BHU showcases an imperishable memory and the spirit of Bharat Ratna Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya with his firm belief of restoring the past glory of Takshashila and Nalanda vis-à-vis the European universities of Sorbonne, Oxford and Cambridge. His vision is embedded in its unique architectural layout and its content: A magnificent silhouette against the Gangetic sky at dawn with gothic pillars.
Banaras (Kashi or Varanasi) has been housing divine men, women and teachers since time immemorial. Continuity of life mirrors here: A dip in the holy Ganga sanctifies both life and death. In this holy city, on the auspicious occasion of Vasant Panchami on 4February 1916, a galaxy of eminent people, governors, ruling princes and the Viceroy met on a beautiful spring morning. Scholars and savants recited ancient texts on the river bank. The words of Veda Vyas and of rishis of Upanishads, the sermons of Buddha, the message of the Gita, of Shankaracharya, Kabir, Tulsi, and the saying of hundreds of saints and teachers reverberated everywhere in this holy city of Lord Shiva. Malaviya ji was a natural descendant of the great teachers and sages of India.
Foundation of a Great Edifice
The foundation stone of BHU was laid by Lord Hardinge on 4 February 1916. In a cavity under this marble stone, a copper box is kept, which contains a large copper plate with a Sanskrit inscription (Tamrapatra Abhilekh). The inscription reads (as translated in English): “The prime instrument of the Divine Will in this work was the Malaviya Brahmana, Madan Mohan, lover of his motherland. Unto him the Lord gave the gift of speech, and awakened India with his voice, and induced the leaders and the rulers of the people unto this End.”
A series of lectures by a galaxy of eminent people were delivered during 5–8 February 1916. The list included Mahatma Gandhi (which was his first public address in India), Annie Besant, JC Bose, PC Ray, CV Raman, Sam Higginbottom, Harold Mann, Kaviraj G Sen, and Patrick Geddes, among others.
Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT-BHU
Reflecting on the past glory of Takshashila (600 BC-500 AD) and Nalanda (500AD-1300 AD) universities, Malaviyaji envisioned establishing a unique university with a blend of east and west. This included our rich culture, heritage and tradition, with top-quality research and teaching in every branch of human knowledge. He created ‘a temple of learning’ with an excellent scientific/ social/ cultural/ value-based reputation developing a humane and interactive work-culture of teachers and taught, their publications and international exchanges.
The famous Indian chemist Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar while serving as a professor at BHU wrote its kulgeet: Madhur Manohar Ateev Sundar, yeh Sarvavidya ki Rajdhani … (So sweet, serene, infinitely beautiful, this is the presiding centre of all learning…). It was composed by another professor at BHU, Pt Omkar Nath Thakur. BHU was built and nourished by him out of contributions from beggars to kings, so, it is truly a people’s university.
A University to Revitalise India
In order to revitalise India as a nation, Malaviyaji viewed the importance of feeding its youth with the ancient culture and moral food. The proposal to establish a Hindu University was first put forward at a meeting held at the ‘Mint House’ in 1904 under the chairmanship of Kashi Naresh (king of Kashi). The Congress session was held in Varanasi on 27-30 December 1905 at the Ganga Rajghat plateau under the presidency of Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Malaviyaji took this opportunity to discuss his proposal at the Town Hall of Banaras on 31 December 1905. He had already circulated his proposal for the ‘Promotion of scientific, technical and artistic education combined with religious instruction and classical culture’, to a number of leading people and eminent educationists in different parts of our country. Most of them were there in attendance at the Congress session.
BHU was established with the following objectives: (i) To promote the study of the Hindu Shastras and of Sanskrit literature, (ii) To promote learning and research, (iii) To advance and diffuse such scientific, technical and professional knowledge to help in promoting indigenous industries and developing the material resources of the country, (iv) To promote the building up of character in youth by making religion and ethics an integral part of education.
Malaviyaji was an ordinary man with an extraordinary vision. He was a celestial light, an educational pioneer, a silver-tongued orator, a national leader, a four-time Congress president, a social reformer, a religious leader, a model of lofty-minded integrity, and above all, a great patriot. BHU was established ‘to preserve and popularise all that was good and great in the ancient civilisation of India and, at the same time, to impart instruction along lines of the best of modern universities.’
Malaviyaji dreamt of establishing BHU as an outstanding, broad-based university of light, liberty and learning. This ‘National Temple of Learning’ has moulded generations of eminent educationists, scientists, technologists, economists, artists, doctors, jurists, and prominent leaders, who have immensely contributed to the development of our nation. Moving forward with education pioneers at the time, such as Maharshi Karve in Pune, Sir Ashutosh Mukherji in Calcutta and Dr Annie Besant in Varanasi, Malaviyaji envisioned a broad-minded, tolerant, and universal religion as the foundation of education.
In order to invite distinguished scholars working abroad, Malaviyaji used to have frequent correspondence with eminent scientists like Albert Einstein, Ernest Rutherford, Sir Arthur Eddington among others. Eminent visitors such as German theoretical physicist Arnold Sommerfeld, CV Raman, Rabindranath Tagore, Ashutosh Mukherji, Sir M. Visvesvaraya and others graced the university. Raman, in fact, was an honorary professor at BHU right from the beginning.
