Madan Mohan Malaviya (25 December 1861 – 12 November 1946), the famed Indian educationist, journalist, thinker and freedom fighter was born on 25 December. Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya’s contribution to contemporary India were manifold as was his versatile talent.
Malviya Ji Was Man of Many Talent
He is also known as the founder of Banaras Hindu University that he started in 1916 with aim to re-establish Indian education system. Pandit Malaviya was one of the founders of the Bharat Scouts and Guides. He also founded a highly influential, English newspaper, The Leader published from Allahabad in 1909. He was also the Chairman of Hindustan Times from 1924 to 1946. He was also instrumental in the launch of its Hindi edition named Hindustan Dainik in 1936.
Malaviya is known for founding the Banaras Hindu University and for becoming one of the torchbearers of the freedom struggle — acting as a bridge between the Moderates and the Extremists in the Congress.
Early Life of Madan Mohan Malviya
Born in Allahabad, Madan Mohan Malaviya took early education under the ‘pathshala’ system, and was proficient in Sanskrit. In 1879, he graduated from the Muir Central College (today’s Allahabad University) and started working as a teacher at a local high school.
Political Life of Madan Mohan Malviya
Drawn to politics, Malaviya joined the Indian National Congress at its Calcutta session in 1886 — it had been founded a year previously at the Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Mumbai.
Malaviya rose up the ranks, and became president four times — in 1909 (Lahore), in 1918 (Delhi), in 1930 (Delhi), and in 1932 (Calcutta). Malaviya was part of the Congress for almost 50 years.
Madan Mohan Malaviya was one of the early leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha, and helped found it in 1906. He was a social reformer and a successful legislator, serving as a member of the Imperial Legislative Council for 11 years (1909–20).
In the freedom struggle, Malaviya was midway between the Liberals and the Nationalists, the Moderates and the Extremists, as the followers of Gokhale and Tilak were respectively called. In 1930, when Mahatma Gandhi launched the Salt Satyagraha and the Civil Disobedience Movement, he participated in it and courted arrest.
Banaras Hindu University
At the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), which he founded in 1916, he served as Vice-Chancellor from 1919 to 1938. Malaviya espoused free and compulsory primary education, opposed the system of indentured labour in the British Empire, and supported the nationalisation of railways.
Spread over 16.5 km2 (6.4 sq mi) and a student population of about 30000, BHU is the largest residential university in Asia.
His son Pandit Govind Malaviya served as the Vice-Chancellor of BHU from 1948 to 1951. His grandson Justice Giridhar Malaviya is currently the Chancellor of BHU since 2018.
Madan Mohan Malviya’s Legal Career
In 1891, Malaviya completed his LL.B. from Allahabad University and started practice in Allahabad District Court and then from 1893 practised at the High Court. He soon earned huge respect as one of the most brilliant lawyers of the Allahabad High Court. He gave up his legal practice when he was at his pinnacle in 1911 on his 50th birthday so that he could serve the nation thereafter.
Malaviya only once again donned his lawyers robe in 1924, following the Chauri Chaura incident in which a police station was attacked and arsoned in February 1922, as a result of which Mahatma Gandhi called off the then launched Non Cooperation movement. The sessions court had sent to gallows 170 persons for the attack.
However, Malaviya defended them in the Allahabad High Court and was able to get 155 persons saved from the gallows. The remaining 15 also were recommended for clemency by the High Court, whereafter their sentences were also commuted from death to life-imprisonment.
Bharat Ratna Award For Madan Mohan Malviya
In 2015, the government bestowed Malaviya with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, 68 years after his death. In 2016, the Indian Railways started the Varanasi-New Delhi Mahamana Express in the leader’s honour.
Source: Indian express, & Wikipedia
For more India news, brief and resources about Hinduism visit TheHindu.Ca
