Shri Dharma Vira

Born on 20th January 1906, Shri Dharam Vira got his education at Lucknow and Allahabad. He also studied at the London School of Economics prior to his joining the Indian Civil Service (ICS) in 1930. He held various important posts in Uttar Pradesh. He also served with the Government of India and held various important assignments including Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister (1950-51); Secretary, Ministry of Rehabilitation, Government of India (1956-62); Chief Commissioner, Delhi (1963-64); Cabinet Secretary and Secretary to the Union Council of Ministers (1964-66). He resigned from the ICS on his appointment as the Governor of undivided Punjab in July 1966. When Haryana was curved out of undivided Punjab as a separate State on 1st November 1966 Shri Dharam Vira became the first Governor of Haryana State. He was the Governor of Punjab till May 1967 and of Haryana till 14th September 1967. From Haryana, Shri Dharam Vira went as the Governor of West Bengal (1967-69). Thereafter he was the Governor of Karnataka from October 1969 to February 1972.

Shri Dharam Vira was a keen sportsman and mountaineer. He was the first Indian to cross the Traill‟s Pass in the Himalayas. He maintained two educational institutions, including an intermediate college in Bijnor, U.P. Shri Dharamvira died in the September of the year 2000.