Dinkar Rao
Encyclopedia
Sir Dinkar Rao, K.C.S.I. (December 20, 1820 – January 9, 1896) was an India
n Statesman
, born in Ratnagiri District
, Bombay. He was a Chipavan Brahmin
.
At fifteen he entered the service of the Gwalior State, in which his ancestors had served. Rapidly promoted to the responsible charge of a division, he displayed unusual talents in reorganizing the police and revenue departments, and in reducing chaos to order. In 1851 Dinkar Rao became Dewan. The events of which led to the British victories of Mahaarajpur and Panniar in 1844 had filled the state with mutinous soldier, ruined the finances and weaken authority. With a strong hand the dean suppressed disorder, abolished ruinous imports executed public works, and by reduction of salaries, including his own, turned a deficit into a surplus. During the period of the Indian rebellion of 1857
Rao never wavered in loyalty to the British; and although the state troops also mutinied in June 1858 on the approach of Tantia Topi, he adhered to the British cause, retiring with Maharaja Sindhia to the Agra
fort. After the restoration of order he remained Minister until December 1859. In 1873 he was appointed guardian to the minor rana to Dholpur, but soon afterward he resigned, owing to ill health. In 1875, the Viceroy of India selected him as a Commissioner, along with the Maharajas of Sindhia and Jaipur
and three British colleagues, to try the Gaekwar
of Baroda
on a charge of attempting to poison the British Resident. He was amongst the first non-British members of the Legislative Council of India appointed in 1861 vide the Indian Councils Act. An estate was conferred upon him, with the hereditary title of Raja, for his eminent services, and the decoration of K.C.S.I.
He died on January 9, 1896. No Indian statesmen of the 19th century gained a higher reputation, yet he only commenced the study of English at the age of forty, and was never able to converse fluently in it. His orthodoxy resented social reforms, and he kept aloof form the Indian Congress.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
, born in Ratnagiri District
Ratnagiri District
Ratnagiri district is one of the 35 districts of Maharashtra state in western India. Ratnagiri is the district headquarters of the district. The district is 11.33% urban. The district is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west, Sindhudurg district to the south, Raigad district to the north and...
, Bombay. He was a Chipavan Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
.
At fifteen he entered the service of the Gwalior State, in which his ancestors had served. Rapidly promoted to the responsible charge of a division, he displayed unusual talents in reorganizing the police and revenue departments, and in reducing chaos to order. In 1851 Dinkar Rao became Dewan. The events of which led to the British victories of Mahaarajpur and Panniar in 1844 had filled the state with mutinous soldier, ruined the finances and weaken authority. With a strong hand the dean suppressed disorder, abolished ruinous imports executed public works, and by reduction of salaries, including his own, turned a deficit into a surplus. During the period of the Indian rebellion of 1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
Rao never wavered in loyalty to the British; and although the state troops also mutinied in June 1858 on the approach of Tantia Topi, he adhered to the British cause, retiring with Maharaja Sindhia to the Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
fort. After the restoration of order he remained Minister until December 1859. In 1873 he was appointed guardian to the minor rana to Dholpur, but soon afterward he resigned, owing to ill health. In 1875, the Viceroy of India selected him as a Commissioner, along with the Maharajas of Sindhia and Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
and three British colleagues, to try the Gaekwar
Gaekwad
The Gaekwad or Gaikwad was a Maratha dynasty that ruled the princely state of Baroda in western India from the mid-18th century until 1947...
of Baroda
Vadodara
Vadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million...
on a charge of attempting to poison the British Resident. He was amongst the first non-British members of the Legislative Council of India appointed in 1861 vide the Indian Councils Act. An estate was conferred upon him, with the hereditary title of Raja, for his eminent services, and the decoration of K.C.S.I.
He died on January 9, 1896. No Indian statesmen of the 19th century gained a higher reputation, yet he only commenced the study of English at the age of forty, and was never able to converse fluently in it. His orthodoxy resented social reforms, and he kept aloof form the Indian Congress.