Nilmani Mitra Biography 
Nilmani Mitra was one of the pioneer Indian architects in the 19th century who has built many mansions of Kolkata during the period of British rule. Mitra was the first Bengali to become a graduated engineer. He worked as a freelancer in those days. He was the pioneer behind the Bengali settlement in Madhupur. He designed the building of Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science in Bowbazar free of cost and donated a huge sum of thousand Indian rupees. The mansion of Nandalal Bose and Pashupatinath Bose in Baghbazar, Kirtichand Mitra's Mohun Bagan Villa, the palace of Jatindra Mohan Tagore and the Emarald Bower are other major mansions built by Mitra. Noted playwright and writer, Dinabandhu Mitra was his nephew.
Nilmani was the descendant of Rudreshwar Mitra, who built the eponymous ghat in Kolkata. Mitra’s family originally belonged to Gobindapur. But they were driven out of their local place by the British East India Company during the construction of the second Fort William. Their family settled in Jelepara in Bhowanipore and had to face a lot of hardships during the settling period. Thus Mitra was born in at his maternal uncle's residence at Diamond Harbour in 1828. His father was Sukhamay Mitra. Mitra spent his childhood days at his uncle’s house. He schooled at London Missionary School in Bhowanipore and later attended Scottish Church College, then known as Free Church Institution.
His handwriting was not good and for the same reason, he found it difficult to secure a job. Then he took admission in Roorkee Engineering College and became the first Bengali to become a graduate engineer. Nilmani started his career in the Ganges canal division, followed by the Assistant Architect position of the Presidency Division. At the age of 30, he became an assistant engineer. But he quit his job to become a freelancer and became the great Indian architect of 19th century who has been credited to building many great mansions of India’s cultural capital.
Published: N/A
Updated: March 06, 2014
