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{{Short description|Indian lawyer, social worker and film producer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
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| caption                =  
| caption                =  
| birth_date              = 1892
| birth_date              = 1892
| birth_place            = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], India
| birth_place            = [[Kolkata]], [[Bengal Presidency]], British India
| death_date              = 21 July 1964
| death_date              = 21 July 1964
| occupation              = Lawyer<br>Social worker<br>Film producer
| occupation              = Lawyer<br>Social worker<br>Film producer
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| awards                  = [[Padma Bhushan]]<br>J. M. Tagore Medal for Law (by the University of Calcutta)<br>[[Order of Merit (Chile)]]<br>[[National Order of Merit (France)]]
| awards                  = [[Padma Bhushan]]<br>J. M. Tagore Medal for Law (by the University of Calcutta)<br>[[Order of Merit (Chile)]]<br>[[National Order of Merit (France)]]
}}
}}
'''Nitish Chandra Laharry''' (1892–1964) was an Indian lawyer, social worker and film producer from [[Kolkata]]. He was the first person of [[Asian people|Asian]] origin to be elected as the president of [[Rotary International]] and was the producer of the first motion picture of [[Bengal]], ''[[Bilat Ferat]]''.<ref name="The First RI President from India ">{{cite web | url=http://rotary3211.org/admin_rotary/menu_order/Dynamic_Contents_category/upload/Nitish%20Chandra_186.pdf | title=The First RI President from India | publisher=Rotary 3211 | date=2016 | access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> It was during his presidency that Rotary International started its Youth wing, ''Interact Club''.<ref name="Founder of Interact">{{cite web | url=http://interactkhulna.com/Founder_of_Interact.htm | title=Founder of Interact | publisher=Interact Club of Khulna | date=2016 | access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of the [[Padma Bhushan]], in 1963, for his contributions to society.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2016 |access-date=3 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6U68ulwpb?url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2014 }}</ref>
'''Nitish Chandra Laharry''' (1892–1964) was an Indian lawyer, social worker and film producer from [[Kolkata]]. He was the first person of [[Asian people|Asian]] origin to be elected as the president of [[Rotary International]] and was the producer of the first motion picture of [[Bengal]], ''[[Bilat Ferat]]''.<ref name="The First RI President from India ">{{cite web | url=http://rotary3211.org/admin_rotary/menu_order/Dynamic_Contents_category/upload/Nitish%20Chandra_186.pdf | title=The First RI President from India | publisher=Rotary 3211 | date=2016 | access-date=9 March 2016 | archive-date=10 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310134215/http://rotary3211.org/admin_rotary/menu_order/Dynamic_Contents_category/upload/Nitish%20Chandra_186.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> It was during his presidency that Rotary International started its Youth wing, ''Interact Club''.<ref name="Founder of Interact">{{cite web | url=http://interactkhulna.com/Founder_of_Interact.htm | title=Founder of Interact | publisher=Interact Club of Khulna | date=2016 | access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of the [[Padma Bhushan]], in 1963, for his contributions to society.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2016 |access-date=3 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}</ref>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Nithish Chandra Laharry was born in 1892 in [[Kolkata]], in the undivided [[Bengal]] of [[British India]] to a school teacher as one of his three sons.<ref name="The Rotarian">{{cite journal | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XDcEAAAAMBAJ&q=Nitish+Chandra+Laharry&pg=PA35 | title=The Rotarian | journal=The Rotarian | date=July 1962 | volume=101 | issue=1 | pages=64 | issn=0035-838X}}</ref> His early schooling was in Kolkata, after which he studied at the [[St. Xavier's College, Kolkata|St. Xavier's College]] and at the [[Scottish Church College]], from where he obtained his graduate and master's degrees in English literature. Later he also secured a degree in law from the [[University of Calcutta]], winning the J. M. Tagore Medal for Law for academic excellence. During his college days, he was involved in literary activities and was the editor of a literary magazine which had [[Rabindranath Tagore]], the [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Nobel Prize]] winner, as one of its contributors.<ref name="The Rotarian" /> He started his career as a lawyer at the [[Calcutta High Court]] and worked for four years, only to abandon the career to turn to film industry.<ref name="Paul Harris and His Successors: Profiles in Leadership">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0a5NcODk8IgC&q=Nitish+Chandra+Laharry&pg=PA213 | title=Paul Harris and His Successors: Profiles in Leadership | publisher=Rotary International | year=1997 | pages=359 | isbn=9780915062416}}</ref> He founded a studio and produced a motion picture about the Bengali diaspora in England, the first motion picture produced in Bengal, ''[[Bilat Ferat]]''. An economic depression prompted him to switch to film distribution, and it was during this time he married Bindubala.<ref name="Paul Harris and His Successors: Profiles in Leadership" />
Nithish Chandra Laharry was born in 1892 in [[Kolkata]], in the undivided [[Bengal]] of [[British India]] to a school teacher as one of his three sons.<ref name="The Rotarian">{{cite journal | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XDcEAAAAMBAJ&q=Nitish+Chandra+Laharry&pg=PA35 | title=The Rotarian | journal=The Rotarian | date=July 1962 | volume=101 | issue=1 | pages=64 | issn=0035-838X}}</ref> His early schooling was in Kolkata, after which he studied at the [[St. Xavier's College, Kolkata|St. Xavier's College]] and at the [[Scottish Church College]], from where he obtained his graduate and master's degrees in English literature. Later he also secured a degree in law from the [[University of Calcutta]], winning the J. M. Tagore Medal for Law for academic excellence. During his college days, he was involved in literary activities and was the editor of a literary magazine which had [[Rabindranath Tagore]], the [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Nobel Prize]] winner, as one of its contributors.<ref name="The Rotarian" /> He started his career as a lawyer at the [[Calcutta High Court]] and worked for four years, only to abandon the career to turn to film industry.<ref name="Paul Harris and His Successors: Profiles in Leadership">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0a5NcODk8IgC&q=Nitish+Chandra+Laharry&pg=PA213 | title=Paul Harris and His Successors: Profiles in Leadership | publisher=Rotary International | year=1997 | pages=359 | isbn=9780915062416}}</ref> He founded a studio and produced a motion picture about the Bengali diaspora in England, the first motion picture produced in Bengal, ''[[Bilat Ferat]]''. An economic depression prompted him to switch to film distribution, and it was during this time he married Bindubala.<ref name="Paul Harris and His Successors: Profiles in Leadership" />


