Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
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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), he is widely considered as one of the pillars of the Bengal Renaissance of 19th century. He was an academic, philosopher, educator, entrepreneur, writer, translator, reformer and philanthropist. Vidyasagar was the father of Bangla prose.
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[edit] Vidyasagar and Gender Issues
Perhaps his greatest legacy is his unflinching resolve to change the plight of Indian women, specially in his native Bengal.
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.
In order to spread female education, Vidyasagar went from door to door wooing parents to send their daughters to schools.
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He was also opposed to the practice of polygamy, which was then prevalent in Bengal.
[edit] 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" (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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Important Works
- Literay Works:
- Bhrantibilash
- Betal Panchavinsati
- Reform Monologues:
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- 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
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 recognise 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.
[edit] External links
- Detailed Biography of Vidyasagar
- Vidyasagar
- A Modern day newspaper article
- Anecdote on Vidyasagar
- A Fair in the memory of Vidyasagar
