Banaras Hindu University (B.H.U.) is a major university located in Benaras, India. It was founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, in 1916 with cooperation of Dr Annie Besant. It was created under the Parliamentary legislation - B.H.U. Act 1915, when India was under British Raj. Its 1350-acre campus was built on land donated by the then Maharaja of Kashi.
Contrary to the first impression from the name, which is having "Hindu" word, the university was always unbiased towards the religion of the members, including students and faculty. The message on its website says:
"India is not a country of the Hindus only. It is a country of the Muslims, the Christians and the Parsees too. The country can gain strength and develop itself only when the people of the different communities in India live in mutual goodwill and harmony.
It is my earnest hope and prayer that this centre of life and light which is coming into existence, will produce students who will not only be intellectually equal to the best of their fellow students in other parts of the world, but will also live a noble life, love their country and be loyal to the Supreme ruler".
- Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya
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