Modi pays tribute to Malaviya on his birth anniversary

New Delhi, Dec 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday paid tribute to freedom fighter-educationist Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya on his 153th birth anniversary.

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

Along with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Malaviya was Wednesday named for India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna.

During his Lok Sabha campaign, Modi had promised the Bharat Ratna for Malaviya, founder of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

The 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