Synopsis The book analyses the socio-economic conditions of colonial Orissa from 1912 to 1947 against the backdrop of British Economic Policy and the measures introduced by the alien rulers in the field of land revenue administration, agriculture, trade and industry. Education and social reform. The changes introduced deeply affected the socio-economic life of the people of Orissa within a century of British rule Orissa became one of the poorest and neglected portions of British India. The present study makes an enquiry into the causes of Orissa's poverty under development, social and educational backwardness. Such regional survey is essential to understand the nature of British colonialism and imperialism in the broader Indian perspective. This period also witnessed two distinct movements, one for the amalgamation of the Oriya speaking areas scattered over the neighboring provinces of Madras and CP into one single administrative unit, and another for the attainment of national independence. An effort has been made in the book to analyze the progress of these movements during a formative phase of Orissan history.