Modi pays floral tribute to Malaviya in Varanasi

Varanasi, Dec 25 Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday paid floral tributes to freedom fighter-educationist Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya on his 153th birth anniversary here.

Modi arrived at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) here around 12.30 p.m. Dressed in a white kurta and maroon coloured jacket, he offered floral tributes at Malaviya’s statue.

Earlier, Modi tweeted: “Tributes to Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya on his birth anniversary. A man ahead of his time, he devoted himself to nationalism and education.”

Allahabad-born Malaviya was the president of the Indian National Congress for two terms and was also among the first leaders of the right-wing Hindu Mahasabha.

An eminent educationist, he founded the BHU in 1916. He served as the vice chancellor of the university 1919-1938.

He died a year before India’s independence in 1947. (IANS)