Laharry joined the Kolkata chapter of Rotary International in 1926 and became its secretary the same year.<ref name="Past Rotary International President Nitish Chandra Laharry">{{cite web | url=https://www.rghfhome.org/first100/presidents/1962laharry/bio.htm#.VuBc35x97IU | title=Past Rotary International President Nitish Chandra Laharry | publisher=Rotary Global History Fellowship | date=2016 | access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> His business travels took him to Mumbai in 1935, but he continued his association with Rotary International by becoming a member of the Mumbai chapter, and, on his return to Kolkata in 1939, he rejoined the Kolkata branch and became its president in 1944.<ref name="Kindle the Spark Within">{{cite web | url=http://www.rotacal.org/ourclub/nitishchandralahiri.php | title=Kindle the Spark Within | publisher=Rotary Kolkata | date=2016 | access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> The [[Bengal famine of 1943]] had already set in by that time and the organization, under his leadership, set up food canteens and free medical camps for the people affected by the famine. He also served as the vice chairman of the [[Armed Forces Entertainment]] during [[World War II]] and, after the war, managed disbursement centres for the Government of India.<ref name="Paul Harris and His Successors: Profiles in Leadership" /> In 1953, he was elected as the second vice president of Rotary International, served as the Rotary Information Counselor during 1955–56, and chaired the ''Asia Regional Conference'', in 1958, at Delhi, which had over 2900 participants from 21 countries, reportedly the largest till then.<ref name="Paul Harris and His Successors: Profiles in Leadership" /> He was elected as the global president of the organization in 1962, thus becoming the first [[Asian people|Asian]] to hold the position.<ref name="Past Rotary International President Nitish Chandra Laharry" /> His contributions were also reported behind the founding of ''Interact Club'', the youth wing of the organization.<ref name="Founder of Interact" />
Laharry joined the Calcutta chapter of Rotary International in 1926 and became its secretary the same year.<ref name="Past Rotary International President Nitish Chandra Laharry">{{cite web | url=https://www.rghfhome.org/first100/presidents/1962laharry/bio.htm#.VuBc35x97IU | title=Past Rotary International President Nitish Chandra Laharry | publisher=Rotary Global History Fellowship | date=2016 | access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> His business travels took him to Mumbai in 1935, but he continued his association with Rotary International by becoming a member of the Bombay chapter, and, on his return to Kolkata (then Calcutta) in 1939, he rejoined RC Calcutta  and became its president in 1944.<ref name="Kindle the Spark Within">{{cite web | url=http://www.rotacal.org/ourclub/nitishchandralahiri.php | title=Kindle the Spark Within | publisher=Rotary Kolkata | date=2016 | access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> The [[Bengal famine of 1943]] had already set in by that time and the organization, under his leadership, set up food canteens and free medical camps for the people affected by the famine. He also served as the vice chairman of the [[Armed Forces Entertainment]] during [[World War II]] and, after the war, managed disbursement centres for the Government of India.<ref name="Paul Harris and His Successors: Profiles in Leadership" /> In 1953, he was elected as the second vice president of Rotary International, served as the Rotary Information Counselor during 1955–56, and chaired the ''Asia Regional Conference'', in 1958, at Delhi, which had over 2900 participants from 21 countries, reportedly the largest till then.<ref name="Paul Harris and His Successors: Profiles in Leadership" /> He was elected as the global president of the organization in 1962, thus becoming the first [[Asian people|Asian]] to hold the position.<ref name="Past Rotary International President Nitish Chandra Laharry" /> His contributions were also reported behind the founding of ''Interact Club'', the youth wing of the organization.<ref name="Founder of Interact" />


