Malaviyaji – a Visionary for a Resurgent Modern India

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

 President of India

At every point in time in human development, we have great individuals who are great scholars or professionals with great insight into issues that are topical, but more than that visualize a future course for posterity. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviyaji is one such great son of India. He excelled in every field of his association, be it the Freedom Movement, Journalism, Law, Education, Hindi, Upliftment of the Downtrodden, Social Welfare or Dharma. As an extraordinary visionary, he saw beyond the Country's freedom into the needs of a 'Resurgent Modern India'. He founded the Bañaras Hindu University, which is a pride of modern India. His thoughts, ideologies, and values are very important and extremely relevant today.

Mahatma Gandhi says that he went to Mahamana Malaviya and he appeared like the pure flow of Ganga. He saw it was possible to take bath in the sacred flow. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru describes him as a giant among men, one of those who laid the foundation of modern Indian Nationalism. Dr. Radhakrishnan sees him as an outstanding sturdy patriot who realized that our country suffered on account of technical backwardness, lack of public spirit, and inattention to our own great culture. These were the defects which he attempted to remove by the establishment of BHU. Pandit Malaviya’s own hope and prayer in conceiving the BHU was that this centre of life and light, that is coming into existence will produce students who will not only be intellectually equal to the best of students in other parts of the world, but also will live a noble life, love their country and be loyal to the supreme ruler. What messages do original thinkers and creators of institutions give.

In my opinion, based on the study of number of visionaries like Swami Vivekananda, Vikram Sarabhai, Jamshedji Tata, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Pundit Madan Mohan Malaviya, I feel they have some unique characteristics:

*Visionaries take great efforts to get to the root of current issues, but conceive long lasting solutions

*They develop an integrative thinking

*They are courageous to launch an unexplored path, the impact of that may not be obvious at that time

*They don’t just see an institution merely as an educational or research set up, but as nurturing grounds for excellence , research and human values

*They remain as role models for posterity

*They are not deterred by differences of opinions but are wedded to their cause which is unquestionable

I am delighted to participate in the inauguration of National Memorial of Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya. My greetings to the organizers, participants, BHU Alumni and the distinguished guests.

I appreciate and congratulate the team that was responsible in building the beautiful dynamic memorial for remembering the great son of our country, Mahamana Madam Mohan Malaviya. With these words I inaugurate the National Memorial For Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya.

My best wishes to all the members for success in the mission of promoting quality education to the youth based on the tradition set by Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya.

(Excerpts from Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s speech at the inauguration of the National memorial in honour of Madan Mohan Malviya in New Delhi on 25.12.2008)

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I am delighted to participate in the Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya Commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary organised by Mahamana Malaviya Mission in association with the BHU Alumni Association at Mumbai.

When I think of Madan Mohan Malaviyaji, immediately my mind goes to what Mahatma Gandhi said about Malaviyaji. He says, "I do not consider anyone a greater patriot than Malaviyaji. I always worship him. I do not see any one among the present Indians who serves the country better than him".

The Foundation stone for the Banaras Hindu University was laid in 4 Feb 1916, by Lord Hardinge, the then Viceroy and Governor General of India in an elaborated arranged ceremony at Nagwa, where Mahatma Gandhi, Mrs. Annie Besant, Maharajas connected with the university society and eminent people from all over the country and the public at large participated. In the last portion of the Foundation slab of BHU reads: "The Prime instrument of the Divine Will in this work was the Malaviya Brahmana, Madan Mohan, lover of his motherland. Unto him the Lord gave the gift of speech, and awakened India with his voice and induced the leaders and the rulers of the people into this End". What is the "end"? The end is, blossoming of the great university the BHU for the benefit of the nation.    

When I am in the environment of a large number of Banaras Hindu University Alumni, I want to share certain thoughts. I visited BHU on a number of occasions, as a teacher, as a lecturer. I have given series of lectures in many areas. I have visited a number of Laboratories in BHU and have witnessed the intensive research focus. Friends, me and you BHU Alumni, how do we fulfill the great mission of Malaviyaji, the dream of BHU becoming a great university in the world. This is possible only by research environment, research teachers and above all the research culture. Today, the world class universities are known from the top 1 to 10, for example, only because of the intensive research environment and great scientific environment and above all intellectual dynamics.    

Friends, BHU has been a premier education and research University in the country and one of the leading institutions in the world. How will this University meet the challenge in the coming century? Based on my visits to all the States and Union Territories in the country and 25 countries in Asia, Europe and Africa and America and meeting over 15 million youth, I realize that all the youth irrespective of which country they belong to, aspire to live in a peaceful, happy, prosperous and safe nation. What does it mean? It means that economic prosperity alone is not sufficient. It has to be complimented with the value systems and our five thousand years old Civilizational heritage which has genetically shaped the Indian people. I personally believe, when the nation is progressing towards economic development, it is also essential to build education with value system drawn from our Civilizational heritage. I visualize the BHU has to have the vision for the next few decades to fulfil the vision of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviyaji.

My best wishes and greetings to all for … realizing his dream in the mission of developing quality human resources for the nation.

(Excerpts from Dr Kalam’s Address at Mumbai, Dec 9 2012)