This document lists many distinguished alumni and honorary degree recipients of Banaras Hindu University, including several who have received India's highest civilian honor Bharat Ratna as well as Nobel Prizes. It provides brief biographies of many prominent scholars, scientists, and political leaders who have studied or taught at BHU over the years and have made significant contributions to India and the world in fields such as physics, chemistry, literature, spirituality, and public service.

1. Distinguished Alumni of
Banaras Hindu University
Compiled By
Dr. Vivekanand Jain
Central Library, BHU

2. Bharat Ratna
Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya
Founder of Banaras Hindu University

3. Bharat Ratna
Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya

4. Bharat Ratna C V Raman
• Raman had association with the Banaras Hindu
University. He attended the foundation ceremony
of BHU and delivered lectures on mathematics
and "Some new paths in physics" during the
lecture series organised at the university from 5
to 8 February 1916.
• He also held the position of permanent visiting
professor at BHU.
Nobel Prize in Physics 1930 &
Bharat Ratna 1954
Honorary D.Sc. degree was conferred upon Raman at the 1932

5. Bharat Ratna
Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan
Ex- President of India and
Ex- Vice Chancellor of BHU
Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU , 1938
Bharat Ratna
1954

6. Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhagwan Das
Bhagwan Das (12 January 1869 – 18
September 1958) was an
Indian Theosophist and public figure. For
a time he served in the Central Legislative
Assembly of British India. He became
allied with the Hindustani Culture Society
and was active in opposing rioting as a
form of protest. With Mrs. Anni Besant,
he founded the Central Hindu College. He
is also worked with Malaviya Ji.
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in
1955.

7. Bharat Ratna Lal Bahadur Shastri
Lal Bahadur Shastri (2 October 1904 – 11
January 1966) was an Indian politician and
statesman who served as the 2nd Prime
Minister of India from 1964 to 1966 and
6th Home Minister of India from 1961 to
1963.
He led the country during the Indo-Pakistan
War of 1965. His slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan"
("Hail to the soldier; Hail to the farmer")
became very popular during the war. The war
formally ended with the Tashkent
Agreement on 10 January 1966; he died the
following day, still in Tashkent, with the cause
of his death in dispute. He was posthumously
awarded the Bharat Ratna.

8. Bharat Ratna Mother Teresa
Doctorate Honoris Causa, 1980
Nobel Peace Prize 1979 and Bharat Ratna 1980

9. Dr. Nelson Mandela
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1990
Nobel Peace Prize 1993

10. Bharat Ratna
Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam
Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1991
1997

11. Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar
Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU
Bharat Ratna in
1999

12. Bharat Ratna Bismillah Khan
• Ustad Bismillah Khan (March 21, 1913 –
August 21, 2006) was an Indian shehnai
maestro. He was the third classical musician to
be awarded the Bharat Ratna (in 2001)
Doctorate Honoris Causa, 1980
2001

13. Bharat Ratna
C. N. R. Rao
• Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao, also
known as C.N.R. Rao (born 30 June 1934,
Bangalore, India) is an Indian chemist who has
worked mainly in solid-state and structural
chemistry. He completed M.Sc. form Banaras
Hindu university.
• He currently serves as the Head of the Scientific
Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.
2014

14. Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika
• Bhupen Hazarika Bhupen
Hazarika was a playback
singer, lyricist, musician,
singer, poet and film-
maker from Assam,
widely known
as Sudhakantha.
• BA (1944) and MA (1946)
from BHU in Political
Science.
2019

15. Dr. U R RAO, Padma Vibhushan
• Dr. U R Rao was born on 10th March 1932, at
Adamaru in the state of Karnataka. After
completing his undergraduate at Anantpur,
Rao moved to Banaras HIndu University for
his Masters and then to Physical Research
Laboratory, Ahmedabad to complete his PhD
under the guidance of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.

