Contribution of Kashmiri Pandits to
the Birth and Growth of Banaras Hindu University
Major S. L. Dar, Retired
Registrar, BHU
[Reproduced front 'Kashmiri Pandits : A Cultural Heritage' - Edited by Prof.
S. Bhatt]
When we think of the contribution of Kashmiri
Pandits in the birth and growth of the Banaras Hindu University, the first
person who comes in our minds is Pandit Ajudhia Nath who was known as the 'Lion
of the N. W. Provinces' later known as Uttar Pradesh. Pandit Ajudhia Nath
was one of the leaders of the High Court Bar at Allahabad, a member of the
Provincial Legislative Council and a leader of the Congress movement. The
'Father of the Congress', Mr. A.O. Hume described him as follows:
"By descent a Kashmiri Brahmin, a man of large means, a member of the
Legislative Council, the most distinguished legal practitioner-probably in the
United Provinces-and unquestionably the leader of his own section of the bar, he
is with it a most cautious man, deliberating long in every case before he moves.
He actually considered over our aims and objects and pondered over our methods
for nearly two years before he concluded that he owed it to his country to join
our movement."
Pandit Ajudhia Nath was the Jt. General Secretary of the Indian
National Congress from December 1890 till his death in August/September 1892.
As is well known, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya made his maiden speech before
the distinguished assembly of national leaders in the Calcutta session of the
Congress held in December 1886 and came to be regarded as a national leader from
them. Like all other eminent leaders, Pandit Ajudhia Nath was also greatly
impressed by Pandit Madan Malaviya and took him under his wings.
Malaviyaji was closely associated with Pandit Ajudhia Nath not only in the work
of the Indian National Congress, but he came into contact with Pandit Ajudhia
Nath at Muir Central College, Allahabad, where Pandit Ajudhia Nath was Professor
of Law, Malaviyaji also joined as Assistant Editor of the English daily 'Indian
Opinion' of which Pandit Ajudhia Nath was the Editor. Thus, Pandit Ajudhia
Nath had an important part in moulding the life of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviyaji.
As Malaviyaji himself had stated once that he had not come across a more
impressive personality than Pandit Ajudhia Nath in the whole of his life.
The idea of a Hindu University was mooted by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in
the year 1904. Pandit Ajudhia Nath passed away many years before that date
and so it cannot be said that he made any direct contribution to the
establishment of the Hindu University. Nevertheless, it would not be
incorrect to say that Pandit Ajudhia Nath played an effective role in moulding
the life of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya and in developing his ideas out of which
was also bom the Banaras Hindu University.
The Hindu University movement started in full swing in 1911. One of the
persons who immediately joined the movement with Malaviyaji was Pandit Iqbal
Narain Gurtu. Pandit Gurtu was a student of the Muir Central College,
Allahabad. During that period he used to go to Malaviyaji almost every
week for inspiration and guidance. When the Central Hindu College was
established in Varanasi in 1898, Pandit Gurtu came in close contact with Dr.
Mrs. Annie Besant and he associated himself with the Theosophical Society.
He also served as the Headmaster of the Central Hindu School from 1908 to 1913.
Responding to the call of Malaviyaji, he joined the deputations organised for
collecting funds for the Hindu University. The very first public meeting
in support of the Hindu University which was held at Kheri on the 21st May 1991
was addressed by Gurtuji also. Subsequently when the Hindu University
Society was established and registered under Act XXI of 1860, in December 1911,
the Committee of Management to whom the management of the affairs of the society
was entrusted, included Gurtuji as one of the Honorary Joint Secretaries,
Later due to his other occupations, Gurtuji was away from Varanasi. He
had to take up the office of the Vice-Chancellor of the Allahabad University
which he held from 1932 to 1938; but during all these years, his connection with
the University continued. In 1939 Malaviyaji retired from the
ViceChancellorship of the Hindu University and Dr. S. Radhakrishnan took charge
of the University at its Vice-Chancellor. Malaviyaji then approached
Gurtuji to accept the Pro Vice-Chanceflorship of the University. Malaviyaji felt
that being an eminent educational and public worker for over forty years, rich
with experience, endowed with learning and alive to the sense of duty, Pandit
Gurtuji's joining the University as its Pro. Vice-Chancellor with Dr.
Radhakrishnan as Vicei Chancellor, would yield good results in the growth and
development of the University. It was a great satisfaction to all
concerned that Gurtuji responded to the request of Malaviyaji and accepted his
proposal. So at the meeting of the Court of the B. H. U. held on 30th
November 1940, on the motion of Malaviyaji, Gurtuji was unanimously elected as
the Pro. Vice-Chancellor of the University. Owing to certain
personal preoccupations Gurtuji could not j take up the office immediately.
He actually assumed charge of the office in April 1941 and served the University
as its Pro. Vice-Chancellor till the beginning of April 1944.
Gurtuji's services as the Pro. Vice-Chancellor of the University,
particularly during the August 1942 national movement, are memorable. In
recognition of his great and devoted services the University conferred upon him
the Honorarv Degree of D-Litt. in 1946. During his lifetime the University
named one of the hostels after him, as lqbal Narain Gurtu Hostel, which now
perpetuates his memory in the University.
Pandit Gurtu also served the University as its Honorary Treasurer from
December 1945 to December 1947 and rendered outstanding services in that
capacity also in safeguarding the interests of the University in every possible
manner.
