Patna, Nov. 10: Madan Mohan Malviya’s name is synonymous with the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) but very few people in Bihar know of the contribution of Maharaja of Darbhanga, Rameshwar Singh, in setting up the country’s first private university in 1916.

A book — A Liberal Hindu Aristocrat — Maharaja Rameshwar Singh — that will provide an insight into the Maharaja’s support to BHU will be released soon.

The book, edited by noted sociologist, Hetukar Jha, is being published under the initiative of the Maharajadhiraja Kameshwar Singh Kalyani Foundation.

A Liberal Hindu Aristocrat — Maharaja Rameshwar Singh is based on official documents, letters, speeches and references that reveal Singh’s role, in setting up BHU, since 1907 when the idea floated. Singh was the Maharaja of Darbhanga from 1898 to 1929.

“While going through the records available with the foundation, I came across facts which throw light on the pivotal role played by then Maharaja of Darbhanga. This very fact gave me the inspiration to bring out the book so that the people could know about a person from Bihar who was instrumental in founding BHU,” Jha told The Telegraph today.

Jha is also the managing trustee of the foundation.

The book brings to the readers’ attention that Singh was the first donor to the BHU. He donated Rs 5 lakh to the university before embarking on a nationwide tour to collect donations for the university.

Referring to some of the records, which would be a part of the book, Jha said: “The book will carry the speech delivered by then chancellor of BHU — the Maharaja of Mysore, Krishna Raja Wadiyar — during the first convocation of BHU in 1919. The book will also have the letter of Bhagwan Das, a renowned philosopher, who wrote to the London Times in 1913 and the obituary published in London Times in 1929 after death of the Maharaja.”

Jha added: “These documents speak volumes about the contribution of Rameshwar Singh in the foundation of BHU. Till 1920, he had donated about Rs 68 lakh to different institutions in India.” Jha said it was sad that not a single building in the BHU is named after Singh and that his role in founding the university remains virtually forgotten.

The Maharajadhiraja Kameshwar Singh Kalyani Foundation was set up in 1989 and has been publishing books under its Bihar Heritage Series since 1996. Under the series only those books that have a significant account of Bihar mentioned and are no longer available in the markets or libraries are published.