.
"I will work to fulfil the dreams of my father," she
said.
Geetanjali, the only daughter of Kishor Chandra, is
studying in Class IX at Raipur in Chhattisgarh.
According to state historians, the Dharakaote estate
was carved out from the Surada or Khidisingi, when its ruler
divided his kingdom among his four sons. Dharakote went to his
third son Raja Handu Singh (1477-1540).
Dharakote estate comprised 188 villages spread over
324 sq km area in 1881.
Kishor Chandra`s father Ananta Narayan Singdeo was
elected to the state assembly thrice and once to the Lok Sabha
from Aska.
Kishor`s mother Shanti Devi was elected to the
assembly from Surada segment in 1990. Kishor was elected on a
BJP ticket from the same seat to the assembly in 2005.
PTI
