RAJA MOHAN ROY

Raja Ram Mohan Roy is a great historical figure who put laudable efforts to
transform India and dared to defy the age old Hindu traditions. He undertook a lot of
social reforms to change the society and worked to uplift the status of women in
India. Roy fought against Sati system. He was also a great scholar who translated
many books, religious and philosophical work and scriptures into Bengali and also
translated Vedic scriptures into English.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an Indian socio-educational reformer who was also
known as Maker of Modern India and Father of Modern India and Father of the
Bengal Renaissance. He was born on May 22, 1772 into a Bengali Hindu family.

Women Education: Equally able was the Raja`s advocacy of the education of Women. Although the
concept had already been put forward by missionaries, it was the Raja who helped to popularize it
among the Hindus. He said that the women of India were highly educated and that the education of
women was in keeping with ancient religious traditions and beliefs. The Brahma Samaj did great
service in removing the popular prejudices against the education of women that were the prevalent
in the Hindu society and the credit for this goes mostly to Ram Mohan (Naik, J. P and Nurullah, S.,
1974, pp.131-132).

Educationist[edit]

Roy believed education to be an implement for social reform.

In 1817, in collaboration with David Hare, he set up the Hindu College at Calcutta.

In 1822, Roy founded the Anglo-Hindu school, followed four years later (1826) by
the Vedanta College; where he insisted that his teachingings of monotheistic doctrines be
incorporated with "modern, western curriculum.".[26]

In 1830, he helped Rev. Alexander Duff in establishing the General Assembly's Institution
(now known as Scottish Church College), by providing him the venue vacated byBrahma
Sabha and getting the first batch of students.

He supported induction of western learning into Indian education.

He also set up the Vedanta College, offering courses as a synthesis of Western and Indian
learning.

Ishwar Chandra vidyasagar

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar CIE (29 September 1820 29 July 1891), born Ishwar Chandra
Bandyopadhyay (Ishshor Chndro Bndopaddhae), was an Indian Bengali polymath and a key
figure of the Bengal Renaissance.[1][2] He was a philosopher, academic educator, writer,
translator, printer, publisher, entrepreneur, reformer, and philanthropist. His efforts to simplify and
modernize Bengaliprose were significant. He also rationalized and simplified the Bengali
alphabet and type, which had remained unchanged sinceCharles Wilkins and Panchanan
Karmakar had cut the first (wooden) Bengali type in 1780.[3]

He received the title "Vidyasagar" (in Sanskrit vidya means knowledge and sagar means ocean,
i.e., Ocean of Knowledge) fromSanskrit College, Calcutta (from where he graduated), due to his
excellent performance in Sanskrit studies and philosophy. Noted Bengali mathematician Anil
Kumar Gain founded Vidyasagar University, named in his honour.

Widow remarriage[edit]
Main article: Widow Remarriage Act
Vidyasagar championed the uplift of the status of women in India, particularly in his
native Bengal. Unlike some other reformers who sought to set up alternative societies or
systems, he sought to transform orthodox Hindu society from within.[6]
With support from people like Akshay Kumar Dutta, Vidyasagar introduced the practice of widow
remarriages to mainstream Hindu society. In earlier times, remarriages of widows would occur
sporadically only among progressive members of the Brahmo Samaj. The prevailing custom
of Kulin Brahmin polygamy allowed elderly men sometimes on their deathbeds to marry
teenage or prepubescent girls, supposedly to spare their parents the shame of having an
unmarried girl attain puberty in their house. After such marriages, these girls would usually be left
behind in their parental homes, where they might be subjected to orthodox rituals, especially if
they were subsequently widowed. These included a semi-starvation, hard domestic labour, and
close restriction on their freedom to leave the house or be seen by strangers.
Unable to tolerate the ill treatment, many of these girls would run away and turn to prostitution to
support themselves. Ironically, the economic prosperity and lavish lifestyles of the city made it
possible for many of them to have successful careers once they stepped out of the sanction of
society and into the demi-monde. In 1853 it was estimated that Calcutta had a population of
12,718 prostitutes and public women. Many widows had to shave their heads and don white
saris, supposedly to discourage attention from men. They led a deplorable life, something
Vidyasagar thought was unfair and sought to change.[7]
He took the initiative in proposing and pushing the Widow Remarriage Act XV of 1856 (25 July)
in India. He also demonstrated that the system of polygamy with restriction was not sanctioned
by the ancient Hindu Shastras.[8]