He received the title “ Vidyasagar“ from the Calcutta Sanskrit College(where he graduated), due to his excellent performance in Sanskrit studies and philosophy. In the year 1839, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar successfully cleared his Law examination. In 1841, at the age of twenty one years, Ishwar Chandra joined Fort William College as head of the Sanskrit department and soon became the principal. Vidyasagar took the initiative in proposing and pushing the Widow Remarriage Act XV of 1856 (26 July) in India.He also encouraged women to study in colleges and personally saw to this.He along with other reformers started girl’s schools in bombay and Calcutta.He was a pioneer in women’s upliftment.He was known to be a very kind hearted man and a humanist He was also known for his charity and philanthropy as “Daya-r Sagar” or “Karunar Sagar” – ocean of kindness, for his immense generosity. Also instrumental in passing of the Special Marriages Act of 1872.Ģ.Vidyasagar vigorously promoted the idea that regardless of their caste, both men and women should receive the best education.He also demonstrated that the system of polygamy without restriction was not sanctioned by the ancient Hindu Shastras.
His remarkable clarity of vision is instanced by his brilliant plea for teaching of science, mathematics and the philosophies of John Locke and David Hume, to replace most of ancient Hindu philosophy.
