Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya

Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya

MALAVIYAJI IS IMMORTAL

 

Mahatma Gandhi

 

There is a saying in English, 'the king is dead, long live the king'. Perhaps it can be said with greater aptness though in a different setting, of the great and good Malaviyaji whom death has kindly delivered from physical pain and to whom his body had ceased for some time to give the work he would gladly have taken from it. Can we not say of him, 'Malaviyaji the adored of Bharatvarsha is dead, long live  Malaviyaji ?'


His unremitting toil from his early youth to ripe old age has made him immortal. His services were many but the Benares Hindu University, styled in Hindi as Kashi Vishwa Vidyalaya must for all time be counted as his greatest and best creation. If it is more popularly known as the Benares Hindu University the fault was not his, or, if it was his, it was due to his magnanimous nature. He was a servant of his followers. He allowed them to do as they wished. I happen to know personally that this spirit of accommodation was part of his nature, so much so that at times it took the shape of weakness. Only he was a powerful man. And has not his own special favourite Bhagawata said that no fault accrues to the powerful?


But it is a defect which can easily be remedied now. Every stone of that majestic structure should be a reflection of true Hindu dharma or culture. The institution must not in any shape or form reflect the glory of materialism of the West that we are familiar with, but it should be a true reflection of the glory that is spiritualism. Is every pupil a representative of pure undefiled religion? If he is not, why not? This university will be judged, as all universities should be, not by the number of pupils studying at it at a given time but by their quality, however few in numbers they may be.


I know that this is easier said than done. Nevertheless, it is the foundation of this university. If it is not that, it is nothing. Hence it is the clear duty of the progeny of the deceased as also his followers to give it that shape. It is essentially the function of the university to assign Hindu religion its status in the body of the religions of the world, as it is its function to rid it of its defects and limitations. The devotees of the deceased should regard it as their special duty to shoulder this burden.


Malaviyaji has left an imperishable memorial of himself in the Kashi Vishwa Vidyalaya. To put it on a stable foundation, to secure its revolutionary growth, will surely be the most suitable memorial that can be erected by us to the memory of the great patriot. He spared no pains in making a big collection for his pet child.   Everyone who reveres his memory can give a helping hand to the labour of continuing the collection.


His internal life was purity exemplified. He was a repository of kindness and gentleness. His knowledge of religious scriptures was very great. He was by heredity a great religious preacher. He had a marvellous memory and his life was as clean as it was simple. His politics I must leave alone as also his other manifold activities. He, whose life was singled out for selfless service and who had many gifts, would naturally stand for limitless activities. I have ventured to single out what has appealed to me as his most prominent service. And to give a real helping hand in making the institution a living example of true Hinduism will only be done by those who will try to imitate sincerely the purity and simplicity of his life.


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Excerpts from Mahatma Gandhi’s Speeches, Writings, Letters

When I returned to my country, I first went to Lokmanya Tilak. He appeared tall like the Himalayas. I thought it was not possible for me to scale the heights and returned. Then I went to Deshbandhu Gokhale. He appeared deep like the ocean. I saw that it was not possible for me gauge the depth and returned. Finally, I went to Mahamana Malaviya and he appeared like pure flow of the Ganga. I saw it was possible to take bath in the sacred flow.                                                         
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I have the privilege of knowing Pandit Malaviyaji ever since my return to India in 1915. I have had the privilege of closest communion with him. I regard him as one of the best among Hindus, who though orthodox, holds most liberal views. He is incapable of jealousy of anyone. He has a heart large enough to accommodate even his enemies. He has never aimed at power. And what he has is due to a long period of unbroken service of the motherland, such as very few of us can boast. He and I are temperamentally different but love each other like brothers. There never has been even so much as a jar between us.
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Pandit Malaviyaji had harboured me in his own room. I had a glimpse of the simplicity of his life on the occasion of the foundation ceremony of the Hindu University, but on this occasion being in the same room with him I was able to observe his daily routine in the closest detail, and what I saw filled me with joyful surprise. His room presented the appearance of a free inn for all the poor. You could hardly cross from one end to the other. It was so crowded. It was accessible at all odd hours to chance visitors who had the license to take as much of his time as they liked. In a corner of this crib lay my charpai in all its dignity. I was thus enabled to hold daily discussions with Malaviyaji who used to lovingly explain to me, like an elder brother, the various view points of the different parties.
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I am the devotee of Malaviyaji Maharaj. How can a devotee properly and adequately praise his master or write about him? Whatever he writes look incomplete. Through pictures I had Darshan of Malaviyaji in 1890. This picture was in paper called ‘India’ published in England by Mr.Digwi. It seems to me I am still today seeing that picture. There is abundance of unity and purity in his thoughts, looks and dress. And in this unity I find sweetness and devotion. Today who can compete with Malaviyaji in Patriotism? Beginning with his youth and till date his patriotism flows uninterrupted like Ganga.
(While leaving for England, 07-09-1931)
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Patriotism and service to Motherland is food for Malaviyaji. He can never, ever leave it, just as it impossible to leave daily recitation of Bhagwad Gita. Patriotism and service to motherland together is breath of life for him. That is why till he breathes he will ceaselessly continue to serve motherland and humanity.    
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Innocent Hindu and Musalman brothers were saved (after the Jalianwala Bagh incident) due to unprecedented efforts of Malaviyaji in Punjab.                                                       
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Even today, leaving his law practice of more than a lakh of monthly income, he is ceaselessly involved in the service of the country.
(Aaj, Hindi Daily, 4th Nov 1920)
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No aspect of Malaviyaji is hidden from me. I am well aware of his simplicity, purity, tenderness and love. From all these virtues of him, you must take as much as you (student & teacher) can. If someone cannot take the warmth of sun, even being in the open, it is not the fault of sun. Sun itself gives warmth to one and all. If someone does not want to take it and shivers in cold then what can sun do? Being so close to Malaviyaji, if you cannot learn from his life simplicity, sacrifice, patriotism, large heartedness, universal love and other virtues, then who can be a greater unlucky person than you?                                                       
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Among the living Indians I cannot see greater patriot doing immense service to mother India than him. Ever since I came from Africa I am his devotee, a disciple. He is Vice Chancellor of BHU, founded by him. He is its soul and to respect him is our religion, our duty. It is true BHU is his life, but Bharat for him is even more than his life. Malaviyaji has a firm conviction that no one is capable of harming Bharat.                                              
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Remember, millions of poor people will never have access to the facilities that Malaviyaji has provided for you. What return will you make to these brothers and sisters of yours? You may be sure that when he conceived the plan of this university, he had the question in mind and he embarked on the mission in the hope that you would so conduct yourselves as to deserve the training given to you.    

                                                                                                                                            
(On a visit to BHU in 1929).
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Everyone knows that there is no great beggar than Pandit Malaviyaji on the face of the earth. He has never begged for himself, by the grace of god he has never been in want, but he became a voluntary beggar for causes he has made his own, and God has always filled his bowl in an overflowing measure. But he had an insatiable   appetite and although he got the crore he wanted he is still asking for more.
(Silver Jubilee address, BHU, 1942)
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He is immortal. His labour from youth to ripe old age has made him immortal. He was servant to his followers. Reconciliation was in his nature.... His life was epitome of the holy. He was the image of mercy and softness.
(At Noakhali -- on Malaviyaji’s passing away)

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Letter to Shri V.S.Sunderam

Yes he has gone yet he has not gone. How can he of so many unrivalled services. His ailing body is delivered from torture. But he is immortal. Now is your testing time. You have to do all you can to make his monumental work a success – I do not mean merely financially…. Love. Bapu.
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Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya