Davidcza at 23:00, 7 February 2026

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{{Use Indian English|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rai Bahadur Jairam Valjee
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Jairam Valjee Chouhan
| birth_date = 1892
| birth_place = [[Kumbharia, Kutch District, Gujarat|Kumbharia]], [[kutch State|Cutch]]
| death_date = 1956
| death_place = [[Raigarh]], India
| other_names =
| known_for =
| occupation = miner, industrialist, railway contractor, philanthropist
}}

'''Jairam Valjee Chouhan''', [[Rai Bahadur]], [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|MBE]]<ref name=ib/> (1892<ref name=y/>–1956<ref name=a/>), better known as '''Rai Bahadur Jairam Valjee''', was a [[Kutchi people|Kutchi]] railway contractor, mill-owner, miner & [[philanthropist]], who established himself at [[Jairamnagar]] and [[Raigarh]], India.

==Birth==
Jairam was born to Valjee Vira Chouhan, who belonged to [[Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya|Mestri]] community of Kutch, who are noted for their architect skills and contributions in Railway. He was born in 1892 in his native village [[Kumbharia, Kutch District, Gujarat|Kumbharia]] in [[Kutch]]. His father worked as a railway contractor.<ref name=a/>

==Career==
Jairam Valjee carried on his father's legacy and earned a name as a railway
contractor, especially working for [[Bengal Nagpur Railway]] completing several bridges and doubling of railway lines. In years 1921–29, he camped near [[Jairamnagar|Paraghat]] for construction of railway bridge over [[Arpa (river), Chhattisgarh|Arpa river]] and doubling of rail lines of [[Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh|Bilaspur]]-Raigarh section.<ref name=a/> He used to work as railway contractor with his main office at [[Raigarh]] and there is a colony named after him called Jairam Valjee Colony at Raigarh.<ref name=a>''Diary of Golden Days at Jharia : A Memoir & History of Gurjar Kashtriya Samaj of Kutch in Coalfields of Jharia'' - written by Natwarlal Devram Jethwa, co-auth. Raja Pawan Jethwa of Calcutta. (1998). Life sketch of Rai Bahadur Jairam Valji Chouhan. Page: 24.</ref> In many railway and civil contracts he worked in syndicate with fellow [[Mistris|Mistri]] railway contractors like Jagmal Gangji Sawaria, [[Mulji Jagmal Sawaria|Rai Saheb Mulji Jagmal Sawaria]] of Bilaspur and Shamji Gangji Sawaria and Rai Saheb Harilal Shamji of Raigarh.<ref>{{cite book|title=Commercial & general directory of C. P. & Berar|year=1941|page=174|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RFg1AQAAIAAJ&q=shyamji+gangji+raigarh}}</ref><ref name=a/>

He was also one of the Class - A contractor for government's public works department of C. P. & Berar.<ref name=x/> He also started a large brick kiln on banks of Arpa river at Jairamnagar to manufacture on large scale bricks needed by railways and other construction works.<ref name=a/> [[Ramgarh Cantonment]] works were one of major works done by him.<ref name=a/>

He ventured in to dolomite and limestone mining business in beginning in 1918 and soon became owner of several dolomite and limestone mines in erstwhile [[Central Provinces and Berar]]. He was sole proprietor of whole of [[Jairamnagar]].<ref name=y/> Among the limestone and dolomite mines he owned were Bhilain and Bhadeswar quarries near Jairamnagar.<ref name=g/><ref>{{cite book|title=Bulletins of the Geological Survey of India: Economic geology, Issues 11-16|year=1956|publisher=Geological Survey of India.|pages=4–5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfpQAAAAYAAJ&q=jairam+valjee}}</ref> He also owned a large Latia quarry at Latia village (near [[Akaltara]]) the total area of which was 67.53 [[acre]]s<ref name=g>{{cite book|title=Records of the Geological Survey of India , Volume 84|year=1953|publisher=The Survey Geology|location=370-371|page=https://books.google.com/books?id=fewdAQAAMAAJ&q=jairam+valjee&dq=jairam+valjee&hl=en|quote=Latia quarry It is situated about 3 furlongs from the Latia village (22° 1£':82° 24'). The concession, the total area of which is 6753 acres, is owned by Sri Jairam Valjee and worked practically from the beginning of 1942.}}</ref> and dolomite mines near Jairamnagar, [[Barpali]] and at [[Kalunga, Orissa|Kalunga]] in [[Orissa, India|Orissa]].<ref name=a/><ref name=y>{{cite book|title=The Times of India directory and year book including who's who , Volume 28|year=1941|pages=1087|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RakSAAAAIAAJ&q=Jairamnagar+Jairam+Valjee|quote=JAIRAM, VALJEE, RAI BAHADUR, Landlord, mines & millowner, sole proprietor of Jairamnagar and a great philanthropist of C.P. & Berar...|last1=Reed|first1=Sir Stanley}}</ref><ref>Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India, Volume 71 by Order of the Governor-General of India, 1937: pp; 47,153, iii</ref><ref name="google">{{cite book|title=The Indian Year Book|date=1841|issue=v. 23; v. 25-28|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Company|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eSsdAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=3 March 2017}}</ref> He held certificate for approval of all minerals in Central Provinces and Berar and also whole of [[Eastern States Agency]].<ref name=a/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RFg1AQAAIAAJ&q=paraghat+1939|title=Commercial & general directory of C. P. & Berar}}</ref>

