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{{Short description|Indian barrister, politician and educationist (1861–1925)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable|The Hon'ble]] [[Babu (title)|Babu]]
| name = Mahendra Nath Ray
| honorific_suffix = [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]], [[Fellow of the Royal Society|HonFRS]], [[The Asiatic Society|FRASB]], [[Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science|FIAS]]
| native_name = বাবু মহেন্দ্রনাথ রায়
| image = File:MN Roy image.jpg
| birth_date = 29 October 1861
| birth_place = [[Howrah]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = 16 August 1925
| death_place = [[Calcutta]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]]
| education = [[Howrah Zilla School]]
| alma_mater = [[Presidency University, Kolkata|Presidency College]], [[Calcutta]]
| citizenship = [[British Raj]]
| awards = {{ublist | [[File:Order of the Indian Empire Ribbon.svg|30px]] [[Order of the Indian Empire]] (CIE) |
Honorary Fellow of the [[Fellow of the Royal Society|Royal Society]] (HonFRS)|
Fellow of the [[The Asiatic Society]] (FRASB)|
Fellow of the [[Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science]] (FIAS) }}
| occupation = [[Lawyer]], [[Educationist]], [[Politician]]
| organization = {{ubl | [[Indian National Congress]]}}
| spouse = Prabodhmayee Debi
| mother = Phul Kumari Debi
| father = [[Babu (title)|Babu]] Girijaprasanna Ray
| family = [[Zamindar]] Ray Family of Tajpur
}}
[[The Honourable]] [[Babu (title)|Babu]] '''Mahendranath Ray''' {{small|[[Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]] [[Fellow of the Royal Society|HonFRS]] [[The Asiatic Society|FRASB]] [[Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science|FIAS]]}} (1861–1925), was an Indian [[lawyer]], independence activist, [[social work]]er, [[mathematician]], [[educationist]] and a [[politician]].<ref name=":0" /> He was involved in the [[Indian freedom movement]] and was the first Indian elected chairperson of the [[Howrah Municipal Corporation|Howrah Municipal corporation]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mukherjee |first=Alok Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cGZPAAAAMAAJ&q=%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A5+%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC+%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE |title=Howrah, a Study in Urbanization |date=1992 |publisher=Chatterjee Publishers |isbn=978-81-85089-08-9 |pages=109 and 123 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |title=The dirtiest since 1889 |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/the-dirtiest-since-1889/cid/247307 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241218063516/https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/the-dirtiest-since-1889/cid/247307 |archive-date=18 December 2024 |access-date=2025-06-04 |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> He was one of the founders of [[Asutosh College]] in [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] and was one of the most influential people of [[Howrah]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Asutosh College – University of Calcutta (C.U.) |url=https://asutoshcollege.in/new-web/administrative-history.html |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=asutoshcollege.in}}</ref> For his political works, commendable legal career and contributions to society, he was awarded the [[Companion of the Indian Empire]] in 1911 at the [[Delhi Durbar]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VxQiAQAAMAAJ&q=mahendranath+ray |title=The Historical Record of the Imperial Visit to India, 1911 |date=1914 |publisher=government of India |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

== Early life ==
He was born on 29 October 1861, in an aristocratic [[Mahishya]] family of Tajpur,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mukherjee |first=Partha |date=June 2021 |title=Seeking New Identity |journal=Journal of People's History and Culture |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=131}}</ref> located in present-day [[Amta]] police station area of [[Howrah district]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Senapati and Das |first=Uma and Dulal Krishna |title=মাহিষ্য রত্নাবলী জীবনী শতক |publisher=Tuhina Publications |year=2018 |isbn=9788194434641 |edition=2nd |location=[[Kolkata]] |publication-date=2020 |pages=177 to 179 |language=Bengali |trans-title=Mahishya Ratnavali Biographical Century}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ray |first=Rajat Kanta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K15uAAAAMAAJ&q=mahendranath+ray |title=Social Conflict and Political Unrest in Bengal, 1875-1927 |date=1984 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-561654-5 |language=en}}</ref> The Ray family of Tajpur, were the [[Zamindars of Bengal|Zamindars]] of [[Amta I|Amta]]. His father's name was ''Girija Prasanna Ray,'' and his mother was ''Phul Kumari Debi''. Mahendranath lost his father at an early age, and as a result, he was raised with great care and affection under the strict supervision of his grandfather ''[[Babu (title)|Babu]]'' ''Jadunath Ray.''<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Sayan De |url=http://archive.org/details/e-book-howrah-jeler-itihas-vol-ii-achal-bhattacherjee-compressed |title=Howrah Jeler Itihas Vol II Achal Bhattacherjee |date=1982-03-15 |pages=153}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Mukhopādhyāẏa |first=Ālokakumāra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PHkcAAAAIAAJ&q=%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A5+%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC+%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE |title=Nagara Hāoṛā |date=1990 |publisher=Pratimā Mukhopādhyāẏa |pages=140 |language=bn}}</ref>
[[File:Howrah Zilla School - Howrah 050037.JPG|thumb|The [[Howrah Zilla School]], now]]

