>Vijay Barot: Hindi Version of Name corrected as per Hindi article and name printed on the stamp

2021-06-28T04:02:07Z

Hindi Version of Name corrected as per Hindi article and name printed on the stamp

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
{{Refimprove|date=July 2014}}
[[File:Shiv Prasad Gupta 1988 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Shiv Prasad Gupta on a 1988 stamp of India]]
'''Shiv Prasad Gupta''' {{lang-hi|शिव प्रसाद गुप्त}} (28 June 1883 – 24 April 1944) was a visionary, [[philanthropist]], a leader of the [[Indian Freedom Movement]] and the founder of the [[Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth]]. Though belonging to a very wealthy industrialist and "Jamindar" family, he devoted his entire life to actively participate, assist and give financial aid to the various movements of the freedom struggle. He was a close associate and friend of [[Mahatma Gandhi]], Pandit [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]], Mahamana [[Madan Mohan Malviya]] and all the other nationalist leaders, who often stayed with him on their visit to [[Varanasi]] and relied upon his advice and support.

In Varanasi he established the [[Kashi Vidyapeeth]] – a state university; the "[[Bharat Mata Mandir]]" – a National Heritage monument; "Shiv Prasad Gupta Hospital" – the civil Hospital of Varanasi;<ref>{{Cite web
| last = Naskar
| first = Sudhiti
| title = The river where swimming lessons can be a health hazard
| work = BBC News
| access-date = 4 July 2014
| date = 1 July 2014
| url = https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28112403
}}</ref> the daily Hindi newspaper [[Aaj (newspaper)|''Aaj'']] – the oldest existing Hindi newspaper, and numerous other projects and activities. At [[Akbarpur, Ambedkar Nagar|Akbarpur]], he gave {{convert|150|acre|km2}} of land for setting up the first Gandhi Ashram in India to promote the production and sale of indigenously manufactured [[Khadi]] clothes.

The Hindi daily newspaper [[Aaj (newspaper)|''Aaj'']], a publication of Jnanamandal Limited, was started by Gupta in 1920 in order to facilitate the Indian struggle for freedom. Gupta was associated with the [[Indian National Congress]] as its treasurer for many years. He founded [[Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth]] in Varanasi, which is now a university, to give a chance to those youth to complete their education, who had left their studies in between, to join the Indian struggle for freedom. He built the [[Bharat Mata Mandir]], in which a relief map of India is carved on marble. The temple was inaugurated by Gandhi in 1936.

The total expenditure and arrangement for The First National Congress to be held at Varanasi in 1928 was done by Gupta at his residence Seva Upawan, a Heritage Building designed by Sir [[Edwin Lutyens]] for his friend Mr. Catley, the collector of Varanasi and bought by Rashtraratana Ji in 1916. It was renamed to Seva Upawan by Gandhi, which was synonym of the hospitality the people were offered here. The building exists in an area of {{convert|75000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} situated at the western bank of the river [[Ganges]] covered by {{convert|20|acre|m2}} of appertained land. Rashtraratan Jee donated Rs. 1,01,000/- as the first donation to build [[Benaras Hindu University]] for which a grand total of 50 lacs was collected under the instigation and leadership of Malviya Ji from the various Princely states and Industrial houses, in the beginning of the 20th century.

Gandhi conferred upon Gupta the title of "Rashtra Ratna – Jewel of the Nation".

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Mohandas K. Gandhi}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gupta, Rashtraratana Shri Shiv Prasad}}

[[Category:Indian independence activists from Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Activists from Varanasi]]
[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1944 deaths]]

Shiv Prasad Gupta - Revision history

>Vijay Barot: Hindi Version of Name corrected as per Hindi article and name printed on the stamp