About MMV, Women's College in MMV, BHU, Varanasi

Right from its inception in 1916, the Banaras Hindu University has been striving towards women's education. Its visionary founder Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya foresaw immense significance of women's education and the critical role women would have to play in the development of the country. However, the existing social milieu proved to be a deterrent. Mahamana decided to remedy this by opening a college exclusively for women wherein an amalgamation of the vedic ideal and modern scholarship would work towards shaping the Indian women to take on their role as capable citizens. In his convocation address delivered on 14 December, 1929 Mahamana announced the establishment of the Women's College of the Banaras Hindu University.

To establish the Women's College, a plot within the university covering 45 acres of land was selected. Mahamana's vision was soon translated into reality when Makanji Khatau of Bombay and his relatives donated a sum of Rs. 2.8 lac. This amount was used to construct "Swasti Kunj", the first building of Mahila Mahavidyalaya. It served as the hostel as well as the college building. Although the building was completed by the end of 1924, the endowment money was not enough to start the college. Therefore, the college came into existence only in the session 1928-29. Thirty three students enrolled as boarders in the first year. The college started with three lecturers and Ms A. Aryanayakam née Adhikari, appointed Lecturer in Sanskrit served as the first Principal. Later several eminent scholars and dedicated educationists served on the faculty. These include Ms Jamuna Devi Pathak, Ms Leela Desai, Ms V.S. Deodhar, Ms Shanti Kumari Bajpayee, Dr Gyanwati Trivedi, Prof Padma Mishra and Prof Kamalveni Chandrashekhar. Subsequently, the main building of the college came up. Initially, the Central Hall surrounded by a few rooms provided the infrastructure. Gradually the strength of the college went up and more disciplines were introduced. In 1948, Dr S. Radhakrishnan, the then Vice-Chancellor, introduced Science subjects. Since then there has been no looking back. Presently, sanctioned faculty strength is 119, and the number of students about 1200.

Mahila Mahavidyalaya is a landmark in history of women's education in the Northern India. It is one of the first institutions to champion the cause of women's empowerment through education. It has produced students who went on to distinguish themselves in various fields: Smt Durgabai Deshmukh, Dr Sucheta Kriplani, Dr Rajendra Kumari Bajpayee, Dr Hemlatha Swaroop, Smt Usha Mittal and many others.

Mahila Mahavidyalaya has concerned itself not only with the academic facet of women's education but also with developing socio-political awareness and a sense of responsibility in its students. In 1942 Mahatma Gandhi addressed the students of Mahila Mahavidyalaya and urged them to serve the cause of freedom. This institution became a significant site for the freedom struggle movement. Inspired and fired with extraordinary zeal, the students joined the revolution. Snehlata, Kunti Nagar, Surjeet Kaur, Hemlata Jasra, Damyanti Jasra and Leela Sharma will always be remembered for their courage and selfless devotion to the nation. During the Indo-China crisis the students and staff of Mahila Mahavidyalaya contributed substantially to the National Defence Fund. The college also took a leading part in relief operation during the two great floods in Varanasi.

The history of Mahila Mahavidyalaya, its steady growth the development stand testimony to the spontaneous social revolution that has been brought about the vision of Mahamana. In the times that reverberated with women's silence it offered a precious niché where all the social constructs could be unmade and re-made. The college is well equipped to make its contribution to knowledge and to address the present day connotations of service to the nation. With its glorious tradition of commitment to education and nation building. Mahila Mahavidyalaya successfully continues to take on the challenges posed by the fast changing national and global scenario.