Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Biography PDF

PDF Name	Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Biography
No. of Pages	4
PDF Size	0.08 MB
Language	English
PDF Category	Education & Jobs
Source / Credits	drishtiias.com
Uploaded By	Pradeep

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Biography - Summary

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Biography

Ishwar Chandra Bandopadhyay CIE, widely known as Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, was a remarkable nineteenth-century Indian educator and social reformer whose life spanned from 26 September 1820 to 29 July 1891. He worked tirelessly to modernize Bengali literature and played a key role in making the Bengali alphabet and typing system more accessible and efficient. This was important since the Bengali type had not seen any updates since Charles Wilkins and Panchanan Karmakar created the first wooden Bengali type in 1780.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar emerged as a leading advocate for Hindu widow remarriage, even petitioning the Legislative Council in the face of stiff opposition, including a counterpetition that had nearly four times as many signatures from Radhakanta Deb and the Dharma Sabha. Despite fierce resistance, the Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act of 1856 was passed. Lord Dalhousie himself was instrumental in supporting this measure, highlighting Vidyasagar’s significant impact. His efforts also led to the Age of Consent Act of 1891, which raised the minimum age for marriage to twelve years, fighting against child marriage.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Biography

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was born on 26 September 1820 in a Bengali Hindu Brahmin family to Thakurdas Bandyopadhyay and Bhagavati Devi in Birsingha village, located in Paschim Medinipur District (earlier undivided Midnapore District).
As a young boy, he was an exceptionally bright student who had an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
He attended the Sanskrit College in Calcutta and successfully passed the law examination.
At just 21 years old, he became the Department Head for Sanskrit at Fort William College in 1841, showcasing his scholarly expertise in Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali, and English.
In addition to teaching, he was a talented translator, writer, philosopher, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
He authored ‘Borno Porichoy,’ a book that continues to be used for teaching the Bengali alphabet to new learners. His innovative approach revolutionized how Bengali letters were taught and written.
As an educator, he encouraged his students to explore both Indian and Western philosophies, promoting a balanced understanding. He also made the Sanskrit College accessible to non-Brahmin students, breaking down social barriers.
His family originally came from Banamalipur, now part of the modern Hooghly district.
At the age of 9, he relocated to Calcutta and lived in Bhagabat Charan’s household in Burrabazar, where his father had been residing for years. Ishwar quickly adjusted to life in Bhagabat’s large family.
The youngest daughter of Bhagabat, Raimoni, provided motherly care that deeply touched Ishwar and significantly influenced his lifelong commitment to women’s empowerment and education.
He passed away in July 1891 due to health issues at the age of 70.
Rabindranath Tagore famously remarked about Vidyasagar upon his death, saying, “One wonders how God, in the process of producing forty million Bengalis, produced a man!”

You can download the Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Biography PDF using the link provided below. Don’t miss out on this chance to learn more about his impactful life and contributions!

RELATED PDF FILES