Consider the following statements on the contributions of Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar:

I. His great contribution was for the upliftment of women in India.

II. He organized a powerful movement for the enactment of Widow Remarriage Act.

III. To propagate his social ideas, he published Sambad Kaumudi, a Bengali weekly newspaper.

Which of the above statements are correct?

Key Points

• Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's major contribution was for the upliftment of women in India, particularly focusing on improving their social status and rights.
• He was instrumental in organizing a powerful movement for the enactment of the Widow Remarriage Act, which legalized the remarriage of widows and aimed to abolish the social stigma associated with widowhood.
• Vidyasagar did not publish Sambad Kaumudi; it was actually published by Raja Ram Mohan Roy. Therefore, statement III is incorrect.
• His efforts in social reforms were significant during the 19th century Bengal Renaissance, and he is remembered as a key figure in advocating for educational and social reforms.

Additional Information

• Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
  • He was a prominent Indian educator, social reformer, and philanthropist in 19th century Bengal.
  • He made significant contributions to the development of the Bengali language and script, advocating for simplification and modernization.
  • Vidyasagar's efforts in promoting education included the establishment of numerous schools, especially for girls, and he was a staunch supporter of women's education.
  • His advocacy for widow remarriage and his efforts in passing the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856 were groundbreaking and helped challenge the conservative social norms of his time.
• Widow Remarriage Act of 1856
  • The Act was passed on 26th July 1856, and it legalized the remarriage of Hindu widows in India.
  • This legislation was largely the result of the efforts of reformers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, who campaigned against the social ban on widow remarriage.
  • The Act was a significant step towards improving the social status of widows, who were often subjected to severe discrimination and isolation.
• Bengal Renaissance
  • The Bengal Renaissance was a cultural, social, intellectual, and artistic movement in Bengal (now West Bengal and Bangladesh) during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • It was characterized by a push for modernization and reform in various aspects of society, including education, literature, science, and social practices.
  • Prominent figures of the Bengal Renaissance included Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Rabindranath Tagore, and Swami Vivekananda.