Madana Mohan Malaviya

Madana Mohan Malaviya (1861-1946)

Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya was born in an orthodox Brahmin family in Allahabad in the present day state of Uttara Pradesh. Initiated in study of scriptures at a young age, he grew into a bright intellectual. He founded and edited two fiercely nationalistic weeklies called Hindustan (in Hindi) and The Indian Union (in English) and was responsible for spreading the awareness of freedom in the Indian heartland.

An eminent Congressman, Malaviya was the president of the Indian National Congress during 1909 and in 1918. He represented the whole of India with Mahatma Gandhi in the First Round Table Conference in 1931.

Malaviya popularized the famous slogan "Satyameva Jayathe" (Truth alone will win). Malavia founded The Banaras Hindu Univeristy, which remains as a premier institution of learning in India today.