''Jadunath Babu,'' who was a very successful businessman and a [[Zamindar]], built a large residence, almost resembling a palace, on the Khurut Road which is now known as [[Netaji Subhas Road, Kolkata|Netaji Subhas Road]] in [[Howrah]] and arranged for Mahendranath's upbringing there.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mukherjee |first=Alok Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cGZPAAAAMAAJ&q=Mahendranath+Roy+ |title=Howrah, a Study in Urbanization |date=1992 |publisher=Chatterjee Publishers |isbn=978-81-85089-08-9 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Hindoo College, Calcutta by Francis Frith.jpg|thumb|The Presidency College in Calcutta, where Mahendranath Ray studied.]]

Mahendranath was a very bright student. He passed the Entrance Examination from [[Howrah Zilla School]] with high distinction and a scholarship, and then enrolled at [[Presidency College Calcutta|Presidency College]], [[Calcutta]]. He secured the first position in the F.A. (First Arts) examination, and in 1882, he passed the [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A]]. examination, standing first in the first division, earning the prestigious '''Ishan Scholarship''',<ref name=":0" /> awarded to the student who manages to score the highest marks and who tops the university by topping in every single paper particularly in [[Mathematics]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=DasSarma |first1=Basudeb |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0eyNAAAAQBAJ&dq=ishan+scholarship+calcutta+university&pg=PA36 |title=Journey of a Lifetime: Memoir of an Indian-American Chemist |last2=PhD |first2=Basudeb DasSarma |date=2010-11-09 |publisher=Xlibris Corporation |isbn=978-1-4653-3424-4 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Mukhopādhyāẏa |first=Ālokakumāra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PHkcAAAAIAAJ&q=%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A5+%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC+%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE |title=Nagara Hāoṛā |date=1990 |publisher=Pratimā Mukhopādhyāẏa |pages=141 |language=bn}}</ref> As well as the '''Vizianagaram Scholarship''', awarded by the [[Vizianagaram Estate]], to the most academically successful student of B.A. of the year in the [[University of Calcutta]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Misra |first=Atmanand |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ms0EAAAAMAAJ&q=vizianagaram+scholarship+calcutta+university |title=Educational Finance in India |date=1962 |publisher=Asia Publishing House |language=en}}</ref> Subsequently, he earned his [[Master of Arts|M.A.]] from the [[University of Calcutta]] in 1884, also earning a first position in the First division. Winning the highly coveted '''Burdwan Scholarship''', awarded by the estate of the [[Burdwan Raj]].<ref name=":6" /> Furthermore, he was also selected for the famed [[Premchand Roychand|Premchand Roychand Scholarship]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Calcutta |first=University of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uUQuAQAAIAAJ&dq=mahendranath+ray+prize+Calcutta+University&pg=PA14 |title=Minutes |date=1886 |language=en}}</ref> He was a classmate and a very close friend of [[Ashutosh Mukherjee|Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee]]. Following that he completed his [[Bachelor of Laws|B.L.]] from the [[University of Calcutta]] in 1885 while being a [[Lecturer]] of [[Mathematics]] at the [[City College, Kolkata]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Commission |first=India Indian Universities |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M_UmQS0MXuAC&dq=mahendranath+ray+city+college&pg=PA88 |title=Report of the Indian Universities Commission: 1902 |date=1902 |publisher=Printed at the Government Central Printing Office |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6"/>

