Banaras Hindu University

Coordinates: 25°16′04″N 82°59′21″E / 25.2677°N 82.9891°E / 25.2677; 82.9891
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Banaras Hindu University
IAST: Vidyayā'mr̥tamaśnute
Motto in English
"Knowledge imparts immortality"
TypePublic research university
Established4 February 1916; 108 years ago (1916-02-04)
Founders
Academic affiliations
  • Goddess Saraswati
Websitebhu.ac.in

Banaras Hindu University(pronunciation

Prabhu Narayan Singh, and the lawyer Sunder Lal. With over 30,000 students, and 18,000 residing on campus, BHU is the largest residential university in Asia.[9][10] The university is one of the eight public institutions declared as an Institute of Eminence by the Government of India.[11][12] It is also one of the 12 institutions from India in BRICS Universities League, a consortium of leading research universities from BRICS countries.[13]

BHU has often been referred to by different names throughout the history and present. Some of the English names include Banaras University,[14][15] Benares Hindu University, and Hindu University.[16]

The university's main campus spread over 1,370 acres (5.5 km2), was built on land donated by the

Prabhu Narayan Singh, the hereditary ruler of Banaras ("Kashi" being an alternative name for Banaras or Varanasi). The south campus, spread over 2,700 acres (11 km2) is built on land donated later by Maharaj Kumar Aditya Narayan Singh in Sunderpur,[17] hosts the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Agriculture Science Centre)[18] and is located in Barkachha in Mirzapur district, about 60 km (37 mi) from Varanasi.[19][20]

BHU is organized into six institutes, 14 faculties (streams) and about 140 departments. As of 2020[update], the total student enrolment at the university is 30,698

Indian Institute of Technology (BHU).[25]

Centralised in 1916 through the Banaras Hindu University Act, Banaras Hindu University is India's first central university. BHU celebrated its centenary year in 2015–2016.[26][27]

History

Prabhu Narayan Singh and Aditya Narayan Singh of Narayan dynasty, while the university is the brainchild of Malviya.[28][29][30]

At the 21st Conference of the

Banaras. Malaviya continued to develop his vision for the university with inputs from other Indian nationalists and educationists. He published his plan in 1911. The focus of his arguments was the prevailing poverty in India and the decline in income of Indians compared to Europeans. The plan called for the focus on technology and science, besides the study of India's religion and culture:[31]

"The millions mired in poverty here can only get rid (of it) when science is used in their interest. Such maximum application of science is only possible when scientific knowledge is available to Indians in their own country."

-- Madan Mohan Malviya[31]

Hindi and other Indian languages. A distinguishing characteristic of Malaviya's vision was the preference for a residential university. All other Indian universities of the period, such as the universities in Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, etc., were affiliating universities which only conducted examinations and awarded degrees to students of their affiliated colleges.[32] Malaviya had supported Annie Besant's cause and in 1903, he had raised 250,000 Rupees in donations to finance the construction of the school's hostel.[33] In 1907 Besant had applied for a royal charter
to establish a university. However, there was no response from the British government.

Following the publication of Malviya's plan, Besant met Malviya and in April 1911 they agreed to unite their forces to build the university in Varanasi.[34]

Malaviya soon left his legal practice to focus exclusively on developing the university and his independence activities.

Rameshwar Singh Bahadur of Raj Darbhanga.[32] Thakur Jadunath Singh of Arkha along with other noble houses of United Provinces contributed for the development of the university.[37]

Initial prospectus of the university

On 22 March 1915, then Education Minister Harcourt Butler introduced the Benares Hindu University Bill in the Imperial Legislative Council.[38] In his speech, he remarked about the university:

My Lord, this is no ordinary occasion. We are watching to-day the birth of a new and, many hope, a better type of University in India. The main features of this University, which distinguish it from existing Universities, will be, first. that it will be a teaching and residential University; secondly, that while it will be open to all castes and creeds, it will insist upon religious instructions for Hindus, and thirdly, that it will be conducted and managed by the Hindu community and almost entirely by non-officials.

— Harcourt Butler 11 March 1915, Imperial Legislative Council, New Delhi, India [37]

The Benares Hindu University Bill was passed on 1 October 1915 and assented by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India on the same day.

BHU was finally established in 1916, the first university in India that was the result of people's efforts.

