Raja Rajendra Mullick Bahadur

Raja Rajendra Mullick Bahadur was an Indian businessman, art lover and philanthropist. Rajendra was adopted as a child by Nilmani Mullick, a member of an established family of bullion merchants whose wealth lay in the maritime trade in silver, gold and sugar. After Nilmani died, Rajendra inherited all his wealth.

Rajendra’s chief interests were natural history and arts, both Western and Oriental, which he expressed in his Marble Palace. The construction of the Marble Palace began in 1385, when Rajendra was only 16. It was completed in 1840 and Rajendra is said to have personally directed the 500 artisans who executed the plan. The structure is basically Neoclassical in style, while the plan with its open courtyards is largely traditional Bengali. The palace is filled with marble sculptures of animals, gods from all kind of religions, paintings from both Oriental and European artists, and other works of art.

Besides his wealth and love for art, Rajendra was also known for his philanthropic activities. His relief efforts during the famine of 1865-66 earned him the title Rai Bahadur, and in 1878, Lord Lytton endowed him with the title of Raja.