Mahmud Gawan Madrasa – The Forgotten University of Bidar
Hidden in the heart of Bidar, Karnataka, stands a magnificent monument that once echoed with the voices of scholars, poets, and philosophers. The Mahmud Gawan Madrasa, built over five centuries ago, was one of the greatest centers of learning in medieval South India. Even though parts of it now lie in ruins, its walls still tell stories of wisdom, art, and devotion. The madrasa was founded by Khwaja Mahmud Gawan, a Persian-born scholar and prime minister of the Bahmani Sultanate. He arrived in India from Gilan, a region in present-day Iran, and quickly became known for his intelligence, honesty, and vision. Inspired by the great universities of Persia and Central Asia, Mahmud Gawan dreamed of building a similar institution in the Deccan, where knowledge could flourish freely. In 1472, his dream took shape as the grand Mahmud Gawan Madrasa in Bidar. This madrasa was not an ordinary school; it was a complete university. It had lecture halls, teachers’ quarters, student hostel...