Best of The East for The Best of All

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

The name of the present subject as "Best of the East" appears delusive till it is explained that it is the moderate 'spiritual' part of the two Objectives of the Banaras Hindu University. Another part of the Objective was named as the "Best of the West", which is likely to overflow with the best, and the overflow may also hit hard, like roaring waves of sea, to badly damage the voyage or reverse the path away from the goal. 'Best of the East' corrects the journey in many ways-with a well laid path, a bright light to show the clean path, an indicator (guide) towards the goal, a break to control the speed of run and like a firm mind to take the smooth drive to the correct and safe destination.

Apart from the Gurukul system of education, BHU was the first of the country's Teaching University out of the total six non-teaching Universities then; also it was the first University to have such two clear Objectives! A few torturing calamities are mentioned here-high poverty stuck with big unemployment since 1750s, frequent famines and plague attacks, British Government not fulfilling promises for better education, the country's literacy falling down to very poor level at 5%, no interest by Govt to improve industries in India, the Govt sending more Indentured Labourers across the sea to other countries instead of increasing local employment.

Pt. Malaviya had come to the conclusion that 'Education' at different levels was the only solace for gradually coming out of various problems in the Country. In order to hasten the issue, he had thought of establishing a separate, private University. Request to Govt for approval continued, in different phases, from 1904 to1916. Hard work and details are dealt in a separate booklet. Finalising of the two Objectives of the University was also important. Pt. Malaviya set the first Objective as the "Best of the West" in order to get the benefits of 'Education in Science and Technology and the development in industries from Western countries, who had advanced in Science & Technology and Industrial Revolution. Thus "Best of the West" definitely was to lead our country towards the bright light of 'Education' and Industries to bring in 'Progress' and 'Prosperity.

**Contents and Sample Pages**