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All those who have been watching the progress of events from one end of India to the other, can bear testimony to the fact, that there are some Zemindaries to-day in this part of the Presidency, which would seem to confirm the idea, that for any Zemindar who is imbued with honest and noble principles the path to success is an easy one; and among such Zemindars a chronicler of the history of the Ganjam District is sure to give a prominent place to the Eajah of Kallikote and Atagada. His Highness the Rajah-Sahib Mehrban-i-dostan Sri Rajah Hari Hara Marda Rajah Deo Bahadur is known to the people of the District and those in the Presidency as a nobleman of cultivated mind, of high principles, of polished manners, happy in his family and attentive to the interests of his ryots.

Kallikote is a Zemindari estate in the Ganjam District. It is situated between 19° 24' and 19° 48' N Lat., and between 85° 59' and 85° 14' E Long. The chief town is Kallikote. The estate has an area of 231 square miles and contains 238 villages. The adjoining taluk of Atagada was added to the estate by purchase in 1854 by the former Zemindar. The area of the Atagada estate is 265 squre miles. It contains 203 villages divided into three muttahs or sub-divisions. Kallikote lies on the northern boundary of the Madras Presidency, adjoining the Banpur country in Orissa. The soil is generally very fertile, and is well supplied with water.