Friday, 27 July 2012

Rai Bahadur Ugrasen



Rai Bahadur Ugrasen become greatly devoted to Shri Nathji and used to pay visit at Shri Nathji’s bungalow in Dehradoon.  His association with Shri Nathji is mentioned in the Mahagranth - God Incarnate on page 342 – 343. There was a time in 1934 when he had send a sack of rice to Shri Babaji Maharaj and Shri Nathji who were residing in Amritsar. However the sack was lost on the way and did not reached Shri Nathji. When he met Shri Nath afterwards he said that as Lord Krishna you had snatched the bag of rice from Sudama but you got my rice thrown out of the train. I am so unfortunate.  To this Shri Nathji replied that your rice was accepted even before it reached the destination. In 1975, when miscreants tried to take Savitri Niwas and Shri Nathji had to seek legal aid to protest His property, then Rai Bahadur Ugrasen came to Shri Nathji’s aid and served him diligently during those days. The Rai Bahadur had been hard of hearing. He had met Shri Nathji in the l930’s and had said to him:
"Maharaj, mujhse do dafaa bolaa karen; main oonchaa suntaa hoon! Maharaj please speak to me twice; I am hard of hearing!”
And Shri Nathji would say in a light vein:
“At least you have benefited that much from your loss of hearing– that you get to hear me twice!”
Rai Bahadur Ugra Sen would also say to Shri Nathji: “Maharaj, either cure me, or else you will have to exert yourself in speaking to me!"
However his hearing did not improve and he gradually became deaf. He had to give up practising law, which he had studied in London to become a barrister.
He met Shri Nathji in later years and said to him: "Perhaps this is in answer to my prayers. Had my hearing been perfect I would have become a barrister. But because of my deafness I could not practise law. Instead, I became a contractor and built most of Dehra Dun. This was the task God had desired to take of me!"
Rai Bahadur Ugra Sen became one of the most honoured personalities of Dehra Dun, recognised as one the City Fathers, and was even made the Chairman of the City Board and the Mayor of Dehra Dun due to his contributions in the development of the city.
When Shri Nathji met him in January 1975, he was stooped with the burden of years, and he said to Shri Nathji: "Maharaj, life becomes a burden in old age! Let me leave the world now! Ab aage bhej deejiye!”
Shri Nathji replied: "There is need for you yet in this world! You are precious to me! I have need of you! Abhi to mujhe aap ki zaroorat hai!. His relationship with Shri Nathji had been an old one. 


Rai Bahadur Ugrasen was born 9th December 1890. He a famous barrister and businessman who was honoured with the title – Rai Bhadur by the British. He becomes the Chairman of Dehradun Municipality in the 1930’s. He is remembered as one of the best Mayors of Dehradun and his period of administration is regarded as the Golden period for development of Dehradoon. As chairman of Dehradun Nagar Pallika he built the two main shopping malls, Manda House Complex on a part of old Nashville Estate and Astley Hall Shopping Mall on Rajpur Road. He is also credited with bringing piped water into Dehradun municipality. He also had active support of two of his other close philanthropist friends who were his mates at AP Mission School. They were Rai Bahadur Chaudhary Sher Singh who was the chairman of the District Board. As chairman he took development to the rural areas. Most of the major roads in the villages were built during his time. He also opened many schools in the villages. His other friend Barrister Darshan Lal was the chairman of Mussoorie City Board. He increased the power generating capacity of Bhatta Falls. During his chairmanship the Dehradun-Mussoorie Road was extended up to Kingcraig from Bhatta. He was also instrumental in building the Landour Clock Tower.  Rai Bahadur Ugrasen was called the builder of Dehradoon. A road was named named as Rai Bahadur Ugrasen Marg  by the residents of Dehradoon in honour of his services. 


5 comments:

  1. Would love to know where you got this information as he's my great grandfather email me at samridhgupta0@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HI
      Sorry for the late reply. You can see this information on https://adventoftheavatar.nathji.com/
      In this you can read the book Advent of the Avatar. Rai Bahadur Urgasen in mentioned in some chapters in Part 1.
      I have one request. Can you please share a photo of Rai Bahadur Ugrasen. I can put it in the blog. Thank you

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Hi I'm Luvrajkgupta@gmail.com I am Shagun Vari Guptas son,Samridh is my nephew

      Delete
  3. Can you please share your contact details?

    In case of any other interesting memories related to Dehradun, please do share.

    ReplyDelete