Malviya, Madan Mohan

(1861–1946) Hindu activist and founder
of Benares Hindu University. Malviya
belonged to the first generation of
Hindus seeking to reclaim India from
British rule; these men were well
educated, politically active, and passionately committed to traditional
Hindu culture. Benares Hindu University
was founded in 1916 to uphold Hindu
cultural and philosophical traditions, as
well as to educate students in the sciences, preparing them for the modern
world. Aside from his work in education,
Malviya organized and supported
Hindu religious causes, in particular a
ban on cow slaughter and opposition to
a proposed dam on the Ganges River at
the pilgrimage city of Haridwar. The
dam would have restricted the free flow
of the Ganges, so in 1914 and 1916, he
spent considerable energy organizing
opposition so that a compromise with
the government could be found. For a
glowing account of his life, see M. A.
Parmanand, Mahamana Madan Mohan
Malviya, 1985.