Indian postal stamp on Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (Bangla: ঈশ্বর চন্দ্র বিদ্যাসাগর) (1820-1891) (born Ishwar Chandra Bandopadhyay) was a Bengali polymath. Born in Midnapore, (now part of West Bengal, India), he is widely considered as one of the most glowing figures of the Bengal Renaissance of 19th century. He was an academic, philosopher, educator, entrepreneur, writer, translator, reformer and philanthropist. Image File history File links Vidyasagar_stamp. ... Image File history File links Vidyasagar_stamp. ... This article is about the Bengali language. ... 1820 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Bengali people are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group from South Asia with a history going back more than two millennia. ... Midnapore (also written as Medinipur) is a town in West Bengal, India. ... West Bengal (পশ্চিম বঙ্গ, Poshchim Bôngo) is a state in the eastern region of India. ... Bengal renaissance is the period of time that saw surge in creative and social activity in Bengal. ...

Vidyasagar and Gender Issues

Perhaps his greatest legacy is his unflinching resolve to change the plight of Indian women, specially in his native Bengal. Bengal, known as Bôngo (Bengali: বঙ্গ), Bangla (বাংলা), Bôngodesh (বঙ্গদেশ), or Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ) in Bangla, is a region in the northeast of South Asia. ...

He almost single-handedly initiated widow remarriage. The prevailing social custom then was such that aged persons often got married with teenaged and even child girls.The ill-fated girl used to be widowed very soon. The rest of the life of these girls was full of grief, torture and woes. 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) was ushered in in Bengal. A taboo is a strong social prohibition (or ban) relating to any area of human activity or social custom declared as sacred and forbidden; breaking of the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society. ...

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He was also opposed to the practice of polygamy, which was then prevalent in Bengal. Image File history File links Wiki_letter_w. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Vidyasagar and Indian Education

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

His greatest contribution was the "Barnaparichay" (or, " Bornoporichoy")- a first-book of the Bengali alphabet. Even till this day, this is the first book that a bengali child reads to learn the Bengali alphabet and its elementary usages. This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... A Specimen of typeset fonts and languages, by William Caslon, letter founder; from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ...

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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. This article is about the Bengali language. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

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. Michael Madhusudan Dutt (Datta), (Bangla: মাইকেল মধুসূদন দত্ত) (1824-1873) is a famous 19th century Bengali poet and dramatist. ... Bengal, known as Bôngo (Bengali: বঙ্গ), Bangla (বাংলা), Bôngodesh (বঙ্গদেশ), or Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ) in Bangla, is a region in the northeast of South Asia. ...

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

External links

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