150 Years of Mahamana Malviya : A Forgotten Hero

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 26 , 2011           01.50 A.M.

Mahamana Madan Mohan Malviya was born on December 25 , 1861 in Allahabad . This year India celebrates his 150th Birth Anniversary.

Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya

It is sad that this visionary is almost forgotten by the younger generation . People of my generation will know him by his title Mahamana . But today’s generation would not recognize him even if you mention his full name ; Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya .

It is sad and tells the pathetic state of our educational standards that a leader of the calibre of Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya is forgotten by today’s generation .

Mahamana's Statue at the Main Entrance of B.H.U.

Mahamana was the President of Indian National Congress on four occasions ; 1909 – 1910 , 1918 – 1919 , 1930 – 1931 and then again 1932 – 1933 . He was founder of Banaras Hindu University , the largest residential university in Asia and one of the largest in the world . He founded it in 1916 . He was Vice – Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University [ BHU ] from 1919 to 1938 . He was succeeded by none other than Dr. S. Radhakrishnan .

Banaras Hindu University

Banaras Hindu University

Apart from being an educationist , he dabbled in journalism also . He founded ” The Leader ” in 1909 , a very popular and influential news paper , published from Allahabad .

He was the Chairman of ” Hindustan Times ” from 1924 to 1946 . He was also instrumental for the Hindi edition of ” The Hindustan Times ” , named ” Hindustan ” in 1936 .

Hindustan Times

He was pioneer pf Scout movement in India .

Born in Allahabad in the family of Sanskrit scholars , he did his matriculation from Muir Central College and graduation from Calcutta University .

His ancestors hailed from Malwa , so they were called Malviya . Due to poor economic condition , he could not complete post graduation and started his career as a teacher in Allahabad District School .Later on he left his job and became editor of a nationalist daily ” Hindustan ‘ . After two and half years he left the paper to join LL. B. After finishing his law degree , he started practise in Allahabad District Court and later on in moved to Allahabad High Court .

He gave up his well stablished law practise in 1911 for education and social service . He donned the robe again only to fight the case of Chouri Choura freedom fighters . 177 freedom fighters got capital punishment . Mahamana fought their case and was successful in saving 156 freedom fighters .

He attended 2nd session of Indian National Congress in 1886 in Calcutta [ Now Kolkata ] . He was associated with The Congress long before Mahatma Gandhi became a national figure . Mahatma Gandhi began his association with The Congress in 1921 . So Mahamana Malviya was his senior by 35 years . A fact non known by present day Indians and conveniently overlooked by present day leaders of The Congress . He was an active nationalist from 1886 , when Jawahar Lal Nehru was not even born .

It is sad that a leader of such seniority and calibre is forgotten and Indian National Congress has almost banished him from the pantheon . Congress has been usurped by Gandhi – Nehru family and because of PR activities and media blitzkrieg , people associate only Gandhi and Nehru clan with the Congress Party .

Mahamana is sadly forgotten

Madan Mohan Malviya Stadium

Today Banaras Hindu University is the sole reminder of Mahamana . Malviya Nagar in various Indian cities like ; Allahabad , Lucknow , Delhi , Bhopal and Jaipur keep his memory alive . People have forgotten that he started tradition of Aarti at Har Ki Poudi , Haridwar , which is still followed.

Logo of BHU

Ganga still flows in Haridwar , still slithers through Allahabad and Varanasi , Banaras Hindu University still stands tall . They all bear his testimony . They all remind his gigantic contributions . But alas , Indian National Congress has removed him from the pantheon . He has been downgraded and has no prominent place at the echelon . Though he was senior to Gandhi and Nehru , but has been relegated to irrelevance . His photos are missing from Congress literature and books and functions .

Panoramic View of Har Ki Paudi

I am saddened . I get hurt when I see articles about the contribution of Rajiv Gandhi and / or Sonia Gandhi in the papers and magazines . It is pathetic that even Rahul Gandhi is eulogized and this giant is neglected .He is branded as communal by some pseudo – secular , while appeasement is the order of the day .

Library BHU

New Vishwanath Temple Conceived by Mahamana

Government of India is celebrating his 150 years with a function in Delhi . It was supposed to be held on December 25th but will now happen on December 27th . Rulers of the day has no time for Mahamana . And , in my opinion , this function is not to commemorate the memory of Mahamana . Elections are due in Uttar Pradesh . The Congress needs to win Uttar Pradesh . To lure crucial Brahmin votes , they need an icon , a Brahmin icon . So they remembered Mahamana . They need Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya . So this charade of celebration of 150 Years of Mahamana Pandit Madan Moham Malviya came into being .

Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru , who usurped Mahamana’s title Pandit , now fails to help The Congress , so Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya is being tried out .After making Congress a fiefdom of Nehru – Gandhi family , after almost disowning  Sardar Patel , after branding Mahamana a communal leader and a sectarian leader of Hindus , The Indian Nation Congress is trying to pay lip service to the memory of Mahamana and trying to remember him on his 150th Anniversary , though they were the one , who obfuscated his memory and neglected his contribution .

It is sad ! It is bizarre ! It is ridiculous !!

I , through this blog , pay my obeisance to Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya . I also urge Malviya Mission , an organization dedicated to his memory , to do more .

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