Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (Bangla: ঈশ্বর চন্দ্র বিদ্যাসাগর Ishshor Chôndro Biddashagor) (1820-1891), born Ishwar Chandra Bandopadhyaya (ঈশ্বর চন্দ্র বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায় Ishshor Chôndro Bôndopaddhae), was a Bengali polymath. Born in Midnapore, (now part of West Bengal, India) to a poor Brahmin family, he is widely considered as being one of the pillars of the Bengal Renaissance of 19th century. He was an academic, philosopher, educator, entrepreneur, writer, translator, reformer and philanthropist. His efforts to simplify and modernize Bangla prose has earned him the title of (being) the father of modern Bangla prose.

Vidyasagar and Gender Issues

Perhaps his greatest legacy is his unflinching resolve to change the plight of Indian women, specially in his native Bengal. Although largely inspired by ideas of social reformers of the Brahmo Samaj movement like Raja Rammohun Roy, Keshub Chunder Sen, Debendranath Tagore and other Christian missionaries like Alexander Duff, Krishna Mohan Banerjee and Lal Behari Dey, Ishwar Chandra, a devout Hindu sought transformation of orthodox Hindu society from within. So as the principal of the famous Sanskrit College, he encouraged scholars to study ancient sacred texts and interpret them for contemporary usage. His study of ancient texts convinced him that the debilitating status of women in 19th century Hindu society had less legitimacy according to the scriptures, but had more to do with existing power relations in society. The lack of laws that allowed for female inheritance of wealth and property was as Vidyasagar saw it, a more recent phenomenon.

Inspired by the success of Brahmo inspired social reforms (like abolition of the suttee), he almost single-handedly initiated widow remarriage to the mainstream Hindu society (and not merely the Brahmo Samaj). The prevailing social custom of Kulin Brahmin polygamy in vogue then ensured that aged persons (often on the verge of death) often got married with teenage girls and even with children. The ill-fated girl used to be widowed very soon. Although suttee had been banned, the life of these girls for the rest of their lives was full of abstinence, grief, torture and woes. These hapless widows were prohibited (as spiritual sanction) to abstain from consuming meat, fish, onion, garlic and (often) sugar. They had to be dressed up in white linen for the rest of their lives. Also they had to have clean shaven heads so as to prevent the possibility of being tempted by strangers of the opposite sex.

Vidyasagar was moved by the plight of these helpless widows. Due to his great courage and entrepreneurship, widow-remarriage (which was till then a taboo) in conservative Brahminical society was ushered in Bengal.

In order to spread female education, Vidyasagar went from door to door wooing parents to send their daughters to schools. He was also opposed to the practice of Kulin Brahmin polygamy, which was then prevalent in Bengal.

It may not be out of place to mention here that filmmaker Goutam Ghose's Antarjali Yatra is based on the theme of Kulin Brahmin polygamy in nineteenth century Bengal.

Vidyasagar and Indian Education

Vidyasagar was responsible for introducing major reforms in the educational system in Bengal in the 19th century.

His greatest contribution was the "Barnaparichay" (বর্ণপরিচয় Bôrnoporichôe), a first-book of the Bengali alphabet. "Barna" (বর্ণ bôrno) means "letter (of the alphabet)", "parichay" (পরিচয় porichôe) means "introduction". To this day, this is the first book that a Bengali child reads to learn the Bengali alphabet and its elementary usages. It was illustrated with pictures to make it interesting, which was almost new concept at that time.

• Barnoporichoy
  Barnoporichoy

Literature

Vidyasagar is often known as the father of modern Bangla literature. He first introduced the kind of language usage as used in prose. Before his time, nearly all literary works in Bengali were in a certain poem-like manner (Shadhubhasha). He also introduced usage of punctuation marks as in the English.

Philanthrophy

Vidyasagar was known to be a generous philanthrophist. The most cited example was when Vidyasagar helped Michael Madhusudan Dutt, one of the most notable poets of 19th century Bengal, when the latter was facing starvation, mainly due to his reckless lifestyle.

Important Works

• Literay Works:
  • Bhrantibilash
  • Betal Panchavinsati

• Reform Monologues:

• • Bidhobabivah (on widows' right to remarry) the first exposure (1855)
  • Bidhobabivah - the Second Book (1855)
  • Bahubivah - (on banning polygamy) the first exposure (1871)
  • Bahubivah - the Second Book (1873)
  • Balyabivah (flaws of child marriage) - unknown publication date

• Educational books
  • Bornoporichoy

Appellation of Vidyasagar

The Sanskrit title "Vidyasagar" (Etymology: Vidya=education/knowledge; Sagar=ocean) means "Ocean of knowledge." It was deemed equivalent of a Bachelor of Arts in Sanskrit language. While others may have also obtained the title, the appellation is identified almost exclusively with Ishwar Chandra due to his scholastic attributes.

Anecdotes

• Ishwar Chandra stuck to the traditional Indian attire of a dhoti. He was once denied admission into a club by the gatekeeper as he was not dressed according to the dress code of the club. He then went back home, changed into a suit and was promptly given admission by the same gatekeeper who could not recognize him. At the dinner in the club, he kept on talking to his clothes and prodded them to have food. The host and the other guests at the party were bewildered and then he explained the incident with the gatekeeper. He elaborated that respect is increasingly being accorded to sartorial affairs, rather than cerebral affairs.

• Vidaysagar was very fond of his mother and was very obedient of her. Once at his earlier age, when he was studying at a different place, his mother asked him to come and visit her. When he arrived at the river bank, all the boatmen refused to cross the river because a big storm was building up. Unable to persuade anyone, he started to swim across the river. In a situation when boatmen are afraid of crossing the river using boat, his effort to cross it by swimming symbolizes his stubbornness and bravery.

External links

• Detailed Biography of Vidyasagar
• Vidyasagar
• A Modern day newspaper article
• Anecdote on Vidyasagar
• A Fair in the memory of Vidyasagar