10 things about Bharat Ratna Madan Mohan Malaviya

Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, a gret freedom fighter and educationist, has been awarded Bharat Ratna. The award would be given posthumously. This belated recognition 68 years after his death, has once again turned the focus on the man and his mission. Here are 10 things that most people do not know about Malaviya.    * He was known as Mahamana, the great soul. He was Congress president twice and headed HIndu Mahasabha during its initial years.    * Malaviya is the founder of Benaras Hindu University, the largest residential university in Asia in 1916 and was its first vice-chancellor.   * Malviya was one of the founders of scouts and guides in India.    * He was conferred the title "Mahamana" title by Mahatma Gandhi.   * He was leading light of Indian movement for freedom, but differed with Mahatma Gandhi on many issues. He opposed communal electorate and Khilafat movement.   * He waged a war against caste discrimination and was expelled from Shri Goud Brahmin community for doing so. But later, the Brahmin Samaj regretted its decision and took him back into its fold.   * It was Madan Mohan Malaviya, who popularised the dictum "Satyameva Jayathe", which later went on to become the motto of Government of India.    * He popularised Ganga Aarthi at Har Ki Pouri in Hardwar. A small island in river Ganga is known as Malaviya Dweep.   * He founded Leader, a newspaper from Allahabad. He was chairperson of Hindustan Times from 1924-1936. He also helped launch the Hindi edition of Hindustan Times in 1936.   * On his 150th birth anniversary (25 December 2011), Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh announced the setting up of  Centre for Malviya Studies at the Banaras Hindu University  and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi released a biography of Madan Mohan Malaviya