CULTURAL PHILOSOPHY OF Madan Mohan Malaviya

Madan Mohan  Malaviya born on 25^th December, 1861 was the founder of the Banaras Hindu University. He was a great propagator and promoter of sanatan values which, according to him, contained the solutions for all the social disorders that had overtaken the world. He wanted to implant the Hindu philosophy into the hearts of youth by including it in their educational curriculum so that they are rendered self sufficient to combat the growing social decay. This was one of his many dreams that he visioned for the Modern India. It is really hearty to see him honoured but it’s high time that his core ideas of sanatan values are put into practice.

He was an exponent of the concept of moral legitimacy in political philosophy and this moral legitimacy could only come through sanatan philosophy. He started the Hindi weekly ‘Abhyudaya’. In 1880 he founded the Hindu samaj of Allahabad. He led the Sanatan dharm Mahasabha and supported Hindu Mahasabha. He wanted to preserve and advance the study of  Hindu scriptures and classics. He was deeply influenced by devotional idealism of Bhagvatam and all the moral and spiritual philosophy of sanatan dharm. He discarded ‘mechanical nationalism’  and preferred ‘cultural nationalism’ which is the strength of nation .

Malaviya had a religious approach to life. He sincerely believed in the life giving potentialities of religion. Moral progress based on loyalty to the religious vows is even more essential than material prosperity. He regarded the cultivation of a religious spirit of dutifulness, devoutness and dedication as the pathway to national rejuvenation, solidarity and greatness.  He had a deep consciousness and sanctity and necessity of moral values. He adhered to the teachings of the Mahabharata that righteousness alone obtains lasting victory.

The slogan “satyameva jayate”, that means the truth alone will triumph is the central theme of Sanatan dharm, which really influenced Pandit Malaviya . He was proud of belonging to a sanatan  dharm, He had a deep faith in all the scriptures of sanatan dharm and he wanted to implement it in our behaviour.

References:

1.Varma V.P. , Modern Indian Political Thought

2.Malaviya M.M., The Immanence of God (Gorakhpur, Gita press,1936).