Virendra Mohan Dar

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Maharaja
Virendra Mohan Dar
Bahadur[1]
Portrait by Thomas Hickey, c. 1816
1st Maharaja of Dar Raj
In office
1771–1821
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byRaja Mukund Mohan Dar
Personal details
Born(1758-09-14)September 14, 1758
Akhnoor, Jammu
DiedFebruary 3, 1821(1821-02-03) (aged 62)
Dhamrai Upazila, Dhaka
Parent(s)
  • Ramhari Dar (father)

Maharaja Virendra Vasudev Mohan Dar (14 September 1758 – 3 February 1821), also known as Raja Virendra Mohan Dar, was a Kashmiri Pandit jagirdar and zamindar associated with the Dar Raj. His family's estates were initially centred around Akhnoor, Jammu, before expanding into Bengal.[2][3][4]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Dar was born in Akhnoor on 14 September 1758. He studied Persian, Sanskrit, English and mathematics under Kashmiri scholars, including Pt. Madhusudan Kaul.[2][5]

Reign[edit | edit source]

Dar reportedly received the title of Maharaja and was crowned in 1771 during the reign of Ahmad Shah Durrani. Following the decline of the Durrani Empire, his family lost its position in the Jammu region and subsequently established its principal estates in Bengal.[6][7][8]

His administration was associated with the development of saffron cultivation and trade in the Akhnoor region. Historical accounts also attribute regulations against adulteration in the saffron trade to his administration.[9]

Dar is also credited with establishing the Virendra Royal Succession Charter, reportedly promulgated around 1773 in Sanskrit and Persian. Its 18 articles dealt with hereditary succession, royal titles and the administration of the dynasty.[10][11]

Estates in Bengal[edit | edit source]

After relocating to Bengal, Dar established a residence at Char Talibari in the Rajrajeshwar area. Following its destruction by erosion from the Padma River, he constructed another palace at Jalsin in Dhamrai Upazila, known as Nannar Rajbari.[7][12][13]

In 1813, he reportedly received the title of Bahadur from Nawab Zain-ud-Din Ali Khan of Murshidabad, with the sanction of British Governor-General Lord Minto I.[14]

The family established several residences in Dhamrai, including Rowail Zamindar Palace and Jalsin Palace.

  • Rowail Zamindar Palace
    Rowail Zamindar Palace
  • Jalsin Palace
    Jalsin Palace
  • Side view of Jalsin Palace
    Side view of Jalsin Palace
  • Ruins of Dhar Zamindar Bari
    Ruins of Dhar Zamindar Bari

Death and legacy[edit | edit source]

Dar died on 3 February 1821 in Dhamrai Upazila, reportedly of cancer.[15][16] He was succeeded by his son, Raja Mukund Mohan Dar.[17]

In 1816, his son commissioned a portrait of him by Thomas Hickey.[18] An 1906 report in Utkala Dipika mentioned a commemorative gold coin issued in his honour at the request of Dewan Mohini Mohan Dhar.[19][20][21]

References[edit | edit source]

Citations[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Anirban Chattopadhyay, "Virendramohan of Dar Raj: Locating Subaltern Voices in the Bengali Novel", in Literary Cartographies of Bengal, Volume 2, Kolkata: Academic Publishers, 2014, pp. 114–132.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mukherjee, Ramesh Chandra (1987-07-21). Mahārāja Vīrendra Mohan Dār of Akhnūr. Calcutta: Nīldhôni Prokāśônā.
  3. ↑ Nalinikanta Bhattacharya (1938-04-18). Dar Raj (Dhar Raj) of Akhnur and Dhaka.
  4. ↑ Basu 1919, pp. 10–14.
  5. ↑ BL, Jitendranath Ghose (1931-07-21). The Raja of Dar- Life and Legacy of Virendra Vasudev of Dar- ویرِندرا واسودِو موہان دار. Bridgebit Printing Works, Bowbajaar, Calcutta 1931. pp. 21–23.
  6. ↑ Khan, Mohammad Ishaq (2004). History of Medieval Kashmir. Srinagar: Gulshan Books. pp. 312–314.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mukherjee, Ramesh (1979-12-06). وِرینٛدر موہن دار (in العربية). Banwara Publishing.
  8. ↑ BL, Jitendranath Ghose (1931-07-21). The Raja of Dar- Life and Legacy of Virendra Vasudev of Dar- ویرِندرا واسودِو موہان دار. Bridgebit Printing Works, Bowbajaar, Calcutta 1931. pp. 54, 58–59.
  9. ↑ Sen 1941, p. 88.
  10. ↑ Sen 1941, pp. 96–106.
  11. ↑ The Dhar Family- Succession (Private collection of the Dhar Raj family). Metcuff Printing Works, 34 Mechuabazar Street, Calcutta. 1933-10-28.
  12. ↑ Badal, M. N. C. (1949-06-11). ZAMĪNDĀRS OF EARLY BAṄGĀL AND EAST PĀKISTĀN AND DECLINE OF ZAMĪNDĀR SYSTEM. Baṅgāl Granthālaya Prakāśan.
  13. ↑ Basu 1919, pp. 112–125.
  14. ↑ Sen 1941, p. 204.
  15. ↑ Historical Abstracts: Modern history abstracts, 1775–1914. Part A. American Bibliographical Center, CLIO. 1988. pp. 69–70, 98.
  16. ↑ Commissioner, India Census (1933). Census of India, 1931. Manager of Publications. pp. 186, 188.
  17. ↑ "Virendra Mohan Dar: A Biography by Mohini Mohan Dhar | Open Library". Open Library. Retrieved 2026-10-17.
  18. ↑ Pal 1908, p. 283.
  19. ↑ টুডে ডেস্ক, বাংলাদেশ বার্তা. "শতবর্ষের আলো ছড়াচ্ছে ধামরাইয়ের জলসীন এলোকেশী উচ্চ বিদ্যালয়". bangladeshbartatoday.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 2026-09-17.
  20. ↑ Majumdar, S. "শতবর্ষ পেরিয়েও বেসরকারি! ঐতিহ্যের এলোকেশী উচ্চ বিদ্যালয়কে সরকারি করার দাবি". doiniksokolerbarta (in Bengali). Retrieved 2026-09-17.
  21. ↑ "The Mashra correspondent of the same paper states...". Utkala Dipika. 8 August 1906. p. 98.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

  • Basu, Gopi Nath (1919-04-04). Dice Esq., M.R. (ed.). LETTERS AND PAMPHLETS OF RAJA VIRENDRAMOHAN. Thacker, Spink, & Co.
  • Sen, P. K.; Fitzroy, Edward; Harrington, Reginald (1941). Virendra Mohan Dar: A Biography. Calcutta: Metcuff Printing Works.
  • Pal, Gurnindra (1908). রাজা বীরেন্দ্র মোহন দার এর জীবনচরিত্র [Raja Virendra Mohan Dar's Biography] (in Bengali). Calcutta: Kuntaline Press.
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