The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of the [[Padma Bhushan]] in 1963.<ref name="Padma Awards" /> He was also a recipient of the [[National Order of Merit (France)]] and [[Order of Merit (Chile)]] and honorary doctorates from California College of Medicine and Baylor University, Texas.<ref name="Kindle the Spark Within" /> He died on 21 July 1964, survived by his two daughters; his wife had preceded him in death.<ref name="Founder of Interact" /> Rotary Club of Kolkata honoured him by naming their children's library as ''Nitish Chandra Laharry Children's Library''.<ref name="The Rotarian Feb 1990">{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hTIEAAAAMBAJ&q=Nitish+Chandra+Laharry&pg=PA43 | title=The Rotarian Feb 1990 | publisher=Rotary International | date=1990 | access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref>
The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of the [[Padma Bhushan]] in 1963.<ref name="Padma Awards" /> He was also a recipient of the [[National Order of Merit (France)]] and [[Order of Merit (Chile)]] and honorary doctorates from California College of Medicine and Baylor University, Texas.<ref name="Kindle the Spark Within" /> He died on 21 July 1964, survived by his two daughters; his wife had preceded him in death.<ref name="Founder of Interact" /> Rotary Club of Calcutta honoured him by naming their children's library as ''Nitish Chandra Laharry Children's Library''.<ref name="The Rotarian Feb 1990">{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hTIEAAAAMBAJ&q=Nitish+Chandra+Laharry&pg=PA43 | title=The Rotarian Feb 1990 | publisher=Rotary International | date=1990 | access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref>


