Vinayak Singh Oberoi

Prince Minor II Vinayak Singh Oberoi is an Indian Author and Philanthropist, born into an elite-royal family of Hatkhola and Kashmiri-Bengali aristocracy via mother and Dogra-Suryavanshi Rajput royalty via father, is also a former student of Army Public School, Kolkata. He is the great-great-grandson of Dewan of Mayurbhanj and great-grandnephew of Advocate General of Bengal KCSI, grand-nephew of Padma Bhushan, Indian Film Producer and grandson of Indian Chemical Industrialist. He is the great-great-grandson (via great-grandfather) of Mohini Mohan Dhar, who served as the Dewan (Chief Minister) and state Judge of the princely state of Mayurbhanj, and the great-grand-nephew (brother of great-grandmother) of Sir. Kt. Nripendra Nath Sircar, Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India, who was the Advocate General of Bengal and Law Member of the India. Oberoi is also the grand-nephew of Padma Bhushan and Dada Saheb Phalke Award recipient Birendranath Sircar, a pioneering figure in Indian cinema, Additionally, Oberoi's grandfather, Chittajit Mohan Dhar, former M.P., was a prominent Indian chemical industrialist, and a pioneer of production of Benzyl Benzoate and Dimethyl Phthalate in India. Third Great Grandson- great-great-great-grandson of Indian Educationist also known as 'Arnold of the East' Peary Charan Sircar, who wrote the first Book of Reading. His series of Reading Books introduced a whole generation of Bengalis to the English language, sold in the millions and were translated into every major Indian language. Sircar was married to the Princess Kailshkamini, daughter of Raja Shib Narayan Basu of Hatkhola royal family. Further adding to his illustrious lineage, he is also connected to Gurusaday Dutt ICS, Saroj Nalini Dutt MBE, Padma Shri- Subrata Mitra, Brajendranath De (great-nephew of Peary Charan Sircar) first Indian ICS officer to have studied in a college in Oxford, magistrate and collector of Bankura, Burdwan and Faridpore. He served as the full district magistrate and collector of Khulna and chairman of the Hooghly Municipal Corporation. He was an (acting) commissioner of the Burdwan Division. He was born to Dr. Uma Dhar Singh and Rajiv Singh. Vinayak Singh Oberoi has an elder half-brother Abhishek Singh. Abhishek was born to Preeti Singh and Rajiv Singh. Vinayak is widely recognized for his literary contributions, including books such as Into the Depths of Darkness and An Encounter with Diex. Additionally, he has ventured into acting, participating in serials like Karmaphaldata Shani and Jai Kali Kalkattawali. Alongside his creative pursuits, Vinayak has demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit by co-developing a website named Gypsievan with his mother, which shut down on May 11 after being active for 4 years. He has also engaged in philanthropic initiatives, particularly focusing on issues related to addiction treatment and education. Vinayak has helped fund relief efforts in flooded regions in Africa, donated to various drug rehabilitation centers, supported girls' education, contributed to stray dog welfare, and provided food for children through the Thaagam Foundation in 2024. Oberoi won the Young Philanthropist Award in 2024 from the Universal Charity and Leadership Society, Gujrat.