All the services of Pandit Gurtu were not only purely honorary but he also
made his personal
donations to the University for the endowment of a scholarship.
Pandit Motilal Nehru was an elected member of the first University Court
constituted in 1916.
Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru was another stalwart who was associated with the
University from the days the Hindu University Society was established in 1911.
He was a member of the Committee of the Management of the Society, later a
member of the Court of the University, Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1919 to
1920 and again from 1924 to 1938. The eminent position that he held in the
country helped the University in many ways. He was awarded the Honorary
degree of D-Litt. by B. H. U. in 1937.
His son, justice P. N. Sapru, was also a member of the Court for a nzimber
years and rendered valuable services to the University.
Next to the services of Pandit Gurtu, we can mention only those of Pandit
Hriday Nath Kunzru, who was Member of the Court, Executive Council etc., till
the end of his life.
During his student life itself Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru took a vow to serve
under the leadership of Gopal Gokhale and threw himself in the service of the
nation. He was a member of the Indian National Congress also, but in 1920
he left the Congress and joined the Liberal Party. The services rendered
by Pandit Kunzru to the country in various fields - educational, political and
social - are so great that they cannot be mentioned in this small article.
The 'Indian Council of World Affairs' and 'Indian School of International
Studies' are his creation. He was also the President of the Servants of
India Society from 1936 till the end of his life.
Kunzruji came in contact with Malaviyaji in 1908 and since then he was a
great source of strength to Malaviyaji in every work that he undertook. He
contributed to the growth and development of the Hindu University in several
ways. In recognition of his valuable services, the University conferred
upon him the Honorary degree of D-Litt. in 1955.
Pandit Gopi Nath Kunzru, younger brother of Pandit Hriday Nath Kunzru was
also an active worker of the University. He first joined as a Secretary of
the Vice-Chancellor, Malaviyaji, and served the University in that capacity for
some years. He later continued as a member of the Court, Executive Council
and various other bodies of the University and took keen interest in its
affairs. He as also the Legal Adviser of the University in the Courts.
He was ably assisted by Shri A. N. Kaul, Advocate in legal matters. Shri
Kaul looked after the work with great devotion.
Pandit Kailash Nath Katju was a member of the Court and other bodies of the
University for a number of years and in that capacity he rendered valuable
services in recognition of which, the University conferred upon him the Honorary
degree of LL.D. in 1950.
Pandit Raghunandan Lal Dar was a member of the court from the Donors'
Constituency (nominated by the Maharaja of Kashmir) and he rendered valuable
services. His very presence in the University campus radiated a spiritual
atmosphere.
The first Registrar of the University was Pandit Manohar Lal Zutshi who held
this office from July 1917 till he was asked to take over as Principal of the
Teachers' Training College in July 1918.
The University was fortunate in getting Pandit Brij Narain Gurtu as the
Registrar but in order to satisfy the requirement of the Statutes he was offered
an honorarium of Re. 1/- per month. His appointment was made for a
term of five years, but circumstances deprived the University of the services of
such a devoted worker, much before the expiry of his term.
Shri B. K Zutshi, son of Pandit Manoharlal Zutshi, was the Assistant
Registrar of the University for a number of years before he left for Baroda
where he joined as Registrar, S. C. University.
Major S. L. Dar was the Registrar of the University from September 1955 to
August 1967, the longest period anyone held that office in the University.
He carried on the functions of his office with dignity in the midst of
tremendous difficulties and served the in University with single-minded
devotion. The University made all round progress during this period.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became an alurrmi of the University in 1946 when the
University conferred the Honorary Degree of D-Litt, on him. As the Prime
Minister of India, he did not leave any stone untumed to bring glory to the
University.
Pandit K. K. Shukia was the Headmaster of the Central Hindu School (which was
nurtured by eminent persons including Pt. Iqbal Narain Gurtu) from 1921 to
1923.
Prof. P. N. Razdan held the office of the Principal, Teachers' Training
College and of the Central Hindu School.
Pandit K. L. Kitchlu was the Headmaster of the Central Hindu School for a
number of years.
Shri R. N. Zandchole served the University as Secretary, Estimates Committee,
for a number of years, during the Vice-Chancellor of Mahamana Malaviyaji.
Pandit T. N. Munshi was the Superintendent of the Hostels at Kamachha.
Last, but not the least was Dr. Moti Lal Dhar, who was the Vice-Chancellor of
the University from 2-21977 to 15-12-1977. After serving with distinction
as the Director of the Central Drug Institute at Lucknow, Dr. Dhar joined the
University as Vice-Chancellor. But unfortunately for personal reasons he
could not stay at Banaras for long and the University was deprived of the
services of an eminent scientist.
We have not mentioned here the contribution made to the University by the
Kashmiri Pandits on the teaching-staff of the University. Some of the
teachers have held other offices also and have rendered yeomen services to the
University. The first name to mention in this connection is that of Prof.
P. N. Kaula, who was the Librarian of the University for a long period.
Being an outstanding person in his field, his services were more required as a
Professor of Library Science. The University Library made a significant
progress during the period Prof. Kaula held the office of the University
Librarian.
Professor B. B. Dhar held the office of Chief Proctor and Head of the
Department of Mining, and is currently Director of the Central Mining Institute
of CSIR at Dhanbad.
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