New Delhi: Freedom fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya was posthumously awarded India's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna on Monday. A multifaceted personality, Madan Mohan Malviya was an educationist who founded the Banaras Hindu University and became one of the torchbearers of the freedom struggle acting as a bridge between the Moderates and the Extremists.
Known for his espousal of Hindu nationalism-being one of the initial leaders of the far-right Hindu Mahasabha, Malaviya was a social reformer and a successful Parliamentarian.
The award was conferred on him by President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhawan and was accepted by Malaviya's family members.
Malviya was catapulted into the political arena immediately after his inspiring speech at the second Congress session in Calcutta in 1886. He went on to serve Congress for almost 50 years. He served as Congress President for four times- in 1909 (Lahore), in 1918 (Delhi), in 1930 (Delhi) and in 1932 (Calcutta).
Born in an educated orthodox Hindu family at Prayag (Allahabad) in 1861 Malviya started his career as a teacher in Allahabad District School but continued to pursue his education.
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