Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, UP - largest residential university in Asia

Banares Hindu Univ, Varanasi, UP financialexpress.com

Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, founder, BHU, Varanasi, UP News18

Banaras Hindu University (BHU), formerly Central Hindu College, is a public central university quite popular in India. In the 1950s, BU Matriculation exam was a famous one. Located in the famous religious city of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges river, Uttar Pradesh, it was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, a erudite scholar, lawyer and a patriot. It is believed to be the largest residential university in Asia with over 30,000 students residing on its campuses. Sitting on a vast land of over 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) donated by the Kashi Naresh, the hereditary ruler of Banaras ("Kashi" being an alternative name for Banaras or Varanasi), the university offers courses in all fields. As for The Banaras Hindu University, South campus that has a spread of over 2,700 acres (11 km2),[4] houses the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Agriculture Science Center). It is in Barkachha in Mirzapur district, about 60 km (37 mi) from Banaras. The University is also planning to set up a campus in Bihar.

BHU, Varanasi, UP, iStampGallery.Com

BHU has over 75 hostels for resident students, 6 institutes and 14 faculties (streams) and about 140 departments and the total student enrolment at the university is 27,359including students from other countries. The university's engineering institute was designated as Indian Institute of Technology in June 2012. Its centenary year was celebrated in 2015-2016. The founder Madan Mohan Malaviya Birth Anniversary fell on on 25 December 2015.

Central Library, BHU, Varanasi, UP, en.wikipedia.org

Though Malaviya publicly announced his keen desire to establish a university in Varanasi at the 21st Conference of the Indian National Congress (INC) in Benares way back in December 1905, it took a while for him to convert his dream into a reality. His vision was a ''Residential University'' unlike other universities at Bombay, Madras ans Calcutta that had colleges across many places affiliated to them. Annie Besant, an Irish woman and theosophist and other prominent people gave him their whole-hearted support but still raising money was a problem, besides getting support from the Colonial government. In 1907 Annie Besant applied for a Royal Charter to establish the university, but there was no response from the British government.

Unacademy

No less noble souls other than the Kashi Naresh Prabhu Narayan Singh and Maharaja Sir Rameshwar Singh Bahadur of Raj Darbhanga and Thakur Jadunath Singh of Arkha along with other prominent houses of United Provinces (UP) contributed for the development of the University by way of donating lands, etc when Sri Malaviya sought their cooperation and full support.
The Nizam of Hyderabad donated a sum Rs, one lakh to BHU.

Entrance, BHU, Varanasi, UP. indiatoday.in

In October 1915, With support from Malaviya's allies in the Indian National Congress, the Banaras Hindu University Bill was passed by the Imperial Legislative Council in October 1915, this way a huge road block to this great person's long, cherished vision was out of the way. In this regard, Malaviya was in consultation with eminent people like Sri Surendranath Banerjee and Gopalkrishna Gokhale. Established in 1916, BHU was the first university in India that was made possible due to a private individual's efforts. The foundation for the main campus of the university was laid by then Viceroy of India Lord Hardinge, on Vasant Panchami 04 February 1916. The unique feature of this university is a mix of oriental and theological learning with liberal arts, science and engineering in modern concept and the medium of instruction is English

What are now called ''The University Extension Lectures between 5–8 February 1916'' were delivered by such great people as Prof C. V. Raman, Prafulla Chandra Roy, Prof Sam Higginbottom, Besant, et al. The spekers gave lectures there at the request of Sri Malaviya. Ons Sir Sunder Lal was the first VC. The university runs three s separate schools, one of them being Ranvir Sanskrit Padasala this for the promotion of Sanskrit, one of the ancient Indian languages.

The Alumni from BHU have adorned positions of eminence in our country right from PM to justices. The holistic model of education conceived and enriched by Pandit Malaviya provides an opportunity for the young prospective students to think and grow independently with emphasis on improving their creative talents.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banaras_Hindu_University