Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820–1891) remains a towering archetype of the Bengal Renaissance, whose pedagogical and social interventions laid the foundational architecture for modern Indian education. This research employs a qualitative, historical-interpretive methodology to revisit Vidyasagar’s educational thoughts, specifically centering on his revolutionary advocacy for women’s education. By analyzing primary documents, including his correspondence with colonial administrators, legislative petitions, and seminal Bengali primers like Barnaparichay, the study explores the synthesis of Western liberal humanism and indigenous moral consciousness that defined his "practical humanism". The thematic analysis identifies five core themes: (1) education as a mechanism for female intellectual liberation; (2) the democratization of knowledge through vernacular pedagogy; (3) the institutionalization of girls' schooling against severe societal resistance; (4) the interplay between legal reform (widow remarriage) and educational access; and (5) a vision for progressive, holistic education. The findings suggest that Vidyasagar’s emphasis on maternal education as the root of societal progress and his commitment to equitable access directly prefigure the inclusive mandates of the National Education Policy 2020. The study concludes that Vidyasagar’s legacy provides a robust framework for addressing contemporary challenges such as gender-based literacy gaps and the rural-urban digital divide, advocating for a sustained, empathetic approach to educational reform in modern India.
Women’s Education, Educational Philosophy, Vidyasagar, Qualitative Study, Gender Equality, Bengal Renaissance.
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