B.H.U. Act 1915

The Banaras Hindu University Act, 1915 was a landmark legislation of the Imperial Legislative Council of India, establishing the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) — one of India’s first and most prominent centres of higher learning. The Act not only laid the foundation for BHU as a modern educational institution combining Indian culture with scientific and technical education but also marked an important milestone in India’s educational and national reform movement during the colonial period.

Historical Background

The foundation of the Banaras Hindu University was primarily the vision of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861–1946), a distinguished nationalist leader, educationist, and social reformer. He aspired to create a university that would synthesise traditional Indian knowledge systems with modern scientific education, thereby fostering both intellectual and moral development among Indians.
Malaviya was deeply influenced by the Swadeshi movement and the broader call for national regeneration through education. He envisaged BHU as a national university that would promote the study of Indian languages, philosophy, culture, and arts along with science, engineering, medicine, and technology.
To realise this vision, Malaviya mobilised support from Indian princes, philanthropists, and the general public. One of his notable collaborators was Annie Besant, the British Theosophist and educationist, who had already established the Central Hindu College in Varanasi in 1898. The merger of this college with the proposed university formed the institutional basis for BHU.

The Legislative Journey

The proposal for the establishment of Banaras Hindu University was presented to the Imperial Legislative Council in 1915 as the Banaras Hindu University Bill. The Bill received widespread support from Indian leaders, reformers, and representatives across communities.
The Act was passed on 1 October 1915 and received the Governor-General’s assent on 1 October 1915, becoming officially known as the Banaras Hindu University Act, 1915 (Act No. XVI of 1915). The university was formally established in 1916.
This made BHU one of the first universities in India to be established by a special Act of Parliament (then the Imperial Legislative Council), preceding the creation of several other central universities in the country.

Objectives and Vision

The Banaras Hindu University Act, 1915, set out clear objectives for the institution:

• To promote the study of Hindu Shastras, Sanskrit literature, Indian philosophy, and culture.
• To provide instruction and research in science, technology, engineering, medicine, and other modern disciplines.
• To create a system of education that fosters character formation, patriotism, and self-reliance.
• To blend spiritual values with scientific learning in the Indian educational context.
• To develop a national university that serves as a centre of Indian identity and cultural revival under colonial rule.

Salient Provisions of the Act

The Banaras Hindu University Act, 1915, consisted of several key provisions defining the structure, administration, and powers of the university. The main features included:

• Establishment of the University: The Act legally constituted the Banaras Hindu University as a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal.
• Governance and Administration: It laid down the organisational framework, including governing bodies such as:
  • The Court – the supreme governing body responsible for major policy decisions.
  • The Executive Council – the principal executive body managing administration.
  • The Academic Council – responsible for academic matters, curriculum, and examinations.
  • The Faculties – divisions for different disciplines of study.
• The Visitor: The Governor-General of India was designated as the first Visitor of the University, symbolising its national importance.
• Appointment of Officers: The Act provided for the appointment of key officers such as the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, and Treasurer.
• Affiliation and Teaching: The university could affiliate colleges and institutions, prescribe courses of study, and confer degrees, diplomas, and honorary distinctions.
• Funding: The Act empowered the university to receive grants, endowments, and donations from public and private sources, reflecting its semi-public character.

Structure of the University under the Act

The organisational structure envisaged by the 1915 Act reflected a balance between autonomy and government oversight. It included:

• Chancellor: A ceremonial head, often an eminent national figure.
• Vice-Chancellor: The chief executive and academic officer of the university.
• Court: The legislative body that represented the broader university community.
• Executive Council: The administrative authority responsible for finance, property, and appointments.
• Academic Council: The supreme academic authority governing courses, teaching, and examinations.

This structure became a model for several later university acts in India, influencing the administrative framework of central universities across the country.

Early Development and Growth

Following the enactment of the BHU Act, construction of the university campus began at Bharat Kala Bhavan near Varanasi. The foundation stone was laid by Lord Hardinge, the then Viceroy of India, in 1916.
Over the years, BHU developed into one of India’s most prestigious educational institutions. It established pioneering faculties such as:

• Faculty of Arts and Oriental Studies – focusing on Indian philosophy, Sanskrit, and literature.
• Institute of Science – offering courses in physics, chemistry, and biology.
• Institute of Technology (IT-BHU) – which later became the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU).
• Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS-BHU) – one of the country’s foremost centres for medical education and research.

Amendments and Later Developments

Since its enactment, the Banaras Hindu University Act has been amended several times to accommodate changes in governance, academic structure, and institutional expansion.
Significant amendments include:

• Amendment of 1951: Following India’s independence, the Act was modified to bring BHU under the jurisdiction of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and align it with the framework of a Central University.
• Amendment of 1966 and 1981: Introduced structural and administrative reforms to modernise the functioning of the university.

The core objectives of the original 1915 Act, however, remain intact — promoting education that harmonises Indian cultural values with modern scientific inquiry.

Significance and Legacy

The Banaras Hindu University Act, 1915, holds immense historical, educational, and cultural significance in India’s national development:

• It symbolised India’s educational self-reliance during the colonial period.
• It created a national university that served as a centre for cultural and intellectual revival.
• It pioneered an educational model that combined Indian ethos with Western science.
• It inspired the creation of other national institutions, including Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Visva-Bharati University.
• It became a blueprint for subsequent university legislation in India.