Eminent Educationist Madan Mohan Malviya receives highest civilian award posthumously
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New Delhi, March 30 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee awarded late eminent educationist Madan Mohan Malviya with India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, on Monday (March 30). The award was received by Malviya's relatives at the Presidential Palace, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, during the annual Civil Investiture Ceremony, in New Delhi. The ceremony, which also included other civilian honour to Indians and foreigners, was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Home Minister Rajnath Singh among others. Malviya's grandson, Pradeep, said it was a great honour for the family to receive the award on his behalf. Born in 1861, Malviya was an educationist and politician, noted for his contribution in the Indian freedom struggle. He was also four time president of the Indian National Congress. But he is most famous for setting up the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi in 1916, an esteemed institution today. The BJP had for long been demanding "Bharat Ratna" for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who received the award last week, and Malviya. Meanwhile, Microsoft founder and philanthropist, Bill Gates and his wife Melinda were also awarded the Padma Bhushan, third highest award, for their social work.
