Rajendra Nath Mookerjee

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Sir Rajen Mookerjee
British India[1]
Died15 May 1936
OccupationIndustrialist

Sir Rajendra Nath Mookerjee Viswakarma of Bengal

industrialist.[2][3]

Early life

Rajendra Nath Mookerjee was raised by his mother after his father died when he was six. He studied engineering for three years at present day

Presidency College, Calcutta. He started as a contractor and later earned fame as an engineer and businessman.[2]

Memorial Plaque of Rajendra Nath Mukherjee in Keoratala

Achievements

Along with Sir

Victoria Memorial and Howrah Bridge(Old) at Kolkata, Later His Company developed the Bridge in 1945 to a Cantilever Bridge which is now called as Rabindra Setu. He pioneered the laying down and operations of Martin's Light Railways.[2]
He visited England for the first time in 1901 and later several times more in connection with his business.

Beside Business he Also Founded Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) with inspiration of Prasanta Chandra Mohalanobis

Honours and awards

In 1908, Mookerjee was appointed a Companion of the

sheriff of Kolkata. Also in 1911, he was knighted with the KCIE.[6] In 1922, Mookerjee was further honoured with the dignity of a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO).[7] In 1931, the University of Calcutta honoured him with an honorary D.Sc. (Engineering).[2] He presided over the 8th session of Indian Science Congress held at Kolkata in 1921.[8]

Personal life

Mookerjee was married when he was still in his early teens to eleven-year-old Jadumati Devi, a girl of his own caste and similar background, in a match arranged by their families. They had three sons:

  1. Jitendra Nath Mookerjee was his eldest son
  2. Sir Biren Mookerjee, the second son
  3. Mahendra Nath Mookerjee was his youngest son

His grandsons, Ramen Mookerjee and Robin Mookerjee, took over the reins of

Martin Burn & Co.
after the death of his sons.

Monuments

A main thoroughfare in Kolkata is named after him as Rajendra Nath Mukherjee Road abbreviated as R. N. Mukherjee Road, earlier known as Mission Row.[9] A statue of Sir R.N. Mukherjee was situated in Victoria Memorial premises.

References

  1. ^ Samsad Bangali Charitabhidhan (Biographical dictionary) (in Bengali), Subodh Chandra Sengupta and Anjali Bose, Sahitya Samsad, Calcutta, 1976, p. 460.
  2. ^
  3. ^ Saha, Arnab (21 February 2021). "আজও স্মৃতিপথে এই ট্রেনের আসা-যাওয়া" [The coming and going of this train is still remembered today]. anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Anandabazar Patrika. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  4. ^ Srinivasan, N.R., History of The Indian Iron and Steel Company, 1983, p44.
  5. ^ London Gazette
  6. ^ London Gazette
  7. ^ London Gazette
  8. ^ "The Indian Science Congress Association". Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
  9. ^ "Calcutta road name change". Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2013.

External links