Varanasi has a reputation of being a center of learning since time immemorial. The city in the past has been home to several educational institutions of repute. It is not surprising that the city still boasts off as many as 6 different universities; a feat almost unachievable in India. Nevertheless, the most important and prominent among these is Banaras Hindu University of BHU. It is sometimes also called Banaras Hindu Vishwavidhyalaya.
BHU was built in the year 1916-1917 under the special act of parliament passed in the year 1915 named BHU act. The act was passed by the interim parliament that worked under the imperial British government. Mahamna Pundit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Annie Besant did the conceptualization and implementation of this university. Raja of Kashi donated 1350 acres of land for the construction of the sprawling campus.