== Career ==
[[File:High Court of Calcutta (Second view) by Francis Frith.jpg|thumb|The [[Calcutta High Court]] in the 1890s]]
Roy established a lucrative legal practice in [[Howrah]] and [[Calcutta]]. In 1885, he joined the [[Calcutta High Court]] as a [[Pleader]] and represented many clients in many big cases in the [[Calcutta High Court|Calcutta High court]] and other district courts,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l6IYAAAAIAAJ&q=Mahendranath+ray+howrah+congress |title=Who was who: A Companion to Who's Who, Containing the Biographies of Those who Died During the Period |date=1929 |publisher=A. & C. Black |language=en}}</ref> he earned the reputation of a hugely learned and empathetic legal practitioner, he was respected by both his colleagues and adversaries.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u7-yAAAAIAAJ&dq=babu+mahendranath+ray&pg=PA398 |title=The Indian Law Reports: Containing Cases Determined by the High Court at Calcutta. Calcutta series |date=1906 |publisher=West Bengal Government Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=India) |first=India High Court (Kolkata |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pmY9AQAAIAAJ&q=mahendranath+roy+pleader |title=The Indian Law Reports: Calcutta Series. Containing Cases Determined by the High Court at Calcutta |date=1911 |publisher=Superintendent, Government Print., West Bengal Government Press |publication-date=2011 |pages=683 to 685 |language=en}}</ref> He was known for his unmatched oratory in the courtroom.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DnYdAAAAMAAJ&q=mahendranath+roy+pleader |title=Bengal Provincial Conference, 1888: First Session |date=1976 |publisher=Ghosh : distributors, Firma KLM |pages=3 |language=en}}</ref> He also presented multiple cases before the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|Privy Council]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6yUbAAAAYAAJ&dq=Mahendranath+ray&pg=RA2-PA473 |title=The Calcutta Law Journal: Reports of Cases Decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on Appeals from India and by the High Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal |date=1906 |publisher=Calcutta law journal office |language=en}}</ref> He practiced in the [[Calcutta High Court]] for nearly forty years.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YYdDAQAAMAAJ&dq=Mahendranath+ray&pg=PA208 |title=The Indian Law Reports: Calcutta series |date=1903 |publisher=Superintendent, Government Print., West Bengal Government Press |language=en}}</ref> From, 1895, he became a member of the [[The Asiatic Society]] at [[Calcutta]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oGe6nPS6pWEC&dq=Mahendranath+ray&pg=PA191 |title=Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal |date=1896 |publisher=The Society |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last=Bengal |first=Asiatic Society of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4AXgAAAAMAAJ&dq=Mahendranath+ray&pg=PR9 |title=Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal |date=1900 |publisher=The Society |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oGe6nPS6pWEC&dq=Mahendranath+ray+howrah+congress&pg=PA120 |title=Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal |date=1896 |publisher=The Society |language=en}}</ref> Later in 1900, he was elected to be a Fellow of [[The Asiatic Society]].<ref name=":9" /> In 1901, he was appointed as one of the members among other members of the bar, to modernise the [[Calcutta High Court]].<ref>History of the Bar Association by Behari Lal Pal</ref> In 1924, he was elected the President of the [[Bar association]] of the [[Calcutta High Court]].<ref name=":7" /> In 1891, he was elected a Fellow of the [[University of Calcutta]], being one of its first Indian fellows,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Khagendra Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=alBXAAAAMAAJ&q=mahendranath+ray |title=Education and the Nation: An Indian Perspective |date=1970 |publisher=University of Calcutta |language=en}}</ref> and in 1909, he was elected along with only one other Indian member to be an [[Fellow|ordinary fellow]] of the university.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AgIJXEDeH9MC&dq=babu+mahendranath+ray&pg=PA53 |title=The Calcutta Gazette |date=1909 |language=en}}</ref> and from 1911 to 1920, he served as a member of the [[Bengal Legislative Council]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p0MOAQAAMAAJ&q=mahendranath+ray+prize+Calcutta+University |title=Who was who |date=1929 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=West Bengal State Legislature |url=http://archive.org/details/westbengallegislature.council.490.2_490__1911__vol_XLIII |title=Proceedings: Bengal Legislative Council 1911 XLIII |date=1911 |language=English}}</ref> He became one of the most prominent members of the [[Indian National Congress]] from the district of Howrah.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ghosh |first=Pansy Chaya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VBhuAAAAMAAJ&q=Mahendranath+ray+howrah+congress |title=The Development of the Indian Natio[n]al Congress, 1892-1909 |date=1985 |publisher=Firma KLM |isbn=978-0-8364-1411-0 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DnYdAAAAMAAJ&q=Mahendranath+ray+howrah+congress |title=Bengal Provincial Conference, 1888: First Session |date=1976 |publisher=Ghosh : distributors, Firma KLM |language=en}}</ref> He also, attended many provincial conferences of the party, including the one held in 1888.<ref name=":2" /> He was also a professor of Mathematics and Law at [[City College, Kolkata|City College]], and served as the [[Department of Law, University of Calcutta|Dean of the Faculty of Law]] at the [[University of Calcutta]].<ref name=":1" /> He was among the official examiners of the university for the papers in [[Mathematics]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kukula |first1=Richard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tnwDAAAAMAAJ&dq=babu+mahendranath+ray&pg=PA48 |title=Minerva: Jahrbuch der gelehrten Welt |last2=Trübner |first2=Karl Ignaz |date=1892 |publisher=W. de Gruyter. |language=de}}</ref> He was also elevated to be a [[Magistrate]] for the [[Howrah district]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=the |first=Bengal (India) Chief Secretary to the Government, Office of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gDKflO3ciboC&dq=babu+mahendranath+ray&pg=PA321 |title=Half-yearly Civil List for Bengal |date=1908 |language=en}}</ref> In 1914, largely due to his efforts, the proposed relocation of [[Indian Institutes of Engineering Science and Technology|Shibpur Engineering College]] from [[Howrah]] to [[Dhaka]] was successfully prevented.<ref name=":6"/>

