D. D. Thacker (1884–1961) better known as Diwan Bahadur D. D. Thacker was a noted coal miner and philanthropist from

Jharia Jharia is a neighbourhood in Dhanbad city in Dhanbad Sadar subdivision of Dhanbad district in Jharkhand state, India. Jharia's economy is heavily dependent on the local coal fields, used to make coke. However, fires in the coal fields have mad ...

Dhanbad Dhanbad is the second-most populated city in the Indian state of Jharkhand after Jamshedpur and a major financial hub of Jharkhand. In terms of economy, Dhanbad has the largest economy in the state of Jharkhand and it is often referred to as th ...

Biography

He was born in a Gujarati family in

Bhuj Bhuj () is a city and the headquarters of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Etymology According to legend, Kutch (Kachchh) was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in the past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, who was married to King B ...

in Princely State of Cutch and did his preliminary education there. He was attracted to coal mining business due to his connection with

Mistris of Kutch Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya (also known as Mistri or Mestri) are a minority Hindu community of Gujarat in India, who claim to be Kshatriya. They are an artisan community related with masonry, artistic carvings, sculpting and building and construction ...

, who had taken leadership in Jharia coal mining belt.Diary of Golden Days at Jharia – A Memoir & History of Gurjar Kashtriya Samaj of Kutch in Coalfields of Jharia – written by Natwarlal Devram Jethwa of Calcutta compiled by Raja Pawan Jethwa (1998) – ''A brief life sketch of Diwan Bahadur D. D. Thacker – page 25''. He started his career as coal agent around 1900, later he entered into coal mining in 1905 when in partnership with Seth Khora Ramji & Brothers, he purchased ''Pure Jharia Colliery'' located in Jharia. After death of Seth Khora Ramji in 1923, however, he became sole proprietor of ''Pure Jharia Colliery'', purchasing the stake from heirs of Khora Ramji. Later on he vigorously expanded his coal mining as well coal trading business and purchased several mines in Bengal & Bihar. During his lifetime he held several posts like, chairman and Secretary of the Indian Mining Federation, the President of The Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Society of India, Further, he also held post of Honorary First Class Magistrate of JhairaProceedings of the Indian Science Congress, Volume 36, 1949 :Thacker, DD, Diwan Bahadur, MIME, FRSA, (Lond.), Honorary Magistrate (First Class), Colliery Owner, Pure Jharia Colliery, Jharia (Manbhum). He also served as President of the Bihar Chamber of Commerce, the Indian Colliery Owners' Association in his lifetime. He was among the patron and trustees of Jharia Anglo-Gujarati School. In 1928–29, ''Pure Jharia Colliery'' owned by him started a primary school for the benefit of the children of labour working in his mines. Further, in 1939–40, he also started a Labour's School in Jharia to train labours for coalmines, the school was then called Rao Bahadur D. D. Thacker's Labourers' School. In 1954, he donated money to award a Gold Medal called ''Dewan Bahadur D. D. Thacker Coal Mining Gold Medal'' to be awarded annually for works of merit and research in field of coal mining. Even today the above gold medal award is considered to be very prestigious and awarded annually by The Mining, Geological and Metallurgical Institute of India to persons excelling in field of coal mines industry in India. In 1954 he donated money to commemorate a running shield trophy for sports held in coal mining community. He died in 1961 and his coal mine business was carried on by his sons under name and style of D. D. Thacker & Sons, which was finally taken over by Government of India after nationalization of coal mines in 1972.Coking Coal Nationalisation Act of 1972 – D. D. Thacker & Sons, Pure Jharia Colliery

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thacker, D. D. People from Dhanbad district Gujarati people 1884 births 1961 deaths Founders of Indian schools and colleges Dewan Bahadurs Indian businesspeople in mining Indian businesspeople in coal Businesspeople from Jharkhand 20th-century Indian philanthropists People from Jharia