City remembers its first Bharat Ratna, Dr Bhagwan Das today

Varanasi: Dr Bhagwan Das, an iconic figure of the country, was Varanasi’s first recipient of the highest civilian award -Bharat Ratna. The city will pay rich tributes to this son of its soil on his 154th birth anniversary on January 12, Thursday.
Hailing from the reputed Shah family of Kashi, he is known for his wisdom and great contribution to education, especially girl education. With Annie Besant, he formed a professional collaboration which led to the founding of the Central Hindu College, which later became the Central Hindu School.
“When Central Hindu Girls School was established, sending a girl child to school for education was not considered respect worthy, in fact it was a taboo and therefore private tuition at home was the only option. Parents even from affluent families were also reluctant to send them out for studies,” said his great grandson, Dr Pushkar Ranjan, retired professor of the department of Anaesthesiology & Critical care, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University.
“My great grandfather dispelled this myth and removed this prejudice by sending both his daughters and his elder daughter-in-law. They happened to be the first three students of the Central Hindu Girls School, he said, adding that presently the school has expanded extensively and the students who pass out are excelling themselves in various fields,” said Ranjan, adding that he (Dr Bhagwan Das) and Shiv Prasad Gupta came together to establish Kashi Vidyapeeth, and he was appointed its first vice-chancellor.
“Dadaji was very fond of reading books, mainly based on religion and on other important subjects,” he said, adding that Dr Bhagwan Das had written around 30-40 books on different subjects, all translated into different foreign languages. ‘Essential unity of all religion’ was his most famous book that has helped him earn world-wide acclaim, in which he mentioned about different religions leading humanity to a common goal of living together in peace, harmony and brotherhood. According to Ranjan, when Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, soon after becoming the first Prime Minister of the independent India, visited Varanasi, he he also visited Dr Bhagwan Das at his house in Sigra area to pay his respects and seek blessings. Pt Mahamana Madan Mohan Malviya, the great visionary and founder of the Banaras Hindu University, also sought suggestions from Dr Bhagwan Das and valued his opinion on various important issues while laying the foundation of the BHU.
“Dr Radhakrishnan as vice-chancellor of the BHU visited our house several times and used to have long discussions with Dadaji on Philosophy and the other subjects of their common interest,” he said. Ranjan said that to perpetuate his memory in the annals of BHU, a hostel with his statue has been named after him - ‘Dr Bhagwan Das Chhaatravas’ and in the history of Kashi Vidyapeeth the main library with a statue of Bhagwan Das placed inside acquires his name.
For his outstanding contribution, the government adorned him with the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 1955. “We all feel highly honoured and privileged to have Dr Bhagvandas ji as our great and illustrious ancestor,” said Ranjan.