is any other reformers acpect ishwar chandra vidyasagar work for the cause of window remarriage
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Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a legendary educationist, a Sanskrit scholar and a social reformer who not only changed the Bengali alphabet and type but also challenged Hindu orthodoxy by playing a pivotal role in passing the Widow Remarriage Act. He also fought for women’s education and vigorously challenged the barbaric practice of child marriage.
Standing tall against the conservative power centres of Hindu society, Vidyasagar was a man who was way ahead of his times. In light of the desecration of his statue, it is time to remind ourselves about this visionary of modern Indian history.
Born on 26 September 1820 into a poor Brahmin family in Birsing village of Midnapore district, West Bengal, Ishwar Chandra Bandyopadhyay was only six-years-old when he was sent to be educated in Kolkata.
He lived in the house of a family friend Bhagabat Charan in the Burrabazar area.
There was a time when in India women were considered as the door to hell. Women were suppressed in every aspect of human life. Even in the regime of East India Company this type of stereotyping continues but Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was against all types of rotten customs related to women. He works hard to start the culture of widow remarriage in the country.
The enactment of The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 was a major social reform to improve the condition of the widow in India. Before this law, the custom of Sati was also abolished by the Lord William Bentinck in 1829.
The draft of the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 was prepared and passed by Lord Dalhousie.
Condition of widow
In some parts of India, the widows have to live life like a saint. They were not allowed to live like a common person. They were expected to lead a life of austerity and extremities like no makeup, no new clothes, no good food, a boycott from festivals and even scolding from all members of the family and society. Widows had to wear a white Saree of coarse material. The widow was considered as the unlucky person for the whole family.
Hindu-Widows-Remarriage-Act-1856
Remarriage was not permitted even if the widow was a child and the marriage was not even consummated.
Let us know Key Provisions and Facts of the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856;
1. At the time of implementation of this Widow Remarriage Act 1856; the Governor-General of India was Lord Canning.
2. The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 legalised the remarriage of Hindu widows. This custom was mainly practiced in rich Hindu families. One surprising fact is that; Widow remarriage was prevalent among people of the lower class or poor.
3. As per the law: “No marriage contracted between Hindus shall be invalid, and the issue of no such marriage shall be illegitimate, by reason of the woman having been previously married or betrothed to another person who was dead at the time of such marriage, any custom and any interpretation of Hindu Law to the contrary notwithstanding.”
4. The act also provided legal safeguards and protection to men who married widows.
5. As per The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856; the widow was authorised to forfeit any inheritance that she may have obtained from her deceased husband.
6. The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 also provided all the rights and inheritances to all the windows that they have had at the time of her first marriage.
7. After the enactment of the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856; the first marriage took place on 7th December 1856 in north Calcutta. The groom was the son of Ishwar Chandra’s close friend.
So the enactment of the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856 was one of the major social changes in the 19th century in India. Since then many such laws have been enacted in the country to protect the integrity and modesty of the women.