Sir Rajen Mookerjee | |
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Born | 23 June 1854 Bhabla, North 24 Parganas |
Died | 15 May 1936 Kolkata |
Occupation | Industrialist |
Sir Rajen Mookerjee KCIE KCVO (or Sir Rajendra Nath Mookerjee) was a pioneering Bengali Indian industrialist.
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 Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur then located at Presidency College, Calcutta. He started as a contractor and later earned fame as an engineer and businessman.
Along with Sir Thomas Acquin Martin, he founded Martin & Co. and contributed to the success of Bengal Iron at Kulti. Later he joined G.H.Fairhurst in founding the iron works of The Indian Iron and Steel Company at Burnpur. Among his achievements were the construction of Palta water works and the Victoria Memorial at Kolkata. He pioneered the laying down and operations of Martin's Light Railways. He visited England for the first time in 1901 and later several times more in connection with his business.
In 1908, Mookerjee was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE). In 1911, he became sheriff of Kolkata. Also in 1911, he was knighted with the KCIE. In 1922, Mookerjee was further honoured with the dignity of a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO). In 1931, the University of Calcutta honoured him with an honorary D.Sc. (Engineering). He presided over the 8th session of Indian Science Congress held at Kolkata in 1921.