Published: 12:14 AM, 28 September 2026
Vidyasagar Society Launches Official Website
Professor Dr. Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari, President of Vidyasagar Society Bangladesh and former Vice Chancellor of Islamic University, Kushtia addressed an event in Dhaka city on 26 September 2026. AA
Abdullah Al Imran
On the occasion of the 207th birth anniversary of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and the 30th anniversary of the Vidyasagar Society Bangladesh, the organization arranged a "Vidyasagar Memorial Lecture" on September 26, 2026, at 4:00 PM at the Sanskriti Bikash Kendra in Dhaka.
The event was presided over by the president of the organization, the distinguished educationist, former Vice-Chancellor of Kushtia Islamic University and former Director General of Bangla Academy, Professor Dr. Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari. The keynote paper was presented by Dr. Chinmoy Howlader, Professor of the Sanskrit Department at National University and Assistant General Secretary of the organization. Special speeches were delivered by Professor Anisuzzaman, Vice Chancellor of Global University Bangladesh; Professor Niranjan Adhikari, faculty member of the Sanskrit Department at Dhaka University; Golam Moreshed Chandan, advisory member of the organization; Mr. Kamrul Islam, General Secretary of the Bangiya Sahitya Sanskriti Sangsad; and Namita Mondal, faculty member of the Sanskrit Department at Dhaka University.
At the beginning of the program, the organization's General Secretary, Dr. Mohammad Abdul Hye, highlighted the 30-year activities of the organization. The event was conducted by Vice President the organization, Mahbubul Islam. Towards the end of the program, the President of the organization, Professor Dr. Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari, officially inaugurated the website of Vidyasagar Society Bangladesh.
The 19th century was a period of significant social and intellectual change in Bengal. At a time when many social customs and practices restricted the lives of women and disadvantaged sections of society, two remarkable reformers-Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar-played pioneering roles in challenging social injustice. Through education, public debate, writing, and persistent campaigns, they helped lay the foundations of modern social reform in Bengal.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy is widely regarded as one of the leading figures of the Bengal Renaissance. He strongly opposed social practices that he considered unjust and harmful, particularly the practice of sati, in which a widow was expected or forced to die on her husband's funeral pyre. Roy campaigned vigorously against the practice and appealed to both Indian society and the colonial administration for its abolition. His efforts contributed to the passage of the Sati Regulation of 1829, which prohibited the practice in territories under British administration.
Roy was also a strong advocate of women's rights and education. He criticized the social conditions that deprived women of dignity and opportunities. He supported greater freedom of thought and argued that education was essential for social progress. His reform efforts were closely connected with his broader campaign against superstition and rigid social practices.
Religion was another important area of Roy's reform work. He advocated monotheism and opposed what he regarded as harmful religious practices. His ideas contributed to the development of the Brahmo Samaj, which promoted religious reform, rational thought, and social improvement. He also supported freedom of the press and encouraged intellectual discussion.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar continued and expanded the reform tradition in Bengal. A distinguished scholar and educator, he devoted much of his life to improving education and the position of women. His most celebrated social reform campaign concerned widow remarriage. At a time when Hindu widows often faced severe social restrictions, Vidyasagar argued from religious texts and moral principles that widows should be allowed to remarry.
His campaign helped lead to the passage of the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act of 1856. Vidyasagar also worked tirelessly to promote women's education. He supported the establishment of schools for girls and believed that education could help women gain greater independence and social dignity.
Vidyasagar also opposed child marriage and other customs that placed heavy burdens on women. His compassion for the poor and disadvantaged was reflected in both his educational work and his personal conduct.
The contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar went beyond individual reforms. They encouraged Bengal's educated society to question inherited customs, promote reason and education, and recognize the importance of human dignity.
Their legacy remains significant till today. Social reform is an ongoing process, but the work of these two pioneers demonstrated that determined individuals can challenge deeply rooted injustice. Their efforts helped usher Bengal into an era of intellectual awakening and established social reform as an important part of the region's modern history.
Vidyasagar Society Bangladesh aims to retrieve the golden era of Bengali Renaissance and to reinstate the values of liberal humanism and social justice to bring about necessary corrections to the circumference we are living in.
Abdullah Al Imran studies Software Engineering in Green University Bangladesh, Dhaka.
