Raghvanand was the son of Badri Maharaj, the first Indo-Fijian member of the Legislative Council.[1] He was educated in Fiji and New Zealand.[2] He became a leader of the Arya Samaj in the 1920s,[3] but was forced to resign from the organisation by the Governor and Colonial Secretary and closely monitored for several years afterwards.[4] During World War II he was one of the Indian members elected to the Central War Committee.[5]
Raghvanand worked in the colonial civil service and became Assistant to the Native Lands Commissioner Lala Sukuna,[1] the first non-European to hold principal office.[6] In 1944 he was elected to the council of the Fiji Public Servants' Association.[7] In the 1952 Birthday Honours he was made an MBE for his service. In 1953 Raghvanand was appointed to the Legislative Council by the Governor as one of the 'official' members.[1] He retired in 1955.[8]
In 1963 he was made a Justice of the Peace.[9] He died at the age of 87.[2]