Why in the News?

On his birth anniversary (26 September), the Union Home Minister paid tribute to the Bengali social reformer, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

About Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar:

• Birth & Death: Born on 26 September 1820 in Birsingha, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal; died on 29 July 1891 in Kolkata.
• Early Life: Born into a poor priest family to Thakurdas Bandyopadhyay and Bhagavati Devi.
• Title “Vidyasagar”: Meaning “Ocean of Knowledge,” conferred by Sanskrit College for his mastery of Sanskrit and philosophy.
• Education: Excelled in Sanskrit grammar, Vedanta, literature, astronomy, logic; graduated with honours in 1841 from Sanskrit College, Calcutta.
• Career: Served as Head Pandit at Fort William College, later Principal of Sanskrit College, Kolkata, and also Inspector of Schools.

His Contributions:

• Educational Reforms:

  • Simplified and modernised the Bengali alphabet and prose.
  • Authored “Borno Porichoy”, a primer still used to teach Bengali script.
  • Opened teacher training institutions and promoted non-Brahmin access to Sanskrit College.
  • Advocated blending traditional Indian learning with Western education.

• Women’s Rights and Social Reform:

  • Leading advocate of Hindu widow remarriage; efforts led to the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act, 1856.
  • Strongly opposed child marriage and polygamy.
  • Championed raising the age of consent, influencing the Age of Consent Act, 1891.
  • Promoted women’s education, serving as secretary of the Hindu Female School (later Bethune School).

• Philanthropy and Grassroots Work:

  • Founded schools for girls and adults in Santhal Parganas (Jharkhand).
  • Set up a free homeopathy clinic for tribals and the poor.

• Language and Literature:

  • Regarded as the Father of Modern Bengali Prose.
  • Made Bengali prose clear, concise, and accessible to common people.

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