Biography Writing: Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar | Class 10

Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a towering pioneer of the Bengal Renaissance, a venerable educationist, and a fearless social reformer. He was born into an impoverished Brahmin family on 26th September 1820 at Birsingha village in Paschim Medinipur. His parents were Thakurdas Bandyopadhyay and the noble Bhagavati Devi. Undeterred by poverty, the diligent boy studied under streetlamps in Calcutta. Due to his profound mastery over Sanskrit literature and grammar, Sanskrit College conferred upon him the title 'Vidyasagar' (Ocean of Knowledge).

Vidyasagar reformed Bengali primer literature by composing the legendary 'Barnaparichay'. A champion of women's rights, he worked with Drinkwater Bethune to establish numerous girls' schools and successfully legalized Hindu Widow Remarriage in 1856 while vehemently opposing child marriage and polygamy. Renowned for his boundless charity towards the distressed, he was endearingly called 'Dayar Sagar' (Ocean of Compassion). The great humanitarian breathed his last on 29th July 1891, leaving behind an indelible legacy.