16. Shri KrishnaKant
Ex- Vice President of India
• Krishan Kant (28 February 1927 – 27 July 2002)
was the tenth Vice President of India from 1997
until his death. Previously, he was Governor of
Andhra Pradesh from 1990 to 1997.
• Krishan Kant completed his MSc (Technology)
from erstwhile Banaras Engineering
College, Banaras Hindu University (currently
known as Indian Institute of Technology, BHU).

17. Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar
Padma Bhushan
बी.एच.यू. क
ु लगीत क
े रचययता
मधुर मनोहर अतीव सुुंदर
यह सवव यवद्या की राजधानी....

18. Padma Bhushan
Col. (Dr.) S.P. Wahi
• He is a recipient of Padma Bhushan National
Award 1988, Doctorate of Science (Honoris
Causa) by Indian School of Mines, 1985,
Doctorate of Engineering (Honoris Causa) by
Roorkee University, 1987, Doctorate of Science
(Honoris Causa) by Banaras Hindu University,
1989 and Giant International Award, 1989 and
has several awards to his credit including Life
Time Achievement Award by Petrotech in
2007.

19. Padmashri
Dr. Lalji Singh
• Dr. Lalji Singh, Padmashri awardee and a scientist of
international repute, has taken over as the 25th
Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University. He holds
the position of Bhatnagar Fellow of CSIR at Centre for
Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, of
which he has been Director for a long period of 11
years from 1998 to 2009. He spent 13 years in the
Institute of Animal Ge-netics, University of Edinburgh
(1974-1987) before joining CCMB.

20. Padmashri Prof. M S Kanungo

21. Padmashri Dr. O. N. Srivastava
Emeritus Professor,
Department of Physics
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
BHATNAGAR AWARD: 1988

22. Padmashri Dr. O. N. Srivastava
• 1988 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for Physical
Sciences.
• 2000 Goyal Award in Physical Sciences.
• 2000 K.S. Rao Memorial Award on Renewable
Energy.
• 2002 Homi J Bhabha Award in Applied Sciences.
• FNA, FNASc, Fellow of International Academy of
Physical Sciences, Fellow of New York Science
Academy.

23. Padma Bhushan
Prof. C. V. Chandrasekhar
• Chandrasekhar started his dancing career in
1947. He served at the Banaras Hindu University
and later joined M.S. University of Baroda, where
he retired as the Head and Dean of the Faculty of
Performing Arts in 1992.
• C.V. Chandrasekhar is a multi-faceted personality
being a dancer, choreographer, researcher,
musician, academician, composer and highly
acclaimed teacher of Bharatanatyam.

24. Padma Bhushan
Rai Anand Krishna
• Rai Anand Krishna is an art historian and
museologist, who has not only helped in
restoration and chronicling of Indian art but also
created a breed of professional art researchers.
Scholars from India and abroad have eagerly
sought his evaluation of their work. His
association with Bharat Kala Bhavan at Banaras
Hindu University, Varanasi has provided a modern
outlook to the discipline of art-history in India.
• Padma Bhushan, 1961

25. Padma Vibhushan Rai Krishnadasa
• He has knowledge and deep involvement in
Indian history. Bharat Kala Bhavan in Banaras
Hindu University, Varanasi, which was founded
by Rai Krishnadasa ji and under the shadow of
top Hindi littérateurs, painters, musicians et
al., a solid base which he later enriched with
his own experience.

26. Prof. Jadunath Sarkar
First University Librarian of BHU
• He taught Modern Indian History in Benaras Hindu
University and during 1919-1923 he taught in
Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, in Orissa. In 1923, he
became an honorary member of the Royal Asiatic
Society of London.
• In August 1926, he was appointed as the Vice
Chancellor of Calcutta University.
• Award : Knighthood, 1929

27. Padmashri Dr. S R Ranganathan
Ex- University Librarian, BHU
Padmashri, 1957
Father of Library Science in India

28. Padmashri Prof. P N Kaula
• World known Library and Information
Sciences Specialist.
• Ex- University Librarian, BHU
• Professor and Head Department of Library
and Information Science & Dean Faculty of
Arts Banaras Hindu University

29. Padmashri Prof. P N Kaula

30. Anant Sadashiv Altekar
• Anant Sadashiv Altekar (1898–1960) was a historian,
archaeologist, and numismatist from Maharashtra,
India.[2] He was the Manindra Chandra Nandi Professor
and Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History
and Culture at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi,
India,[3][4] and later the director of the Kashi Prasad
Jayaswal Research Institute[5] and University Professor
of Ancient Indian History and Culture at the University
of Patna,[6] both in Patna, India.
• In 1947 Altekar was elected the first chairman of the
Numismatic Society of India,[23] and in 1960 the Journal
of the Numismatic Society of India published a
commemorative volume in his honor.

