Banaras Hindu University was established in 1916.
It was established jointly by the Maharaja of Darbhanga Maharaja of Banaras Prabhu Narayan Singh, Rameshwar Singh, Madan Mohan Malaviya, Sunder Lal, and British Theosophist and Home Rule League founder Annie Besant.
The university's main campus spread over 1,300 acres (5.3 km2) was built on land donated by the Kashi Naresh Prabhu Narayan Singh.