Jhaverilal K. Dholakia

Jhaverilal K. Dholakia generally referred to as J. K. Dholakia (26 February 1886 – 14 December 1978) was a noted miner, engineer and expert in coal mining from Jharia.[1][2][3]

He was born in 1886 to Kalayan Rai Dholakia at Bhuj[1][4] He was born in a Nagar community.[4] Dholakia was educated in Vernacular and English at Alfred High School, Bhuj and passed Matriculation Examination in 1903 from the University of Bombay. After passing Matriculation and also a Revenue Department Examinations from Bombay, Dholakia came to Calcutta in 1904 and worked in accounts department and later in the foreign correspondence section of Gokuldas Hansraj, a rice and general merchants from Bhatia community from Kutch[4] owning rice mills at various centres and shipping rice overseas.[3]

The major change in his career came when he was transferred to the collieries of another Bhatia industrialist, Trikamji Jiwandas[4] in the beginning of 1905 and was posted at Balihari Colliery near Jharia. The colliery was joint venture between Trikamji, Gova Petha & Khora Ramji. [4]Later, he obtained Colliery Manager's second class certificate of competency in 1908 and subsequently the first class certificate of competency in managing mines in 1917.[2] He got a degree of mining engineer in 1921.[2]

He had a long and successful career in Jharia and worked for following mines: Tricumji Jiwandas 1905–08; Manager: Sonachera Colliery 1909–17; Jaynarayan Ramjas Collieries 1917–21; S. D. Mehta & Co. Ltd., Balihari Colliery 1925–31; Agent, S. D. Mehta & Co. Ltd. 1932–36; Chief Mining Engineer, S. D. Mehta & Co. Ltd., 1932–44; H. V. Low & Co, 1944–45; Agent, Bhurangya Coal Co. 1945–47; Khatau & Co. Ltd., 1947–49; Officer-in-Charge, Kalyanji Mavji & Co. Collieries 1949–51; Bhurangya Colliery 1951–53.[3] He retired in 1953[5] and went back to his native town, Bhuj, Kutch. However, he continued to serve as mining advisor for two major coal mining conglomerates of Jharia coalfields - Khatau & Company and Kalyanji Mavji & Co for many years from 1954 to 1963.[3]

He served as the president of Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Society of India for years 1938–39, 1947–48.[1] He was president of Indian Mine Managers' Association for years 1930–31.[1]

He was a Chartered Engineer and fellow of Institution of Mining Engineers, London, North of England Institute of Mining & Mechanical Engineers[2][3]

He continued to represent the Institute on the Regional Coal Survey Committee for Jharia coalfield region.[1]

He served as an honorary Secretary Indian Colliery Owners Association for years 1948–49 and was a committee member of association for many years.[6]

He served on various boards and committees with respect to mining for example - Jharia Mines Board of Health (1919, 1929–33), Coal Mining Stowing Boards Expert Committee (1941–53), Low temperature Carbonization Committee (1944), Chairman, Railways and Collieries Advisory Board, Mining Education Advisory Board, etc.[3][7]

He was also active in public life and served as Secretary of the Jharia Anglo Gujarati School for 1911–12 ; Chairman Jharia- Dhanbad Gawshala ; Vice-Chairman Bombay State Social Welfare Advisory Board and other institutions.[2][4]

He died on 14 December 1978 at Bhuj.[4]