The Banaras Hindu University (BHU), founded by Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviyaji in 1916, is one of the most prestigious Central Universities in the country. An autonomous institution of distinction having the Hon'ble President of India as its Visitor, BHU is the largest residential University in Asia. Being a living embodiment of such visionaries as Mahamana Malaviyaji, Dr. Annie Besant and Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, this seat of learning epitomizes a synthesis of ancient wisdom and modern scientific temper. The holistic model of education, conceived and enriched by its illustrious founder, offers refreshingly new perspectives to young minds and nurtures and facilitates their creative talent."It is my earnest hope and prayer, that this centre of life and light, which is coming into existence, will produce students who will not only be intellectually equal to the best of their fellow students in other parts ofthe world,but willalso live a noble life, love their country and be loyal to theSupreme Ruler." "A teaching university would buthalf perform its function, if it does not seek to develop the heart power of its scholars with the same solicitude with which it develops their brain power. Hence, this university has placed formation ofcharacter in youth as one of its principal objects. It will seek not merely to turn out men as Engineers, Scientists, Doctors, Theologists, Merchants, but also as men of high character, probity and honour,whose conduct through life would show that they bear the hallmark of a great university."This University was conceived as a residential University, keeping in view its objective of complete character development and thorough mentoring of students. Perhaps this is the only University in the world where courses ranging from nursery and primary school upto Doctoral/ Post-doctoral degrees are taught and pursued within a walled campus spread over 550 Hectares (1360 acres) with majestic buildings of great architectural delight. It enshrines within its precincts, a phenomenal range of teaching disciplines incorporating almost all conceivable subjects of Science, Engineering & Technology, Humanities, Social Sciences, Commerce, Law, Education, Visual Arts. Performing Arts, Sanskrit Vidya Dharm Vigyan, Agriculture, Library Science, Journalism and a large number of Indian and Foreign Languages. There are at present 12 departments receiving support under Special Assistance Programme (6 Centres of Advance Studies and 6 Departments under DRS level I & III), and 5 departments/schools are supported under FIST prgramme of DST. It also has four colleges admitted to the privileges of the University which are located in the city. The University also runs three schools apart from having a Kendriya Vidyalaya housed in the Campus. In addition, the Rajiv Gandhi South Campus has been established in the year 2006 in a sprawling campus of 1092.6 Hectares (2700acres) located about 75 kms away from the main campus, at Barkachha in Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh.