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{{Short description|Social reformer (1798–1870)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Raobahadur Narayan Dinanath Velkar
| image = ---File---N.D.Velkar.png
| alt =
| caption = Portrait of Narayan Dinanath Velkar
| birth_date = {{Birth year|1798}}
| birth_place = [[Bombay]], British India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1870|05|17|1798|df=y}}
| death_place =
| other_names =
| occupation = Social reformer, publisher
| known_for = Founding the [[Asiatic Society of Mumbai Town Hall|Central Library at Town Hall]], Framji Cowasjee Institute, Bombay Association
| notable_works = ''The Present State of Gujarathis and The Marathas Compared''
| education = [[Elphinstone Institution]]
}}

'''[[Rao Bahadur|Raobahadur]] Narayan Dinanath Velkar''' (also known as '''N. D. Velkar''') (1798–1870) was a 19th-century [[social reformer]] and civic leader from [[Bombay]]. He is known for his contributions to the city's intellectual and civic life and he was instrumental in establishing key institutions such as the [[Asiatic Society of Mumbai Town Hall|Central Library at Town Hall]] and the Framji Cowasjee Institute. As one of the owners of the ''[[Bombay Times]]'', which later became ''[[The Times of India]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Raobahadur Narayan Dinannath Velkar |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/raobahadur-narayan-dinannath-velkar/articleshow/13166022.cms |publisher=[[The Times of India]] |date=16 May 2012}}</ref> He was the first Indian [[Municipal commissioner (India)|Municipal Commissioner]] for [[Bombay]]'s welfare in 1840.<ref name="Vijayakar">{{cite news |last1=Vijayakar |first1=Pradeep |title=Mumbai's first Native Commissioner remembered |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbais-first-native-commissioner-remembered/articleshow/5941539.cms |publisher=[[The Times of India]] |date=17 May 2010}}</ref>
== Early life ==
He belonged to the first graduating class of the [[Elphinstone Institution]], a prestigious educational institution established by the British. His contemporaries included notable figures such as [[Bhau Daji Lad]], [[Dadabhai Naoroji|Dadabhoy Naoroji]], Nowroj Fardoonji, Nana Moroji Trilokekar, Dadoba Pandurang Turkhud and Ramchandra Balkrishna Jayakar.<ref name="Vijayakar"/> He hailed from the [[Pathare Prabhu]] community.<ref name="uppercrust">{{cite news |last1=Contractor |first1=Farzana |title=Lord Of the Pathare Kitchen |url=https://uppercrustindia.com/2019/posts/577/lord-of-the-pathare-kitchen |publisher=Uppercrust India |date=2019}}</ref>
== Work ==
In 1840, Velkar became the chief translator and interpreter at the [[Bombay High Court]]. He participated in the city's social and intellectual life, founding several influential societies and institutions. Velkar was instrumental in founding the Central Library at Town Hall, which later became the [[Asiatic Library]], and the Framji Cowasjee Institute at [[Dhobitalao]]. He also established the Dnyanprasarak Mandali and led its [[Marathi language|Marathi]] wing. He founded the Students Literary Society and the Scientific Society, which operated the Kamalabai School in [[Girgaon]].<ref name="Vijayakar"/>

Velkar was one of the four original proprietors of the ''[[Bombay Times]]'', which eventually evolved into ''[[The Times of India]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Times of India |url=https://www.firstversions.com/2016/11/the-times-of-india.html |publisher=First Versions |date=November 2011}}</ref> His involvement in journalism impacted public opinion and the dissemination of information in Bombay.<ref>{{cite news |title=Newspapers that announced India’s freedom: The Times of India |url=https://www.medianews4u.com/newspapers-that-announced-indias-freedom-the-times-of-india/ |publisher=Medianews4u |date=18 August 2022}}</ref>

Before the [[Bombay Municipal Corporation]] was established, the city was managed by the Bombay Conservancy, with two British Commissioners and one Native Commissioner. Narayan Dinanath Velkar was the first Native (Indian) Commissioner, who used to be called the Black Commissioner.<ref name="Vijayakar"/> He was an advocate for the city's civic infrastructure and environmental preservation. He had opposed a plan to remove palm trees at [[Back Bay (Mumbai)|Backbay]], predicting the adverse effects of urbanization.<ref name="Vijayakar"/>

He was the founding member of the Bombay Association, an organization that later influenced the creation of the [[Indian National Congress]] in 1887. He also authored a volume titled ''The Present State of Gujarathis and The Marathas Compared''.<ref name="Vijayakar"/> He died on 17 May 1870.<ref name="uppercrust"/><ref>Priolkar, A. K. (1974). Hindusthānace dona daravāje. India: Dhi. Government Hindu Association.</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Velkar, Narayan Dinanath}}
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Activists from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Indian journalists]]
[[Category:Indian publishers (people)]]
[[Category:Indian newspaper founders]]
[[Category:Indian activists]]
[[Category:Indian educators]]
[[Category:History of Mumbai]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian historians]]
[[Category:Indian writers]]
[[Category:Indian philanthropists]]
[[Category:Founders of educational institutions]]
[[Category:1798 births]]
[[Category:1870 deaths]]

Narayan Dinanath Velkar - Revision history

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