== Works ==

* '''Improvement of street lighting in the city'''

After [[Kedarnath Bhattacharya|Babu Kedarnath Bhattacharya]], Mahendranath Ray was the second elected Vice Chairman of the Howrah Municipal Board, from 1888 to 1896. Following that, he became the First elected chairperson of the [[Howrah Municipal Corporation]], winning the election with a huge majority.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Government – Howrah Municipal Corporation |url=https://www.myhmc.in/government/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |language=en-US}}</ref> During Ray's tenure as [[Chair (officer)|Chairman]] of the Howrah Municipality, electric lighting was installed on all paved roads. Even in unpaved roads and also in slum areas, the number of kerosene lamps was reduced and electric lighting was introduced. In 1916, the last gas lamp was removed from [[Howrah|Howrah city]].
[[File: Howrah Municipal Corporation building.jpg|thumb| [[Howrah Municipal Corporation]].]]
Under Act No.5 of 1873, the Howrah Municipality was empowered to levy an additional 3% tax to cover the expenses of gas lighting on the streets. Later, on 1 September 1932, a new agreement was signed between the [[Howrah Municipal Corporation|Howrah Municipality]] and the [[Calcutta electric supply corporation|Calcutta Electric Supply Company]], which significantly reduced electricity costs. As a result, the number of electric lamp posts increased, while the number of kerosene lamps declined.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Sayan De |url=http://archive.org/details/e-book-howrah-jeler-itihas-vol-ii-achal-bhattacherjee-compressed |title=Howrah Jeler Itihas Vol II Achal Bhattacherjee |date=1982-03-15 |pages=34}}</ref>

* '''Contributions in Academia'''

