Biography

The word 'Mahamana' is a Sanskrit word which means large-hearted where the word 'Maha' means great or large and word 'Mana' means heart. V.V Narlikar wrote once that it is written in Chandogya Upanishad –

"महान्कीर्त्या महामनाः स्यात्तद्व्रतम्"

which means 'great with fame his holy vow is that he should be high- minded towards all'. Further he says that, once Dr. C.Y Chintamani said that Malaviyaji was a Dharmatama and deserved to be recognized as such by all. It was years later he began to be generally recognized as Mahamana. It is generally believed that Rabindranath Tagore was the first to call him 'Mahamana'.

With his solemn resolve throughout his life without being disheartened for a moment, dedicating himself whole- heartedly to the service of the country. Ten days before his death he said – "I do not want liberation from bondage (moksha). I want to be born again once more to serve the country and the university."

(Sources: 'Visionary of Modern India: Madan Mohan Malaviya' - Dr. S.K Maini, DrVishwanath Pandey, K. Chandramouli and 'Mahamana Malaviya: A Short Biography'- Dr. Sources:' U.D Tiwari, 'Mahamana and Mahatma'-S. Somaskandan and Rama Venkatraman)