He also owned ice-factory at Bilaspur and two rice-mills at Jairamnagar.<ref name=y/> Further, he founded a sugar-factory at Jairamnagar, foundation of which was laid on 10 February 1940, where the chief guest of honor was the [[List of Governors of the Central Provinces and Berar|Governor of C.P. & Berar]], [[Francis Verner Wylie]]. He used his farm lands in Jairamnagar for large scale production of sugarcane, required as raw material for his sugar factory.<ref name=i>The Indian Year Book, Volume 23; Volumes 25-28, Bennett, Coleman & Company, 1941.</ref><ref>Report on Demonstration Work Carried Out in the Eastern Circle, Together with Reports on the Seed and Demonstration Farms at Chandkhuri, Bilaspur and Drug with that of Cattle-breeding Stations by Central Provinces (India). Dept. of Agriculture, 1940 pp:14.</ref><ref name=a/> A jaggary making unit and rice-mill were also started by him at Jairamnagar.<ref name=a/>

He was also a member of the Executive Committee of both the District and Provincial War Committees of CP. and Berar.<ref name=i/>

==Philanthropy==
Further, he was also known for his philanthropy. He is accredited to have built a primary school named Valjee Primanry School with teachers quarter at Jairamnagar, Kunwarbai Charitable Dispensary, weekly markets, wells and roads.<ref name=x>{{cite book|title=Commercial & general directory of C. P. & Berar|year=1941|page=116|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RFg1AQAAIAAJ&q=JAIRAMNAGAR}}</ref><ref name=d>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eSsdAQAAMAAJ&q=+Valjee|title = The Indian Year Book|year = 1841}}</ref> He also built a [[Shiva]] temple and several wells, markets, roads, hospitals & [[Dharamshalas]] in Jairamnagar. He also donated money to build [[Raigarh]] Town Hall.<ref name=a/><ref name=d/><ref name=t>{{cite book|title=The Indian Year Book , Volume 23; Volumes 25-28|year=1941|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Company|page=1087|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eSsdAQAAMAAJ&q=jairam+valjee|quote=JAIRAM, VALJEE, RAI BAHADUR, Landlord, mines & millowner, sole proprietor of Jairamnagar and a great philanthropist of C.P. & Berar....The B. N. Railway Co. has also, In consideration of his loyal and long connection with the Company, changed the name of the Railway Station from Paraghat to Jairamnagar from the 1st September 1939, after his name. }}</ref> In 1940, to commemorate the visit of Governor of C.P. & Berar, on occasion of founding of sugar factory at Jairamnagar, he donated a fully equipped Ambulance car to [[Indian Red Cross Society|Red Cross]].<ref name=i/>

==Honors==
British authorities had given him title firstly [[Rai Saheb]], which was elevated to [[Rai Bahadur]] in 1941<ref name=a/> for his achievements in business and philanthropic works.<ref name=y/><ref name=t/>

The local British government changed the name of village from Khaira to Jairamnagar in his honor.<ref>The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who - Page 1087 JAIRAM, Valjee, Rai Bahadur, (1941). ... and industrious colony and In consideration of all this the local Government have changed the name of the village, in the Settlement Papers, from Khaira to Jairamnagar, of which he is the Malgujar.</ref><ref name=a/>

The railway station which was earlier known as Paraghat was named [[Jairamnagar]]<ref name=x/> railway station after him on 1 September 1939 by Bengal Nagpur Railway authorities being the only Railway Station in the whole of India to have been named after an individual businessman.<ref name=a/><ref name=t/><ref>Commercial & general directory of C. P. & Berar - Page 116|quote=This is the only Railway Station in the whole of India to have been named after an individual businessman, having marble name hoards on the station platform.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=RFg1AQAAIAAJ&q=1939+re-named It was originally known as Paraghat and was re-named Jairamnagar by Mr. A. Duncan, Agent & General Manager, B.N. Railway...on 1 September 1939]</ref>

He was made [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire]] on 1 January 1945 by British authorities.<ref name=ib>{{cite book|title=The India Office and Burma Office List|year=114|page=1947|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oCUbAQAAIAAJ&q=jairam+valjee|quote=Valjee, R.B. Jairam, M.B.E., 1 Jan , 1945
}}</ref><ref name=a/>

==Death==
He died in 1956 at his Raigarh bungalow survived by wife and several sons and daughters.<ref name=a/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chauhan, Jairam Valji}}
[[Category:People from Kutch district]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Indian people in rail transport]]
[[Category:1956 deaths]]
[[Category:Founders of Indian schools and colleges]]
[[Category:1892 births]]
[[Category:Rai Bahadurs]]
[[Category:Indian businesspeople in mining]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Indian businesspeople in the sugar industry]]
[[Category:Businesspeople in agriculture]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:People from Raigarh]]
[[Category:People from Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian philanthropists]]

Jairam Valjee Chouhan - Revision history

Davidcza at 23:00, 7 February 2026