Mohini Mohan Dhar
Hon'ble Justice Mohini Mohan Dhar Esq. B.Sc. M.A.B.L. was an Indian Judge, Lawyer, Dewan of Mayurbhanj State from June 20, 1905, to April 21, 1912, First Class Judicial Magistrate, Head of Revenue, Zamindari, Agriculture and Registration Departments and Chief Advisor to Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo.[1][2][3]
Mohini Mohan Dhar | |
|---|---|
| File:Sri. Mohini Mohan Dhar.webp | |
| 2nd Dewan of Mayurbhanj State | |
| In office 20 June 1905 – 21 April 1912 | |
| Appointed by | Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo |
| Preceded by | Prasanna Coomar Ghosal |
| Succeeded by | Hari Das Bose |
| Personal details | |
| Cause of death | Oropharyngeal Cancer |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Height | 6′ 0½″ (1.84 m)[4] |
| Spouse(s) | Saudamini Dhar |
| Children | Satyendra Mohan Dhar Dhirendra Mohan Dhar and 3 others |
| Parents | Hara Mohan Dhar (father) Elokeshi Devi (mother) |
| Occupation | Second Dewan of Mayurbhanj (20th June 1905 to 21st April 1912) State Judge of Mayurbhanj |
| Net worth | ₹166 crores |
Mohini Mohan Dhar served as the Adviser, State Judge, Dewan, and Vice-President of the State Council in Mayurbhanj State. As the Dewan, he was the head of the Revenue Department, which included the Settlement, Agriculture, Zamindar, and Registration Departments.[5] He also played a crucial role in legislative and administrative matters as the Vice-President of the State Council. Additionally, Dhar provided counsel on various state matters and acted as a counsellor to Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo.[6] His responsibilities included overseeing the judicial system, which involved supervising Magistrates, Munsifs, Sub-Judges, and Sub-Divisional Officers in their capacity as Deputy Magistrates.[7][8] In Gorumahisani, mines were leased to Tata Steel in which Dhar, as the Dewan, played the leading role.[9][10] He, along with Mr. Kidley, was a private tutor to Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo during his college years at Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. In 1891 Sriram Chandra Bhanjadeo became the Maharaj of Mayurbhanj State. He decided to publish a literary journal called Utkal Prava from Baripada. This was published in 1891 by the Mayurbhanj state press. The first editor was Chaitanya Ray, the Headmaster of Baripada Middle English School. In the second year of publication the Maharaja granted Rs.300/- as reward to writers whose articles were selected by Baboo Mohini Mohan Dhar, Baboo Gobinda Ch. Mohapatra and Baboo Brundaban Panda
Mohini Mohan Dhar served as the Dewan of Mayurbhanj State from 20th June 1905 to 21st April 1912. During this period, he held key administrative, judicial, and economic responsibilities. As Dewan, he facilitated the geological survey by Pramath Nath Bose, which led to the identification of significant iron-ore deposits at Gorumahisani. This discovery paved the way for the Tata lease, marking the foundation of the Tata Iron and Steel Company. Dhar played a central role in the lease process. In the judicial sphere, Dhar's tenure was marked by a landmark case where he awarded capital punishment in a murder trial. This established a precedent and contributed to the state's acquisition of full judicial powers over civil and criminal matters.
Dhar also oversaw significant increases in the state’s revenue, with forest revenue rising from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 1,50,000 annually. His contributions extended to the systematic development of Mayurbhanj’s mineral resources, as well as infrastructure projects related to irrigation and water supply.
The Elokeshi Group of Schools comprises of two schools Dhaka Elokeshi High School and Gidhni Elokeshi High School. It was established by the retired dewan of Mayurbhanj, Sri. Mohini Mohan Dhar since 1924, honoring his mother, Smt. Elokeshi Devi.
Family
He is the son of Hara Mohan Dhar and Elokeshi Devi along with brothers Jyotindra Mohan Dhar, Biraj Mohan Dhar and sisters Sarala Mohan Dhar and Kadambini Mohan Dhar[11]. He was married to Saudamini Ghose Dhar, sister of Jogesh Chandra Ghosh and daughter of Gopal Chandra Ghosh, owner of Gopalpur tea Estate in Jalpaiguri. Mohini Mohan Dhar had four sons including- Jibon Mohan Dhar, Dhirendra Mohan Dhar and Satyendra Mohan Dhar and a daughter. Except Dhirendra and Satyendra Mohan Dhar, all other children died. Later, Satyendra Mohan Dhar was disowned by Mohini Mohan Dhar.
Death
Dhar died of oropharyngeal cancer, in Kolkata at Kabir Road Mansion, which was built by him after his retirement as the Dewan.
References
- ↑ https://magazines.odisha.gov.in/orissareview/dec2005/engpdf/maharaja_sriram_chandra_bhanja_deo_the_evershining__jewel_of_mayurbhanj.pdf
- ↑ https://magazines.odisha.gov.in/orissareview/2015/Apr/engpdf/34-37.pdf
- ↑ https://mayurbhanjtour.com/maharaja-sriram-chandra-bhanj-deo/
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16885061/
- ↑ https://magazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/2018/Dec/engpdf/4-7.pdf
- ↑ https://www.scribd.com/document/43182892/Maharaja-Sriram-Chandra-Bhanja-Deo-Mayurbhanj
- ↑ https://antarangakalinga.org/sriram-chandra-bhanj-deo/
- ↑ https://www.bigumbrella.co.in/pramatha-nath-basu-the-pioneer-of-the-technological-revolution-in-india/
- ↑ https://www.thebizdom.in/steelmint-desi-data-masters/
- ↑ https://thebetterindia.com/141716/indias-iron-man-pramatha-nath-bose-unsung-pioneer/
- ↑ https://alokeshihighschool.edu.bd
