Among the many illustrious sons of India, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar stands out as an inspiring figure who pioneered the cause of women's education and widow remarriage. Born on 26 September 1820, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a leading member of the cultural awakening in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Bengal, known as the Bengal Renaissance, and continues to inspire countless Indians even today.
Born into a middle-class Bengali family in Birsingha village in West Midnapore district, Ishwar Chandra's parents sent him to Kolkata to study when he was just 6 years old. Ishwar proved himself to be a bright and dedicated student who would pore over his books under street lamps since there were no gas lights in his modest home. Ishwar Chandra studied a wide range of subjects at the Sanskrit college in Kolkata including astronomy, Sanskrit literature, Vedanta philosophy, grammar, and rhetoric. He also taught at the north Kolkata neighbourhood of Jorasankho, an area known as the 'Cradle of the Bengal Renaissance' since it was where many leading lights of the cultural movement resided. Upon graduating in 1841, Ishwar Chandra was conferred the title Vidyasagar, which means 'Ocean of knowledge or learning' due the vast range and depth of his scholarship in various aspects of Sanskrit philosophy and learning.
In the early years of his career Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was an academic and an active reformer of the education system. In association with other reformers of the time, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar promoted a humanistic and forward-thinking approach which led to his attempting to set up schools for girls and to opening the doors of the previously Brahmin-only Sanskrit college to people from the so-called backward classes.
His initiative to reform the treatment meted out to women, and widows in particular, by nineteenth-century Hindu society in Bengal culminated in the passing of the The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856. Through this act, the East India Company, which ruled large parts of India at the time, legally recognized the remarriage of Hindu widows in all areas under its jurisdiction. Before the Act came into being, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar embarked on a campaign of social awareness and attempted to raise the consciousness of Bengali society of the time against the social evil of the maltreatment of women, particularly widows.
He faced tremendous opposition from the conservative sections of society who cited the scriptures to defend their stand. Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar carried out in-depth research into the Hindu scriptures and published his findings in four volumes – two on the evils of polygamy and two on the positive reasons for widow remarriage. He bolstered his arguments with quotations from the scriptures that proved there was no prohibition against widow remarriage and no endorsement of polygamy.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was also a noted Bengali author and wrote many books on mythological and cultural topics, as well as several books on Bengali language and grammar. He was instrumental in reforming the Bengali alphabet into a a more structured system consisting of 40 consonants and 12 vowels. He also simplified Bengali typography. He set up a printing press, the Sankrit Press and Depository, in 1847, in association with another Bengali reformer Madan Mohan Tarkalankar. Betal Panchavinsati (the twenty-five tales of the Demon) published in 1847, and based on a series of ancient tales, is among his most popular books.
In 1865, "Varna Parichay" was published, which introduces the alphabet, and includes instructive tales, pithy advice, and witty sayings. It became a best-seller and is used even today by many Bengali parents to introduce the basics of the Bengali alphabet and culture to their children.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was also known for the extreme compassion he displayed in his personal conduct and in seeking to help others, often at considerable cost or inconvenience to himself. His philanthropy was legendary and therefore he was also known as Karuna Sagar or Dayar Sagar which means Ocean of Kindness.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar received many honours in his lifetime. Notable among these was the award of the Companion of the Indian Empire awarded by the British government.
He spent his last days in the sylvan surroundings of tribal people, away from the city where he had spent his life trying to bring about positive social and cultural change. He passed away on 29 July 1891, after being in indifferent health for some time.
Also on this day:
1923: Indian actor and Dadasaheb Phalke award winner, Dev Anand was born.
1932: Manmohan Singh, the 13th Prime Minster of India was born.
