The Banaras Hindu University or BHU is an internationally reputed University and is situated in the core of Varanasi city. The great nationalist leader, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya founded the Banaras Hindu University in the year 1916. The core essence of the University is the lighting of knowledge as quoted by Malaviya Ji “Religion of students is acquisition of knowledge”. The University has a sprawling campus, spanning across 1300 acres. There is another campus of the BHU at Barkachha, in Mirzapur district, covering an area of 2700 acres. The BHU comprises of 6 Institutes, 16 Faculties, 140 Departments, 5 Interdisciplinary Centres and 3 Constituent Schools, spanning a wide range of subjects pertaining to all branches of humanities, social sciences, science, technology, medicine, fine arts and performing arts.