Shri Danmal Mathur is remembered as a well known and highly respected luminary of Rajasthan. Multifaceted and diligent, he was born on 14th March 1904 in Ajmer and made a mark for himself as an educationist. His father, Munshi Kanmal Mathur, had been Housemaster of Kotah House in Mayo College earlier, and was known for being a man of principle and a disciplinarian. A young Danmal imbibed his father’s qualities.
On 25th Feb., 1916 (when he was only 12) Danmalji was married to Roop Kanwar, daughter of Shri Devi Dayal Mathur of Kharwa.The adage ‘Behind every successful man is a woman’ is exemplified in its entirety by the support Shri Danmal received from his wife who managed the house-hold and brought up a large family, allowing her husband time to give to the innumerable professional, philanthropic, societal and other commitments he was destined to be a part of.
He passed his B.Sc. examination from Government College, Ajmer in 1927 where he was appointed ‘Demonstrator’ in Physics. He was HOD and Vice Principal Mayo College.
With a Bachelor’s degree from Government College, Ajmer, he went on to work as Demonstrator in Physics and later taught in Sardar High School, Bharatpur, for three years. The Principal of Mayo College in 1932, Mr. V.A.S. Shaw, recognizing his potential, appointed him to teach Geography in Mayo College. He rose to become Head of the Geography Department. Later, he went on to become Housemaster, then Vice Principal and also acting Principal before retirement in 1969.
He was the founder Principal of Vidya Niketan School in Bhilwara and the Mayoor School in Ajmer.
In 1947 Shri Danmal accompanied the Indian Scouts contingent as a senior member to Paris at the international Scouts Jamboree.
In 1952 Shri Danmal was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship to the USA where he impressed the various forums he addressed, by his views on Education and his expositions on Indian culture and religion. In the same year Shri Danmal was awarded the ‘International Service Star’ for his valuable services by Lord Mountbatten of Burma and Chief Scout of India.
In his quest to spread the message of scouting, Shri Danmal started scouting in the Railways at the Mt. Abu camp in 1948. also took a contingent of scouts to Japan in 1953.
When Ajmer was merged with Rajasthan in 1956 Shri Danmal was appointed Divisional Secretary and later Commissioner of Rajasthan State Scouts and Guides.It was because of his efforts in persuading the Government that a 17 acre permanent scouts campsite was set up at Pushkar Ghati, and land was allotted for setting up the Divisional Headquarters for Scouts in ‘Tope Dara’ in Ajmer.
*For his contribution to Scouting the National Headquarters of Bharat Scouts and Guides honoured him by decorating him first with the ‘Silver Star’ and subsequently, in 1970, with the ‘Silver Elephant’ the highest award in Scouting in India.*
Shri Mathur excelled in games also and achieved the rare distinction of captaining all the three major games; cricket, football and hockey in the same year in Govt. College, Ajmer. He was awarded the ‘Colvin Gold Medal’ in recognition of his sporting achievements in Govt. College.
*Subsequently, he played cricket for Rajputana and was in the team which played against the M.C.C. when it toured India and Australia in the thirties.*
“Maa’t Saab”, as he was affectionately called, endeared himself to his students and inspired confidence in them. Pursuit of excellence and commitment to the task in hand were the guiding principals of his life. Any history of Mayo College, Ajmer, the Scout movement in India and education in Rajasthan would be incomplete without mention of Danmal Mathur.
Department of Posts released commemorative postage stamp on Danmal Mathur.
Issued Date : 07.11.2009
Denomination :500 Paise
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