In 1893, he joined [[Mahendralal Sarkar|Dr. Mahendralal Sarkar]]'s [[Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science|Indian association for the cultivation of Science]] and was one of its earliest faculty members, and later becoming one of its fellows.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Science |first=Indian Association for the Cultivation of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lC8yAQAAMAAJ&q=Mahendranath+Ray+indian+association+for+cultivation+of+sciences |title=Annual Report ... |date=1920 |pages=40 |language=en}}</ref> He had an aptitude for [[Mathematics]], and he was made the head of Mathematics department there and published many journals on the subject. He published two books by the name of "'''Algebra Part I & II'''". He was made an honorary member of the [[Fellow of the Royal Society|Royal Mathematical society]] in [[London]].<ref name=":1" /> He was also one of the early members of the [[Calcutta Mathematical Society]], since its inception.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Society |first=Calcutta Mathematical |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tsH3sX_ESIEC&q=Mahendranath+ray |title=Bulletin of the Calcutta Mathematical Society |date=1924 |language=en}}</ref> He was regarded as one of the best mathematicians of the country at that time.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sinha |first=Dilip Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=csPaAAAAMAAJ&q=mahendranath+ray |title=Aspects of Mathematical Sciences and Mathematical Education: A Contemporary Critique |date=2002 |publisher=Progressive Publishers |language=en}}</ref>

* '''As a Senator of the University of Calcutta'''
[[File:The Calcutta University by Francis Frith.jpg|thumb|The University of Calcutta]]
In January 1891, Mahendranath Ray was elected as a member of the council ( [[Fellow]]) of the [[University of Calcutta]]. He was one of the first elected [[Fellow]] of the university.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sankhdher |first=B. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aEVU_czlGZMC&dq=Mahendranath+ray&pg=PA237 |title=Encyclopaedia of Education System in India: Lord Curzon to world war I, 1914 |date=1999 |publisher=Deep & Deep Publications |isbn=978-81-7100-947-3 |pages=237 |language=en}}</ref> In 1910, he also became a member of the [[Syndicate]] of the [[University of Calcutta]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sankhdher |first=B. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aEVU_czlGZMC&dq=mahendranath+ray&pg=PA237 |title=Encyclopaedia of Education System in India: Lord Curzon to world war I, 1914 |date=1999 |publisher=Deep & Deep Publications |isbn=978-81-7100-947-3 |language=en}}</ref> He was instrumental in the founding of the [[Rajabazar Science College]], [[Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee]] had personally entrusted him with the management of the massive educational project.<ref name=":1" />
[[File:Senate_Hall,_University_of_Calcutta.png|thumb|Senate Hall of University of Calcutta, early 1910s]]

== Styles ==

* 1861–1884: Mahendra Nath Ray
* 1884 – 1891: [[Babu (title)|Babu]] Mahendra Nath Ray
* 21 January 1891 – June 1895: [[Babu (title)|Babu]] Mahendra Nath Ray, [[Fellow of the Royal Society|HonFRS]], [[Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science|FIAS]]
* June 1895 – May 1910: [[The Honourable]] [[Babu (title)|Babu]] Mahendra Nath Ray, [[Fellow of the Royal Society|HonFRS]], [[Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science|FIAS]], [[The Asiatic Society|FRASB]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ghosh |first=Yatindrakumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QHYdAAAAMAAJ&q=Mahendranath+ray+howrah+congress |title=Bengal Provincial Conference, 1918: Hooghly Session |date=1972 |publisher=distributors] Firma K. L. Mukhopadhyay |language=en}}</ref>
* May 1910 – March 1914: [[The Honourable]] [[Babu (title)|Babu]] Mahendra Nath Ray, [[Order of the Indian Empire|CIE]], [[Fellow of the Royal Society|HonFRS]], [[The Asiatic Society|FRASB]], [[Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science|FIAS]]<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VxQiAQAAMAAJ&q=Mahendranath+ray |title=The Historical Record of the Imperial Visit to India, 1911 |date=1914 |publisher=government of India |language=en}}</ref>
* March 1914 – 16 August 1925: ''The Honourable Babu Mahendra Nath Ray, CIE, HonFRS, FRASB, FIAS''<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Committee |first=India Government Grant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xUL8VJiFSkwC&q=mahendranath+ray |title=Report of the Government Grant Committee Appointed by the Senate on the 9th September, 1922 |date=1922 |publisher=Calcutta University |language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
In 1878, Mahendranath Ray married, Prabodhmayee Devi, the eldest daughter of [[Babu (title)|Babu]] Srinibash Panja, a famous [[Jotedar]].<ref name=":1" />

