More than a century ago, an ambitious educational project began in the ancient city of Varanasi — one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited urban centres. The institution was conceived during colonial rule to create a generation of Indians grounded in their civilizational values while equipped with modern knowledge.

Today, that institution — Banaras Hindu University (BHU) — spans over 1,300 acres and functions like a self-contained academic town, with hostels, lecture halls, libraries and research centres spread along wide tree-lined roads.

The early vision

The intellectual roots of BHU trace back to education reformer Annie Besant, who founded the Central Hindu College in 1898 in Banaras. She believed that India’s education system needed to combine modern academic subjects with the country’s philosophical and cultural traditions.

The college initially started in a rented building but soon shifted to a larger campus in Kamachha after land was donated by local ruler Maharaja Prabhu Narayan Singh. Over time, the institution developed into a major centre of learning, attracting students and scholars from across India.

Besant also promoted women’s education by establishing the Central Hindu Girls’ School in 1904, further expanding the educational network in the area.

From colleges to a national university

The idea of transforming these institutions into a major university took shape when Besant joined hands with nationalist leader Madan Mohan Malaviya.

Malaviya envisioned a large modern university where students could study science, technology, humanities and traditional Indian knowledge under one roof.

After years of advocacy, the Banaras Hindu University Act 1915 paved the way for the university’s creation. In 1916, its foundation was formally laid by the then Viceroy of India, Lord Hardinge.

A university that became a city

Over the decades, BHU expanded into one of India’s largest academic institutions. Its residential model — where students and teachers live and study within the campus — contributed to its vast scale.

Today, the campus extends across 11 villages, making Banaras Hindu University not just a university but a sprawling academic city — a lasting legacy of a nationalist effort to reshape education in India.