Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

A Bengali polymath who revolutionized Indian education and led social reforms to empower women and lower castes in 19th century India.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820–1891) was a towering figure in 19th century Bengal, renowned as a philosopher, educator and social reformer. Born into a poor Brahmin family, he became a Sanskrit scholar at 12 and later revolutionized Bengali typography, simplifying the script for mass literacy. His Bengali primer (1855) made education accessible to common people, while his 1850-1870s campaigns challenged caste discrimination and child marriage. As an education commissioner, he introduced vernacular language instruction in schools, directly contradicting British policies favoring English-only education.

Vidyasagar's most radical achievement was the 1856 Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, which legalized widow remarriage despite fierce opposition. He established girls' schools in Kolkata and funded scholarships for lower-caste students. His philosophical writings blended Hinduism with humanistic values, influencing later leaders like Rabindranath Tagore. Modern institutions like the Vidyasagar College and the Vidyasagar University bear his name. Recent studies by Dr. Ananya Chatterjee reveal his lesser-known contributions to public health and sanitation reforms in colonial India.