|
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
|
- Serving as the Principal of the Sanskrit College in Calcutta, Ishwar Chandra was bestowed with the title of Vidyasagar by the college.
- He introduced the study of modern Western thought in the Sanskrit College and admitted students from the so-called lower castes to study Sanskrit.
- Facing opposition from orthodox Hindus, Vidyasagar strongly supported the causes of widow remarriage and the education of girls. He is hailed as the Father of the Modern Bengali Language.
- Authoring several books, including Betaal Pancha Binsati, Jeebancharit, Bodhadoy, Upakramanika, and Kothal Mala, Vidyasagar also contributed to journalistic publications like Tattvabodhini Patrika, Somprakash, Sarbashubhankari Patrika, and Hindu Patriot.
- Vidyasagar played a pivotal role in legalizing Widow Remarriage in 1856 through his efforts. He advocated for the higher education of women, leading a powerful movement during the 1840s and 1850s. His intellectual prowess earned him the title “Vidyasagar,” meaning Ocean of Knowledge.
|
|
Pandita Ramabai
|
- Born on April 23, 1858, into a Marathi-speaking Brahmin family, Pandita Ramabai Dongre dedicated her efforts to advancing the cause of women’s education and emancipation during the 19th and 20th centuries.
- Recognized as a Sanskrit scholar, she became the first woman to receive the titles of “Pandita” and “Sarasvati” after successfully undergoing examinations by the faculty of the University of Calcutta.
- Following her husband’s demise, Ramabai relocated to Pune, where she established the Arya Mahila Samaj in 1883. The organization aimed to foster women’s education and liberate them from the oppression of child marriage.
- During a visit to England in 1883, Ramabai underwent baptism in Wantage. Subsequently, she traveled to the United States in 1886 to attend the graduation ceremony of her relative, Anandibai Joshi, India’s first female doctor.
- In her 1887 book titled “The High Caste Hindu Woman,” Ramabai shed light on prevalent social issues such as child marriage, the plight of child widows, and the oppression faced by women in British India.
|
|
Mukti Mission
|
- Returning to India in 1889, Ramabai, with the support of MG Ranade, founded a school for child widows in Pune named Sharada Sadan. Under the pressure exerted by high-caste Hindu groups, she later moved the school to a nearby village called Kedgaon and renamed it the Mukti Mission.
|
|
Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
|
- A staunch advocate of rationalism, individualism, equality, and humanism, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar strongly believed in the transformative power of education and the press to disseminate these principles.
- Dissenting against prevalent societal ills, Agarkar initiated the publication of his periodical “Sudharak” in 1887. Through this platform, he waged a campaign against the injustices of untouchability and the caste system.
|
|
Balshastri Jambhekar
|
- A trailblazer in utilizing journalism for social reform in Bombay, Balshastri Jambhekar boldly confronted Brahminical orthodoxy and endeavored to reform popular Hinduism. In 1832, he founded the newspaper “Darpan.”
- Known as the father of Marathi journalism, he initiated the publication of Digdarshan in 1840, which featured articles covering scientific subjects and history.
|
|
Kandukuri Veeresalingam
|
- Kandukuri Veeresalingam, a prominent social reformer and writer from the Madras Presidency, is hailed as the key figure in the Telugu Renaissance movement. Notably, he established Andhra Pradesh’s first Brahmo Mandir in Rajahmundry in 1887, earning him the title “Ram Mohan Roy of Andhra Pradesh.”
- Veeresalingam was an early advocate for women’s education and the remarriage of widows. In 1876, he launched the journal “Viveka Vardhini,” addressing women’s issues prevalent during that era.
- Additionally, he contributed to literature with plays like “Prahlada” (1886) and “Satya Harischandra” (1886). His novel “Rajashekhara Charita” (1880) is widely acknowledged as the first Telugu novel.
|