BHU Founder Mahamana Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya’s letter to scientist Albert Einstein in the year 1931, wishing him to visit the campus of Banaras Hindu University
He always had his eye on the brilliant scholars working in India and elsewhere. Accordingly, he had the services of Jadunath Sarcar, Rakhal Das Banerji, UC Nag, Charles A King, AB Dhruva, Ganesh Prasad, Birbal Sahni, RS Inamdar, SS Bhatnagar, VV Narlikar, RK Asundi and many others. Mahamana’s spirit of tolerance and accommodation, of viewing things as others view them, of overcoming opposition, not by the rule of thumb, but by sweet reasonableness, characterized all his actions. Malaviyaji always blessed his students with a sermon, ‘Practise truth and do your duty.’
A Wholesome Education
Learning in classrooms alone (even by the best teachers) does not make a scientist, engineer, or a leader in any field of human knowledge. Scientific culture/temper, analytical thought, intuitive powers are honed up through interaction with the best minds.
Malaviyaji invited Prof Charles A King to start Engineering College at BHU. The Council appointed him Professor of Mechanical Engineering on 13 August 1918. As its first Principal, he laid more emphasis on practical training than on theoretical instruction. Addressing BHU’s first convocation on 17 January 1919, the first Chancellor of the University, Sir Krishnaraja Wadiyar (Maharaja of Mysore) proclaimed, “It is gratifying to find that the Banaras Hindu University has already recognized the importance of technology, and has made preparations for the formation of a faculty in this subject.” The same day, the Chancellor opened the Banaras Engineering College (BENCO) Workshop buildings.
The BENCO started in 1919 with three courses, namely Artisan Course, Diploma Course, and Degree Course. Within a couple of years of BENCO’s establishment, the University campus started attracting students from all over India. A power plant was set up at BENCO in 1921 to meet the needs of the university and for providing practical training to students.
For the first time in India, Malaviyaji established departments of mechanical and electrical engineering, glass technology, pharmaceutical chemistry, mining and metallurgy. Side-by-side, he introduced subjects like Ayurveda, Indology, ancient Indian culture and higher Sanskrit learning to bring about the synthesis of the best of east and west.
The department of geology was started under BENCO in 1920. The department of industrial chemistry was started in 1921, mining and metallurgy in 1923, and in 1944, it became the college of mining and metallurgy (MIN-MET). In 1939, a separate college of technology (TECHNO) was established. In 1968, BENCO, TECHNO and MIN-MET were merged to establish the Institute of Technology (IT-BHU). The earlier system of regional admission based on merit lists was replaced in 1972 by admission through IIT-JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) for undergraduate courses and Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) for postgraduate courses.
The IT-BHU was converted into Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), IIT (BHU), Varanasi, by the Government of India on 29 June 2012. With this development, Malaviyaji’s vision of establishing a world class centre of excellence in science and technology at BHU was substantially fulfilled during his 150th birth anniversary. Engineering graduates from BHU played a stellar role in pre-independent nation building and continue to do so in independent India too.
Unveiling the life-size statue of Bharat Ratna Mahamana on 25 December 1961 on his birth centenary, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan said, “Yesterday, I was at Jamshedpur and I was told that the town had about two to three hundred graduates of Banaras Hindu University working there in mining, metallurgy, mechanical and electrical engineering. As an outstanding sturdy patriot, he (Malaviyaji) realized that our country suffered on account of technical backwardness, lack of public spirit and inattention to our own great culture. …He established for the first time institutions of glass technology, pharmaceutical chemistry, mining and metallurgy, mechanical and electrical engineering. …In whatever part of the country you go, you find graduates of Banaras Hindu University.”
Vice-Chancellor/Rector of his own University, Malaviyaji was aptly called as ‘Devata Purush’ (God-like person) by Mahatma Gandhi. His vision was to generate national spirit through education and righteousness, achieving the economic development of the country by combining the teaching of science and technology with that of religion. Handing over BHU to Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan in 1939 speaks of his strong belief that devoted eminent scholars should head education administration.
BHU campus with an area of 1300 acres has made tremendous horizontal growth in recent years. The South Campus (Barkachha) with an area of 2700 acres is situated about 8 km south west of Mirzapur on Robertsganj highway. The purpose is to generate and transfer knowledge and technology to the population in the neighbourhood. The main campus houses several institutes namely, Agricultural Sciences, Medical Sciences, Environment & Sustainable Development, Science and Management Studies. Sir SunderLal (first BHU VC) Hospital and Trauma Centre are teaching hospitals, affiliated with the Institute of Medical Sciences. In addition, there is an autonomous institution, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU).
With about 135 departments, the BHU campus also houses Sayaji Rao Gaekwad Library, Malaviya Bhawan, Bharat Kala Bhawan, Swatantrata Bhawan, several guest houses, Shri Kashi Viswanath temple, many hostels, Kendriya Vidyalaya, etc. Colleges affiliated to BHU are: Arya Mahila PG College, DAV Degree College, Vasant Kanya Mahavidyalaya at Kamachha, and Vasant College for Women at Rajghat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Centre and a super speciality hospital at BHU on 22 December 2016. Addressing the gathering, the PM said, “Why should patients from here have to travel far for cancer treatment?” It is indeed a great tribute to Bharat Ratna Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya and his vision for BHU.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Centre and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital in Varanasi in 2019
Malaviyaji is immortal. He lives in his deeds. We have the vision of our founder, his respect for excellence, and his self-confidence that can inspire, guide and make us confident of making a better future for ‘Madhur Manohar Ateev Sundar, yeh Sarvavidya ki Rajdhani … (So sweet, serene, infinitely beautiful. This is the presiding centre of all learning…).
*The writer is Honorary Adjunct Professor at RGIPT, Jais Amethi, and retired Professor (HAG), IIT-BHU, Varanasi.
