Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
By
Marzan Bintey Kamal
Introduction
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-1891) was considered to be the
most iconic character of the 19th century in Bengal. As he was parallel for his
scholarship, kind heart and forceful personality, he was equally famous for his
initiatives to spread education and activities for social reformation. His
erudition could be compared with that of ancient Indian saints. He was as
courageous as English though he had a delicate heart like the affectionate
mothers of the Bengal.
The extraordinary epoch maker was born in 1820 A.D. in the district
of Medinipur. He inherited his spirit and truthfulness from his father and softheartedness from his mother. Due to poverty he would study under the lamppost of the road after evening till late at night. He acquired unfathomable
knowledge in Sanskrit literature, grammar, ethics, Vedanta etc. only at the age
of 21 by dint of his genius and perseverance. He took the post of Pandit in Fort
William College at this age.
Reforms by Vidyasagar

Women’s right to remarry:
Vidyasagar advanced a movement for widow remarriage and emancipation of women in
general. Vidyasagar even published an article “Vices of Child Marriage” in Journal of the
All-welfare Society in August 1850. Indicating child marriage as a cause of large incidence
of early widowhood in Bengal, he depicted the plight of Hindu widows in the most touching
language.
He even looked out for some Shastric directive in favor of widow remarriage which he
successfully located in 1854. The text prescribes –
A woman can remarry under five conditions –
1. In case of the husband’s being untraceable
2. In case of his being dead
3. In case of turning an ascetic
4. In case of being impotent
5. In case of being thrown out of his cast
Vidyasagar immediately wrote a short dissertation entitled Whether or Not
Marriage of Widows should be Introduced. The first two thousand copies were
being sold in less than a week and 13000 more than next few weeks. The orthodox reacted
immediately. They even produced four or five pamphlets against Vidyasagar’s arguments.
Akshay Kumar Datta, an editor of influential Brahmo journal, wrote an article in support of
Vidyasagar’s activities.
Radha Kanta Deb, leader of the orthodox, challenged Vidyasagar to a debate with
the latter’s opponents. Vidyasagar won the debate but the orthodox opposition did not subside.
Vidyasagar filed for a petition requesting a legislation for remarriage of Hindu
widows in October, 1855. It carried 988 signatures including his own. The legislative council
passed the bill on 19th July, 1856 which became a law on 26th July 1856.
Vidyasagar now proceeded to put the law into practice. He began arranging
marriages of young widows paying for them from his own pocket. The first such marriage
took place on 7th December, 1856. In next eleven years he arranged for next sixty widow
marriages spending over Rs. 82000 for them to sink himself under huge debts.

Crusade Against Polygamy:
The second social reform Vidyasagar put his hand on was abolition of polygamy.
This practice was welcomed by the Kulin (Higher Class) society. He submitted
another petition to the government asking for a law prohibiting polygamy on 27th
December, 1855. The anti-polygamy movement was far more popular than the one
for widow marriage. Vidyasagar’s petition was followed by as many as 128 similar
petitions signed by thousands of people.
On the other hand, Radha Kanta Deb duly submitted a petition in defense of Hindu
polygamy. Early in 1857 the Government prepared a draft bill to abolish polygamy
system, but the Government had to postpone it due to Sepoy Rebellion of 1857. But
later on, the Government of India refrained from taking any decision regarding this
matter as they did not want to make the Hindu upper class society infuriated.
In 1871 Vidyasagar came forward to assist a reformist association by publishing a
new version of an 1866 anti-polygamy tract by himself. By the end of the century
Kulin polygamy was no longer a serious problem for the society.
 Anti Child Marriage Movement:
According to Vidyasagar, child marriage was a prime cause of large incidence
of early widowhood in Bengal. The health society of Calcutta and fifty five women
doctors sent a petition to Queen Victoria in order to stop child marriage.
The bill of anti-child marriage was passed in 1891 without Vidyasagar’s
amendment. Vidyasagar wanted to determine the perfect age for a girl’s marriage.
 Women’s Right to Education:
At the beginning of the nineteenth century Bengali women were almost totally
illiterate barring a few exceptions. The reason for such complete darkness included –
1. Child Marriage
2. Confinement of women within home in the name of pardah
3. Superstitious beliefs such as literacy causes girls’ widowhood
4. Men’s lack of interest in the matter
5. Dearth of female teachers
6. Colonial government’s apathy

It was Christian missionaries who pioneered the cause of female education and
some wealthy Hindus collaborated with them.
 Missionaries founded the Calcutta Female Juvenile Society in 1819 and taught
hundreds of girls in several schools. The students belonged to the lower class of
the society. High caste Hindus were unwilling to send their daughters to these
institutions for fear of Christian indoctrination and prejudice against attending classes with
low class girls.
 J. E. Drinkwater Bethune founded the Hindu Female School in 1849. Vidyasagar was
made the honorary secretary of this school. Madan Mohan Tarkalankar, a famous
progressive writer sent his two daughters to the school. The school taught reading,
writing, arithmetic, physics, history, geography, sewing, Bangla and English. There was
no tuition fees, no Christianity and low-caste student. Pardah was strictly maintained
and the school provided covered transport for students who could not afford their own
transport. The Bethune School was made a government institution in 1856. In the year
of 1866 and 67, a report mentioned that there were 281 schools for girls with 6531
students.
 Zenana system was introduced where paid women teachers used to tutor female
students in the latter’s homes.
 Kadambini was the first woman to pass B.A. degree from Calcutta University in 1883.
Chandramukhi Bose was the first one to earn an M.A. degree from Calcutta University
in English in 1884.
In 1887 Women got the right to sit for examination at Calcutta University.


Initiatives to spread education:
 Noticing scarcity of quality textbooks in Bangla, he started writing Bangla prose. In fact
he gave a new life to Bangla prose as a result of which he is rightly called the father of
Bengali prose. Introduction to Bangla Letters, part 1 and part 2 were composed by him
with a view to making child education easier. He tried to simplify the Sanskrit grammar.
He translated a number of books in Bangla.
 He has achievement in reformation of Sanskrit education, foundation of Bengali
education and pioneering role in the spread of female education. Not only that, he built
twenty model schools and thirty five girls’ school in villages and towns during his tenure
as a School Inspector. Vidyasagar College was established by him.
 Other Social Reforms and Charity:

He was involved in struggle against killing baby girls.


Though he was not adequately solvent many students would pursue education
staying in his house.
He built charitable hospitals and schools at the will of his mother.