31. BHATNAGAR AWARD
WInNERS
from
banaras hindu university

32. Dr. T. V. Ramakrishnan
Emeritus Professor of Physics,
DAE Homi Bhabha Professor
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
BHATNAGARAWARD: 1982

33. Awards and Fellowships
• 1982 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for Physical
Sciences.
• 1990 Third World Academy of Sciences Award in
Physics.
• 2001 Padma Sri, President of India.
• 2005 Trieste Science Prize.
• Fellow of IASc (1980), INSA (1984), APS (1984),
TWAS (1991), NASc (1993), Royal Society, London
(2000), IOP, UK (2000), and French Academy
(2005).

34. Padmashri Dr. O. N. Srivastava
Emeritus Professor,
Department of Physics
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
BHATNAGAR AWARD: 1988

35. Padmashri Dr. O. N. Srivastava
• 1988 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for Physical
Sciences.
• 2000 Goyal Award in Physical Sciences.
• 2000 K.S. Rao Memorial Award on Renewable
Energy.
• 2002 Homi J Bhabha Award in Applied Sciences.
• FNA, FNASc, Fellow of International Academy of
Physical Sciences, Fellow of New York Science
Academy.

36. Prof. S C Lakhotia
Emeritus Professor ,
DST-Ramanna Fellow, DAE-Raja Ramanna Fellow
BHATNAGAR AWARD: 1989

37. Prof. S C Lakhotia
• Recipient of INSA Young Scientist Medal (1975), INSA S
L Hora Medal (2002),
• INSA Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Visiting
Fellowship (2009),
• UGC Career Award (1979),
• UGC National Lecturership (1989), UGC J C Bose Medal
(1998),
• S S Bhatnagar Prize in Biological Sciences (1989),
• BHU Prof. C N R Rao Medal for Excellence in Science
(2007), Fellow of Indian National Science Academy
(1993), Indian Academy of Sciences (1994) and
National Academy of Sciences of India (2002).

38. Prof. S. Lele
Ex- Rector & Professor of BHU

39. Prof. S. Lele
• Professor Lele has been awarded prestigious S.S.
Bhatnagar Award, National Metallurgist Award
and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Fellowship, Germany (1973-74). He is Fellow of
three academies : Indian National Science
Academy (FNA), Indian Academy of Science
(FASc), National Academy of Science (FNASc), and
also of Indian Institute of Metals. Professor Lele is
a Member of Board of Research AICTE & Board of
Governors, IIT, Kanpur amongst other.

40. Prof. Madhu Sudan Kanungo
(Padma Shri)
Ex- Coordinator of BHU Library Committee

41. Prof. Madhu Sudan Kanungo
• Prof. Madhu Sudan Kanungo (April 1, 1927 – July 26, 2011)
was an Indian scientist in the field of gerontology and
neuroscience as well as a teacher of molecular biology
and biochemistry. He is known for his theories on how
gene expression changes with age and the role of this
phenomenon in ageing. In recognition of his
contributions, he was awarded India's fourth highest
civilian award, Padma Shri in 2005.[1] He held the post
of BHU Emeritus professor in zoology at the Banaras
Hindu University and was also the Chancellor, Nagaland
University till his death.[2][3]

