For his notable contributions to education in India, Mahamana Malaviya was honoured with India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna on December 24, 2014, posthumously.

December 25 observes the birth anniversary of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. Affectionately known as Mahamana, he was an Indian educationist and freedom fighter who founded the Banaras Hindu University.

Madan Mohan Malaviya, who was born in 1861, played an integral role in fostering modern education throughout the country and later founded the BHU in Varanasi in 1916. He was also a founding member of the Bharat Scouts and Guides.

In 1909, Malaviya founded the newspaper The Leader that is considered one of the highly influential newspapers. From 1924 to 1946, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Hindustan Times and later launched its Hindi edition Hindustan Dainik in 1936.

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How Madan Mohan Malaviya
used a Nizam’s Shoe to set up

Banaras Hindu University 

In 1916, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya went pillar to post to raise funds for starting a university. From rich traders to filthy rich landlords, everyone flatly Malaviya got no for an answer everywhere he went. He then made his way into the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad, who was touted as the richest man in the world back then.

Dismissing Malaviya’s request for funds, the Nizam grew furious and said,

“How dare you come to me for funds and that too for a

Hindu University?”

Following his insulting roar, the Nizam took off his footwear and flung it at Malaviya.

What happened next is nothing short of rock and roll history in modern-day terms.

Malaviya, instead of feeling insulted and leaving the court, picked up the Nizam’s shoe and came up with a brilliant idea — he put up the shoe for auction.

Since it was a shoe that belonged to the royalty, many rich people came forward to buy it.

The news reached the Nizam in no time and he thought it would be an insult if his footwear were to be bought by someone who was not as rich as him.  

Meanwhile, the bids went through the roof!

Nizam instructed his men to disguise as rich men, attend the auction, and buy the shoe back “for as much amount as possible”.

The men did the same and if the legends are to be believed, a huge sum of money was paid.

This money was eventually used by Malaviya to set up the Banaras Hindu University.

In this fond remembrance of Mahamana – ReTHINK INDIA would felicitate a host of edupreneurs who have displayed a similar such endurance in setting up their very educational enterprise in the spirit of

“Let Righteousness & Dharma Prevail;

and all Communities & Societies Progress;

Let our beloved Motherland regain her Lost Glory;

and the Sons of Bharat be Victorious”

If you know of any such enduring story in edupreneurship, do share with us at editor@rethinkindia.in with the details of the edupreneur concerned or simply whatsapp the same to Dr. Surbhi at 9910050597 latest by December 15th so that we can felicitate him/her on Mahamana’s 162nd Birthday