Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/309

 MITRA, DINA BANDHU, RAI BAHADUR (1829–1873)

Born in 1829 : educated at the Hare School and the Hindu College : while a student began to write in Bengali and contribute to the Sambad Pravakar, edited by Iswar Chanda Gupta : in 1855 went to Patna as Postmaster : within two years became Inspector of Post Offices in Orissa, and subsequently at Nadia and Dacca : in 1858, while at Dacca, published the celebrated Bengali novel, Nil Darpan, or the Mirror of Indigo, which was translated into English in 1860, under the superintendence of the Rev. James Long (q.v.), of the Church Missionary Society : in 1870 became Supernumerary Inspecting Postmaster of Calcutta : in 1871 accompanied the Lushai expedition as Superintendent of Postal Intelligence : in 1872 made a Rai Bahadur : died Nov. 1, 1873 : wrote many Bengali books in prose and verse, and is generally regarded as the greatest humorist of the Bengali language.

MITRA, DWARKANATH (1833–1874)

Son of a Law Agent practising in the Hughli Courts : educated in the Hughli and Presidency Colleges, where he had a distinguished career : joined the Calcutta bar as a Pleader in 1856, and in 1862, when the High Court was established, was the leader, of the Native bar : distinguished himself in arguing the case of the raiyats in the famous Rent case of 1865 before a full bench of 15 judges : became Government Pleader, and was promoted to the High Court Bench in 1867. He studied Comte in the original French, and corresponded with some eminent Positivists : was a Fellow of the Calcutta University : was a "most learned, up-right, able and independent judge," remarkable for his intellectual qualities, his keen discrimination, his retentive memory and his wonderful command of the English language : was a great reader : died Feb. 25, 1874.

MITRA, KISORI CHAND (1822–1873)

Brother of Piari Chand Mitra (q.v.) : born May, 1822 : educated at the Hare School and Hindu College : appointed, in 1844, Assistant Secretary to the Asiatic Society : his writings attracted such favourable notice that he was appointed a Deputy Magistrate in 1846 : for some years Junior Magistrate in Calcutta, but lost his appointment : then devoted himself to literature and politics; conducted a newspaper until his health failed, and wrote constantly in the Calcutta Review, and a life of Dwarka Nath Tagore : he set on foot a Social Reform Association : died Aug. 6, 1873.

MITRA, PIARI CHAND (1814–1883)

One of the zealous social reformers inspired by Derozio at the old Hindu College : adopted a commercial career, but literature was the real work of his life : contributed largely to the local Journals, and to spirituaHstic Journals out of India : helped to found the British Indian Association, and worked hard for a number of societies. In 1868, as Member of the Bengal Legislative Council, he helped to pass the Act for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and was Secretary to the Society formed for that purpose : was a J.P. : Fellow of the Calcutta University : Hony. Magte. : Member of the Calcutta Corporation. In later life he became a spiritualist and Theosophist, aiding in the foundation of the Theosophic Society of Calcutta. His life was one of literary activity and public usefulness : he wrote a life of David Hare (q.v.) : died Nov. 1883.

MITRA, RAJA RAJENDRA LAL (1824–1891)

Scholar and antiquarian : belonged to a respectable Sudra family : born Feb. 15, 1824: sonof JanamejayaMitra : educated in Calcutta at English schools, and later at the Calcutta Medical College : turned his attention to Law, but only for a short period : next studied Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, French and German. At the age of 22 he was appointed Assistant Secretary and Librarian of the Bengal Asiatic Society : in 1856 he was appointed Director of the Wards' Institution : when it was closed, in 1880, he retired on a pension. He contributed 114 articles to the Journal of the Asiatic Society : several of his essays were collected and republished in two volumes under the title of Indo-Aryans : also wrote Antiquities of Orissa and Buddha Gaya : and on The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nipal, 1882 : his 128 volumes of writings showed