42. Prof. P. Ramachandra Rao
Ex- Vice Chancellor of BHU

43. Dr. P. Ramachandra Rao
• Dr. Patcha Ramachandra Rao (21 March 1942 – 10 January
2010) was a metallurgist and administrator. He has the
unique distinction of being the only Vice-Chancellor (2002–
05) of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) who was also a
student (1963–68) and faculty (1964–92) at that institution.
From 1992 to 2002, Rao was the Director of the National
Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur. After his tenure as
Vice Chancellor of B.H.U., in 2005, he took the reins of the
Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) as its first
Vice-Chancellor. He was to serve DIAT until his
superannuation in 2007. From 2007 till the end,
• Dr. Rao was a Raja Ramanna Fellow at the International
Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New
Materials, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

44. Prof. Sachchida Nand Tripathi
B. Tech. (Civil Engineering),
IIT-BHU (1992)
• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Earth,
Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary
Sciences (2014)
Present Position:
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering and
Centre for Environmental Science & Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India

45. Prof. Sachchida Nand Tripathi

46. DISTINGUISHED
BHU ALUMNI

47. Ravindra Nath Tagore
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1935

48. Jawahar Lal Nehru
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1946

49. Sarojani Naidu
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1947

50. Achrya Narendra Deo
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1949

51. Dr. H J Bhabha
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1950

52. Abul Kalam Azad
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1955

53. Dalai Lama
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1956

54. Lal Bahadur Shastri
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1964

55. Ghanshyam Das Birla
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1967

56. Bharat ratna Jay Prakash Narayan
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1970

57. J R D Tata
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1980

58. Satyajit Ray
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1980

59. Mahadevi Verma
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 1984

60. Dr. Manmohan Singh
• Doctorate Honoris Causa from BHU in 2008

61. Grammy Award Winner
Mr. Sandeep Das
Graduate from BHU

62. Dr. Ram Baran Yadav
Ex-President of Nepal
• Award of LL.D Honoris Causa
from BHU in 2012.

64. Padma Bhushan M.V. Pylee
D. Litt from BHU in 1997

65. Shri Om Prakash Rawat
Ex-Chief Election Commissioner
Mr Rawat was born on December
2, 1953. He completed his
master’s degree in Physics from
Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
After that he went to United
Kingdom (UK) to complete his
MSc in Social Development
Planning. Om Prakash Rawat was
appointed as United Nations
election observer in South Africa
on May 1994 where he was
entitled with the responsibility to
keep a watch on first post-
apartheid elections. Apart from
this, Rawat has also served as
Collector of Narsinghpur from
1983-86 and Indore (Madhya
Pradesh) from 1986-88.

66. Shri Manoj Sinha
• Earlier Minister of State (Independent Charge)
of the Ministry of Communications, Minister
of State in the Ministry of Railways, MP from
Ghazipur.
• Alumnus of IIT-BHU
• Now Lt. Governor of
Jammu & Kashmir

67. IFFCO MD Dr. U S Awasthi
received BHU IIT
alumnus of the Centenary

68. DISTINGUISHED BHU ALUMNI

69. DISTINGUISHED BHU ALUMNI

70. DISTINGUISHED BHU ALUMNI
• Ritwik Sanyal, Professor of Performing Arts, Hindustani
Classical musician
• Ram Chandra Shukla, Professor of Visual Arts, Painter
• Acharya Ramchandra Shukla, Professor of Literature
• Gurbachan Singh Talib, Professor of Sikh Studies
• Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, Professor of Performing
Arts, Renowned Hindustani Classical musician
• Professor S. P. Ray-Chaudhuri (FNA), Chair of the
Zoology Department, ‘The Father of Animal
Chromosome Research’ in India.
• Professor Ramdeo Mishra, Father of ecology in India

71. Padma Shri Dr. Kamalakar Tripathi
Ex- Professor IMS, BHU 2022

72. Nikesh Arora

73. References
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishan_Kant
• https://twitter.com/manojsinhabjp

74. • Updated upto 3rd Dec. 2022
Compiled by :
Dr. Vivekanand Jain
Deputy Librarian
Central Library, Banaras hindu University
Varanasi – 221005 India
Email : vivekanandofdigora@gmail.com
Mob. +91 9450538093
Thanks and Regards to
all Alumni of Banaras Hindu University