Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi)

India / Uttar Pradesh / Ramnagar / Varanasi / বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়
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Banaras Hindu University (BHU), is a Central university, located in Varanasi, India, which is also the largest residential university in Asia, with over 12,000 students living on its campus. BHU was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya and under the Parliamentary legislation, 'B.H.U. Act 1915.

The campus spread over 2760 acre (5.5 km²) campus was built on land donated by then Kashi Naresh. It has 140 teaching departments and more than 55 hostels for boys and girls. The total enrollment in the University stands at just over 15000, including students from all over India and abroad. Several of its colleges, including engineering (IT-BHU), science, linguistics, law and medicine (IMS-BHU), Faculty of Management Studies, are ranked amongst the best in India.[4], out of these IT-BHU is set to become India's 16th IIT, IIT-BHU from the academic session 2010 . BHU is ranked as the second best university in the field of research in India after Delhi University.It is also the best university of India on all parameters as per the India Today magazine dated 2nd June 2010.The main force behind this University was Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. Born in an educated orthodox Hindu family at Prayag (Allahabad) in 1861, Madan Mohan Malaviya name to be recognized as an outstanding and noble son of India.

His multifaceted personality made him, at the same time, a great patriot, an educationist with a vision, a social reformer, an ardent journalist, reluctant but effective lawyer, a successful parliamentarian and an outstanding statesman. Among Malaviyaji's many achievements, the most monumental was the establishment of the Banaras Hindu University or Kashi Hindu Vishvidyalaya. In the course of his lifetime Banaras Hindu University came to be known as a Capital of Knowledge acknowledged across India and the World.
Statue of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya at the entrance of Banaras Hindu University

Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya created history in Indian education with this institution - the first of its kind in the country. He chose Banaras as the site, because of the centuries old tradition of learning, wisdom and spirituality inherent to the place. His vision was to blend the best of Indian education called from the ancient centres of learning - Takshashila and Nalanda and other hallowed institutions, with the best tradition of modern universities of the west.

Great minds and personalities like Annie Besant, Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Shyama Charan De and many others joined hand with him in his quest for knowledge, arousing the national spirit in India and winning freedom with the power of education and righteousness. Malaviya died in 1946. But his spirit still lives and there are many who bear the torch that he lit, Many more stand ready to shoulder the mantle of his responsibility. The Idea of a Hindu University was mooted in a meeting held in 1904 at Varanasi. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya gave up his practice at the Bar and launched his mission in January, 1911. Almost at the same time, there was another proposal of Annie Besant for establishing a university at Varanasi under the name of "The University of India". In 1907, she submitted a memorandum for the grant of Royal Charter for the establishment of the University. In April 1911, Annie Besant and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya met and decided to unite their forces and work for a common Hindu University at Varanasi.[9] A society under the name, "The Hindu University Society", was formed and registered in December, 1911 with Maharaja Sir Rameshwar Singh Bahadur of Darbhanga of as its President and Sir Sundar Lal, a Judge of the Allahabad High Court, as its Secretary. Its office was opened at Allahabad on 1 January 1912. The then British Government of India had required that a sum of rupees fifty lakhs must be collected before the scheme could be put into effect. By the beginning of the year 1915, this target was achieved with the great dedication and efforts of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. Another pre-condition set by the Government of India as per the then existing rules of Indian Universities was that the Central Hindu College should become a part of the University. Annie Besant, Dr. Bhagwan Das and their fellow Trustees of the Central Hindu College agreed to hand over the institution to be made the nucleus of the proposed University. The charge of the Central Hindu College was handed over to the Hindu University Society on 27 November 1915.

The Banaras Hindu University Bill was introduced in the Imperial Legislative Council in March, 1915 by Sir Harcourt Butler. The Bill was referred to a Select Committee and it came up along with the report of the Select Committee for final reading before the Imperial Legislative Council. The Council passed the bill on 1 October 1915 and the same day it received the assent of the Governor-General and Viceroy of India which made it an Act. On 4 February 1916 Lord Hardinge, the then Governor-General and Viceroy laid the foundation stone of the University. A series of lectures which have come to be known as the University Extension Lectures were delivered on the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8 February 1916 by distinguished specialists like Sir J.C. Bose, Dr. PC. Ray, Dr. Harold Mann, Prof. Sam Higginbottom, Mrs. Annie Besant, Prof. C. V. Raman among others. Mahatma Gandhi who had just returned to India from South Africa and had come to Banaras to attend the Foundation stone laying ceremony addressed his first public lecture in India on 6 February. The closing functions were held on 8 February 1916, on the day Vasant Panchami.By a Notification published In the Gazette of India on 25 March 1916 the Banaras Hindu University Act of 1915 was brought into force from 1 April 1916. Dr. Sir Sundar Lal was appointed the first Vice-Chancellor.

