Uday Mahtab

Background

He was eldest son of Bijoy Chand Mahtab born in 1905. During regency of his father he served as Dewan-i-Raj for several years and succeeded to the throne of Burdwan Raj after death of his father.

Career

He did his graduation from Presidency College, Calcutta and Calcutta University. He also presided the West Bengal group of Legislators, in 1946, which voted 58:21 in favor of partition of Bengal. In the first election after independence in 1952, Uday Chand Mahtab lost to a freedom fighter and communist, Benoy Choudhury, in spite of a campaign in his favor by Jawaharlal Nehru.

The election defeat was followed by legislation for abolition of the zamindari system in 1954.

After abolition of Zamindari system in 1955, he shifted from Bardhaman to family"s house at Alipur in Calcutta. Here he became a director of IISCO, and several other leading mercantile firms of the day, such as Dunlop, Metal Box and Brooke Bond.

He acceded to the request of the Chief minister of West Bengal, Doctor Bidhan Chandra Roy and handed over his palace, Mahtab Manzil and Golap Bagh to the University of Burdwan. He donated a piece of land in Bardhaman to the numerous employees of the Raj so that they could build accommodation there.

With the end of the Raj, he immersed himself in his commercial and business interests.

He was also a Steward of the Royal Calcutta Turf Club.

Achievements

• Maharajadhiraja Bahadur (hereditary) King George V Silver Jubilee Medal-1935. King George VI Coronation Medal-1937. Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire - 1945.

Membership

During British Raj, he headed and was member of several committees like, member of Damodar Canal Enquiry Committee 1938, Select Committee on Calcutta Municipal (amendment) Bill 1940. Chairman of Burdwan District Flood Relief and Bengal Central Flood Relief Committees 1943-1944. Chairman of Indian Red Cross Appeal (Bengal) 1943-1946 and of Calcutta War Committee 1943-1946 and of Damodar Flood Central Enquiry Committee 1944.

Member of Bengal Tanks Improvement Bill Select Committee 1944 and of Advisory Committee on Terrorist Convicts in Bengal 1944.

Member of West Bengal Forest Denudation Enquiry Committee 1944 and of Select Committee on Bengal Agricultural Income Tax Bill 1944. Member of the Indian Constituent Assembly - 1946-1947.