An embodiment of Indian culture and wisdom, Mahamana Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya was born on Dec. 25th, 1861 i.e. as per Hindu Calender "Paush krishna Ashtami, Wednesday Sanvat 1918 vikramai" in the locality named Lal diggi in Prayaga (Bharati Bhavan, Allahabad). His father was Pt. Braj Nath ji and mother was Smt. Moone Devi, Both of them were spiritually awakened and had firm faith in Sanatan Dharma. It is said that the grand father of Pt. Braj Nath was Pt. Premdhar, who was a renounced Sanskrit scholar and belonged to the family of Pt. Vishnu Prasad ji of Malava, a state in Central India. The grand father, Pt. Premdhar came to Prayaga to settle down there, while other members of his family come to a nearby city named Mirzapur of Uttar Pradesh. Pt. Premdhar was famous for his fine and heart touching speeches on the Bhagavat Purana. Among all his siblings, Madan Mohan was most talented and genius and had visionary aptitudes. This, 'Madan Mohan' by dint of his vision and dreams significantly contributed to the building of New India. He became a guide to mankind in the sense of giving a new kind of leadership not only in the political field but more so in the field of Education, which was for him, the backbone for arousing people from ignorance to wisdom, from imperfection to the perfect man. This is how he was regarded as 'Mahamana'.
Education :-
The early education of Mahamana was completed in Allahabad. Started at the age of 5 in Mahajani Pathshala, Madan Mohan, imbibed the real Hindu Sanskaras and while going to school, he used to visit the temple of Human and recite the prayer every day.
मनोजवं मारूत तुल्य वेगं जितेन्द्रिय बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम् ।
वातात्मजं वानरयूथ मुख्यं श्री रामदूतं सिरसा नमामि ।।
On the auspicious occasion of Sri Krishna Janmashtami, he used to celebrate it whole heartedly. He started composing poetry at the age of fifteen with the pen name 'Makarand'. He passed matriculation examination in the year 1868 from Prayaga Govt. High school. Then He joined Myore Central College. He used to participate in several cultural events in the school as well as in the college. He established "Hindu Samaj" in 1880.
Marriage:-
He was married with Kundan Devi daughter of Pt. Nand Lal ji of Mirzapur at the age of sixteen.
Social Works :
Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya was the founder of several organisation and edited magagines of high standard in order to promote Hindu ideals of Sanatan Dharma, and to build India as a strong and developed country in the world. For this purpose, he founded "Prayaga Hindu Samaj", and wrote served articles on the Contemporary issues and problems of the country. In 1884, he become the member of 'Hindi Uddharini Pratinidhi Sabha'. In 1885, he edited 'Indian Union' an English weekly. In 1887, he established "Bharata Dharma Mahamandal", to propogate Sanatan Dharma and Hindu culture. He was editor of 'Hindustan'. In 1889, he edited 'Indian Opinion'. In 1891, he become barrister and started practicing at Allahabad High Court. He pleaded successfully for many significant cases during these days.
He
left the law practice in 1913 and decided to serve the nation for attaining
freedom from British rule. Mahamana was keenly interested to help the students
for better learning and living and for this sake he arranged to build a Hostel
named 'Macdonall Hindu Hostel' at Allahabad, and in 1889, he also established
there a library.
He remained a member of municipality at
Allahabad
till 1916 and he was also an honoured member of Indian National Congress for
several years.
In 1907, on the day of "Vasanta Panchami" he started a weekly
in Hindi, entitled 'Abhyudaya'. He was
also instrumental in bringing out an English Daily called 'Leader' in 1909.
After the death of his father, he decided to serve the nation in more
than one way. In 1919, at the auspicious "Kumbha" fair at Prayaga, he
started "Prayaga Seva Samiti" to serve the pilgrims. He admitted
himself to the selfless action as inspired by 'Mahabharat', the great Epic,
making the following famous sloka his mantra :
न त्वहं कामये राज्यं, न स्वर्गं न पुनर्भवम् ।
कामये दुःख तप्तानाम् प्राणिनामार्तनाशनम् ।।
This
goal become an ideal slogan later on.
Making of the
Banaras
Hindu
University
:-
Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya was greatly inspired by Dr. Annie Besant, an
Irish lady, who come to
India
with motive of spreading Educational Programmes. She started
Central
Hindu
College
at Kamachha in the city of
Varanasi
in 1889, which become the nexus of the
Banaras
Hindu
University
later on. Pandit ji, with help of the then Maharaja of Benaras, Sri Prabhu
Narain Singh ji, proposed to establigh the University named the Banaras Hindu
University in 1904. In the year 1905, this proposal got the sanction of several
Hindu organization. On 31st Dec. 1905, in the
Town Hall
of
Varanasi
, under the chairmanship of Sri D. N. Mahajan, the proposal was finally
approved.
In 1911, in the association of Dr. Annie Besant, a resolution was passed
to establish "Kashi Vishva Vidyalaya",
and on 28 Nov. 1911, a society was formed to begin the work for the
Banaras
Hindu
University
. On March, 25, 1915, Sir Hurcourt Butler proposed a bill in the Imperial
legislation Council for the establishment of the University. On Oct. 01, 1915,
the B.H.U. Act was passed.
On Feb. 4th, 1916, i.e. Magh Shukla
Pratipada, samvat 1972, the foundation of the
Banaras
Hindu
University
was laid down. A grand ceremony was organised to celebrate the occasion in
which several eminent personalities of
India
, were present.
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