| Banares Hindu University |
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Varanasi is a city in Uttar Pradesh that is famous as a center of learning. Several educational institutions of great repute are found here; of which the most prominent and important is Banaras Hindu University (BHU), or Banaras Hindu Vishwavidhyalaya.
It was the Raja of Kashi who had donated 1350 acres of land for the construction of this huge university. BHU was built in the year 1916 – 1917 once the BHU act was passed in 1915. This act was passed by the interim government that existed during the British government. Mahamna Pundit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Annie Besant were responsible for the concept of the university. The Banares Hindu University is the largest residential university found in Asia where there are 6 centers of advanced studies, 10 departments for Special Assistance Programmes and numerous specialized Research centers found here. The university offers affiliation to four Degree colleges of the city while the museum of the university, Bharat Kala Bhavan offers a trove of rare collections from 1st to 15th centuries worth seeing. There are about 55 hostels found on the campus of the university. You find the Birla Mandir, or VT and an airstrip and flying club on its campus too. The Sayajirao Gaekwad Library found here is worth a visit with the many manuscripts, periodicals and 1.4 million separate volumes found here. The Sur Sunder Lal Hospital is a 1,000 bedded hospital found on the campus. Apart from these concrete structures, nature abounds here with open spaces, greenery and peacocks found almost in all parts of the university. Banares Hindu University offers many facilities for sport and hobbies, has numerous playgrounds, a large auditorium and many auxiliary services like Security, Employment and Information Bureau, Fruit Preservation Center, Publication Cell, Printing Press, etc. There are over 15,000 students studying in Banares Hindu University who belong to all streams of life, races, relations and castes. 1,700 odd teachers teach these students with the help of 8,000 non-teaching staff. The students here are not only Indians, but also consist of foreigners from Asia, Europe, Africa, Middle East, etc. |