== Filmography ==
== Filmography ==
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[[Category:1892 births]]
[[Category:1892 births]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
[[Category:Bengali people]]
[[Category:Bengali Hindus]]
[[Category:20th-century Bengali people]]
[[Category:Indian social workers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:Film producers from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Film producers from Kolkata]]
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[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:Social workers from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Social workers from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Social workers]]
[[Category:Scholars from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Scholars from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Bengali lawyers]]
[[Category:Educators from West Bengal]]

Latest revision as of 06:02, 26 January 2026


Nitish Chandra Laharry
Born1892
Kolkata, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died21 July 1964
OccupationLawyer
Social worker
Film producer
Known forRotary International
Spouse(s)Bindubala
ChildrenTwo daughters
AwardsPadma Bhushan
J. M. Tagore Medal for Law (by the University of Calcutta)
Order of Merit (Chile)
National Order of Merit (France)

Nitish Chandra Laharry (1892–1964) was an Indian lawyer, social worker and film producer from Kolkata. He was the first person of Asian origin to be elected as the president of Rotary International and was the producer of the first motion picture of Bengal, Bilat Ferat.[1] It was during his presidency that Rotary International started its Youth wing, Interact Club.[2] The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan, in 1963, for his contributions to society.[3]

Biography[edit | edit source]

Nithish Chandra Laharry was born in 1892 in Kolkata, in the undivided Bengal of British India to a school teacher as one of his three sons.[4] His early schooling was in Kolkata, after which he studied at the St. Xavier's College and at the Scottish Church College, from where he obtained his graduate and master's degrees in English literature. Later he also secured a degree in law from the University of Calcutta, winning the J. M. Tagore Medal for Law for academic excellence. During his college days, he was involved in literary activities and was the editor of a literary magazine which had Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Prize winner, as one of its contributors.[4] He started his career as a lawyer at the Calcutta High Court and worked for four years, only to abandon the career to turn to film industry.[5] He founded a studio and produced a motion picture about the Bengali diaspora in England, the first motion picture produced in Bengal, Bilat Ferat. An economic depression prompted him to switch to film distribution, and it was during this time he married Bindubala.[5]

Laharry joined the Calcutta chapter of Rotary International in 1926 and became its secretary the same year.[6] His business travels took him to Mumbai in 1935, but he continued his association with Rotary International by becoming a member of the Bombay chapter, and, on his return to Kolkata (then Calcutta) in 1939, he rejoined RC Calcutta and became its president in 1944.[7] The Bengal famine of 1943 had already set in by that time and the organization, under his leadership, set up food canteens and free medical camps for the people affected by the famine. He also served as the vice chairman of the Armed Forces Entertainment during World War II and, after the war, managed disbursement centres for the Government of India.[5] In 1953, he was elected as the second vice president of Rotary International, served as the Rotary Information Counselor during 1955–56, and chaired the Asia Regional Conference, in 1958, at Delhi, which had over 2900 participants from 21 countries, reportedly the largest till then.[5] He was elected as the global president of the organization in 1962, thus becoming the first Asian to hold the position.[6] His contributions were also reported behind the founding of Interact Club, the youth wing of the organization.[2]

The Government of India awarded him the third highest civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan in 1963.[3] He was also a recipient of the National Order of Merit (France) and Order of Merit (Chile) and honorary doctorates from California College of Medicine and Baylor University, Texas.[7] He died on 21 July 1964, survived by his two daughters; his wife had preceded him in death.[2] Rotary Club of Calcutta honoured him by naming their children's library as Nitish Chandra Laharry Children's Library.[8]

Filmography[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "The First RI President from India" (PDF). Rotary 3211. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Founder of Interact". Interact Club of Khulna. 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "The Rotarian". The Rotarian. 101 (1): 64. July 1962. ISSN 0035-838X.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Paul Harris and His Successors: Profiles in Leadership. Rotary International. 1997. p. 359. ISBN 9780915062416.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Past Rotary International President Nitish Chandra Laharry". Rotary Global History Fellowship. 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Kindle the Spark Within". Rotary Kolkata. 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  8. "The Rotarian Feb 1990". Rotary International. 1990. Retrieved 9 March 2016.