== Death and legacy ==
[[File:Calcutta Review 16(3) Mahendranath Ray 1925.jpg|thumb|Taken from the Vol 16, Issue 3 of the [[Calcutta Review]], published after his death as tribute to his works and contribution.]]
On 16 August 1925 Mahendranath Ray died at the age of 64 in his house at 2, Balaram Bose 1st Lane, [[Bhowanipore]], [[Calcutta]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MT0fAQAAMAAJ&q=mahendranath+ray |title=The Indian Year Book |date=1926 |publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Company |language=en}}</ref> His funeral was attended by most of the eminent personalities of the city and whole of [[Bengal]] at that time, such as [[Birendranath Sasmal]], [[Sarat Chandra Bose]] and [[Jatindra Mohan Sengupta|J M Sengupta]]. A huge procession was organised by the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref name=":1" />
[[File:Bust of Babu Mahendranath Ray.jpg|thumb|His bust at Tajpur Mahendranath Ray Institution, unveiled by [[Pranab Mukherjee]] himself. Who first started his career as a teacher in this very school.]]
In the city of [[Howrah]], near [[Shibpur]], there is a road called "Mahendra Nath Ray Ln" named after him which connects the [[Grand Trunk Road]] and the Netaji Subhash road. In the front of the building of [[Howrah Municipal Corporation]] his bust stands, a garland is placed every year, on the founding day of the corporation.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cd6ZAAAAIAAJ&q=mahendranath+roy+pleader |title=Man and Life |date=1992 |publisher=Institute of Social Research and Applied Anthropology |language=en}}</ref> Moreover, in his native village of Tajpur, near [[Amta]], he founded a school called "Tajpur Mahendranath Ray institution" in 1895, which continues to perform well.<ref name=":1" /> The former [[President of India]], [[Pranab Mukherjee]] first began his career as an assistant teacher in this very school in 1957.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-06-23 |title='Pranabda lives simple, thinks big' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/pranabda-lives-simple-thinks-big/articleshow/14348756.cms |access-date=2025-11-21 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=সংবাদদাতা |first=নিজস্ব |date=28 January 2019 |title=প্রাক্তন শিক্ষক প্রণব ভারতরত্ন, স্কুলে উৎসব |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/howrah-hoogly/tajpur-m-n-roy-institution-is-happy-as-their-former-teacher-pranab-mukherjee-is-getting-bharat-ratna-1.940949 |access-date=21 November 2025 |work=[[Ananda Bazar Patrika]]}}</ref> He visited the school back in 2017, and also inaugurated a statue of Mahendra Nath Ray, during his visit.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-12-26 |title=Pranab falls ill during Howrah trip |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/pranab-falls-ill-during-howrah-trip/articleshow/62245123.cms |access-date=2025-11-21 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Fb |last2=Tw |last3=Linkdin |last4=Whatsapp |last5=Us |first5=GNFollow |title=Pranab Mukherjee no more: Tajpur mourns death of former President |url=https://newsable.asianetnews.com/india/pranab-mukherjee-no-more-tajpur-mourns-death-of-former-president-dbr-qfytzb |access-date=2025-12-27 |website=Asianet Newsable |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:1861 births]]
[[Category:1925 deaths]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta people]]
[[Category:Presidency University, Kolkata]]
[[Category:People from Howrah]]
[[Category:People from Howrah district]]
[[Category:Founders of Indian schools and colleges]]
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]
[[Category:People from the Bengal Presidency]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Presidency University, Kolkata alumni]]
[[Category:Bengali zamindars]]
[[Category:Indian barristers]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:Lawyers in British India]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian politicians]]
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[[Category:Indian mathematicians]]
[[Category:Academic staff of City College, Kolkata]]
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[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Calcutta]]
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[[Category:19th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:Educators from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Indian jurists]]
[[Category:Linguists from Bengal]]
[[Category:Indian fellows of the Royal Society]]

Mahendranath Ray - Revision history

Realhimachal at 12:44, 22 March 2026