The University started functioning from 1 October 1917 with the Central Hindu College at Kamaccha, Varanasi as its first constituent college. In July, 1918 the College of Oriental learning and Theology was opened and in August 1918, the Teachers' Training College. The first University examinations were held in 1918 and the first Convocation was held on 17 January 1919. The Chancellor of the University, Maharaja Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV of Mysore who had come to preside over and address the Convocation, also performed the opening ceremony of the Engineering College Workshop buildings. Thus the Engineering College was the first to start functioning in the University campus. An Artisan course was started on 11 February 1919

The late Kashi Naresh and Maharaja Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh had a great impact on this institution.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   25°15'59"N   82°59'42"E

Comments

  • MADHUR MANOHAR ATIV SUNDAR YAH SARVAVIDYA KI RAJDHANI..
  • The most beautiful place on earth for learning. An institution par excellence across the globe.
  • its vey nice place to visit
  • its very nice place.enjoy it,feel it,but donot let ie invain
  • I like varanasi very much.....this yr. its my 3rd yr. but still i never felt myself bored here...in context of BHU,i never found so green place having so nice campus with more than 100 depts.
  • i am student of IT-BHU IT-BHU rocks!!!
  • once the great poet Ekbal said about Kashmir "if there is heaven on Earth its here". Might be he had not visited BHU @ that time, otherwise this statement would have been 4 BHU.Isn't it? It is no HEAVEN, but 4 someone like me more than HEAVEN.Once u get in u won't like to get out. That's a promise.I lived the best part of my life in BHU. My friends like PULAK PRANAY, PRABHAT MISHRA, SUMIT CHANDRA, SAWAN ROY, SAUMYA KANTI BISWAS, KAUSHIK GHOSH, AMOD,CHOUBEY G, SUSHRITA DAS, and many others(these r a few 2 name) will be there with me forever till my last breathe. And I m thankful 2 BHU 4 giving me such a environment and such good friends. I LUV BHU at last but not d least, I miss raat bki chai and ciggarette at Dilip chai dukan, sunday lunch and dinner at PRATAP HOTEL AND BANARAS BURGER (BBC). Lastly BIRLA ZINDABAD; HAR....HAR....MAHADEV
  • Varanasi is the oldest living city of the human culture. It is a land of Lord Shiva, Sri Ram, Lord Buddha, Lord Hanuman and number of other religious thoughts. It has legendaries like Gautam, Ramanand, Kabir, Tulsi and so on. It is a land of knowledge and thoughts. It respects humanity, brotherhood, and friendly relations. Always open to respect humans from all over the world. Those who respect humanity may visit this land of love and respect.
  • darthi ka swarg
  • i won't go much to religion..but its true this city has everything 2 offer.
  • "Let my love surround you, and give you the wisdom illumined!" : if my college could speak, it would have been this line! I was in BHU from 1998 to 2004 (BA Economics, MA Economics, MA Personnel Management & IR). Cannot forget the moments of togetherness with friends, jolly good mates, pals in Maitri restaurant … studying in hostel before exams and roaming in the hostel roads at 3 in the winter night to have a cup of ‘tea’ to Lanka .. ‘lanketing’ in the evening, celebrating fresher’s welcome and organizing picnic parties! Dreams for future .. happiness in uncertainties, joy of achievements, celebrating after convocation ceremony .. love, affection, bond of friendship.. tears of ripping apart .. the last day in the hostel, and leaving BHU after 7 long years .. it was a reason, it was a cause. It was learning about being .. Together we stayed, together we are .. however in different geographies .. Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, jaipur, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, Melbourne .. however, we still remember you in the deep of our hearts. We shall conquer the world for you, BHU! you are the Best.
  • I miss u bhu.lots of love 4 u
  • The real boom town in the World with full of Intelligence and powers to rule the world.
  • BHU is the best and student of bhu is the best
  • i did my P.G.from BHU.i am blessed by this university. i miss my workplace very much .
  • BHU is simply heaven u cannot find such environment elsewhere in the world....
  • iam tarique ihave done my msc in maths in 2005 i have passed happiest days of my life in this institution
  • i love it mera vash chale to main puri umra yahi guzar du
  • Heaven Indeed
  • Prabin Kumar Singh studied here fom 1989 to 1995 .contact +91 9350043559
  • I completed M.Tech in Industrial Management in IT-BHU.2006-2008
  • chaniaaa
  • gooooooooooooooooooooooooood University
  • BHU is a Heaven...made by pandit Madan Mohan Malviya.
  • It is the place of saraswati
  • i am studant of arts 2014-15 my first semester BHU is the best and student of bhu is the best
  • har har mahadev
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This article was last modified 11 years ago