Viceroy of India, on Vasant Panchami 4 February 1916.[34][40] To promote the university's expansion, Malviya invited eminent guest speakers such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jagadish Chandra Bose, C. V. Raman, Prafulla Chandra Ray, Sam Higginbottom, Patrick Geddes, and Besant to deliver a series of what are now called The University Extension Lectures between 5–8 February 1916. Gandhi's lecture on the occasion was his first public address in India.[40]

Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar, Mir Osman Ali Khan, also made a donation for the university.[42][43][44]

The university's anthem, called

Scrollable image. Commemorative coins released on the centenary year of Banaras Hindu University[46]
Scrollable image. Commemorative stamps released on the centenary year of Banaras Hindu University[47]

Campus

Main campus

Banaras Hindu University's main campus is located on the southern edge of Varanasi, near the banks of the river

Indo-Gothic
architecture.

The campus has over 65 hostels offering residential accommodation for over 12,000 students.[50] On-campus housing is also available to a majority of the full-time faculty.

Singh Dwar, the main entrance gate to university campus

The main entrance gate and boundary wall was built on the donation made by Maharaja of Balrampur, Maharaja Pateshvari Prashad Singh, and is named after him as the Singh Dwar (transl. Singh Gate).[51]

The

Baroda
. In addition to the main library, there are three institute libraries, eight faculty libraries and over 25 departmental libraries available to students and staff.

Sir Sunderlal Hospital on the campus is a teaching hospital for the Institute of Medical Sciences. Established in 1926 with 96 beds, it has since been expanded to over 900 beds and is the largest tertiary referral hospital in the region.

The most prominent landmark is the Shri Vishwanath Mandir, located in the centre of the campus. The foundation for this 252 feet (77 m) high complex of seven temples was laid in March 1931, and took almost three decades to complete.[52]

Established in 1920, Bharat Kala Bhavan is the university museum of the Banaras Hindu University. It is situated inside the main campus of the university with over 100,000 holdings which include artifacts, paintings, philately, textiles, costumes, etc.[53][54]

Scrollable image. Aerial view of the university.

Rajiv Gandhi South Campus

The south campus is located in Barkachha in Mirzapur district,[17] about 60 km (37 mi) southwest of the main campus. Spread over an area of over 2,700 acres (11 km2), it was transferred as a lease in perpetuity to BHU by the Bharat Mandal Trust in 1979.[55][56]

Rajiv Gandhi South Campus of the university

It hosts the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Agricultural Science Centre), with focus on research in agricultural techniques, agro-forestry and bio-diversity appropriate to the Vindhya Range region.[57][58] The South Campus features a lecture complex, library, student hostels and faculty housing, besides administrative offices.[59][60]

Halls of residence

A hostel in the university
Limbdi hostel in the university

BHU is a fully residential university with a total of 66 hostels[61] - 41 hostels for male, 21 hostels for female students, and 4 hostels for International students.[62][63]

Hostels in the university are divided among different faculties, institutes, campuses, and colleges catering to their specific demands.[64] Out of the four separate hostels for international students, two are for boys and the other two for girls.[62][64]

Hostels of the university are named after several historically important figures such as Raja Baldev Das Jugal Kishore Birla,

Godavari and Kaveri were also added to the 'Triveni' block.[65]

BHU also provides on-campus residence to a substantial number of teaching and non-teaching staff. There are 654 quarters for teaching staff, 688 quarters for non-teaching staff.[66]

Organisation and administration

Governance

President Murmu, Visitor of the university

The

Vice-chancellor (as of December 2022, Sudhir K. Jain),[71] appointed by the president of India on the recommendations of Ministry of Education which, in turn, is based on an open application process.[72][73] All permanent administrative offices of the university are located in the Central Office.[74]

The Central Office of BHU, which offices all permanent administrative officers of the university. Atop is the BHU flag at what is also known as the Central Registry.
The Central Office of BHU, atop is the BHU flag at what is also known as the Central Registry.
Prof. Jain, the incumbent VC of the university
Prof. Jain, Vice-Chancellor of the university

The university is governed as per the procedures laid out in the Banaras Hindu University Act of 1915, and statutes of the university.[75] The executive council is the supreme executive governing body of the university and exercises all the powers on management and administration of the revenue, property, and administrative affairs of the university. The University Court is the supreme advisory body to the Visitor for all matters not otherwise provided for by the Banaras Hindu University Act, and the statutes.[76][77] The Academic Council is the highest academic body of the university and is responsible for the maintenance of standards of instruction, education and examination within the university.[78] It has the right to advise the executive council on all academic matters. The finance committee is responsible for recommending financial policies, goals, and budgets.[79][75]

The

BHU Act[80] has clearly laid out procedure and functions of different administrative bodies of the university. All officers of the university draw their power and responsibilities from the BHU Act of 1915, and statues of the university.[81]

Office of the Controller of Examinations

University Temple