Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861–1946) was an Indian educationist, and freedom fighter notable for his role in the Indian independence movement and his espousal of Hindu nationalism. Later in life, he was also addressed as 'Mahamana'.
He was the President of the Indian National Congress on four occasions and today is most remembered as the founder of the largest residential university in Asia and one of the largest in the world
Rabindranath along with Kshiti Moan Sen reached Banaras on 1st March, 1923.and became the guest of Phanibhushan Adhikari. He delivered a lecture in the Banaras Hindu University at 2.30 pm. Pandit Madan Mohan Malabya delivered the welcome address.He also explained the theme of the song play Basanta at the end of his lecture.
Kshiti Mohan Sen wrote in his diary the gist of the lecture in Bengali
Rabindranath took the chair in the first North India Bengali Sahitya Sammelan. .At his presidential address he said that he accepted the invitation as because the President of the Reception Committee, Pramathanath Tarkabhusan had requested him to become the president of this conference. He further added that they are bengali not because they are born in Bengal, it is because they have occupied a place in the hearts of Bengalees by way of speaking in Bengali. It is for this reason he has come outside the jurisdiction of his birth place to take the chair in a province outside Bengal..
Commenting on the language problem of a multilingual country like India, he said now English is our common language of understanding. This language is asked to be accepted as the language of all India.
Rabindranath started for Lucknau on 4th Jan. along with Kshitimohan Sen.
