Ram Chandra Vidyabagish
Encyclopedia
Ramchandra Vidyabagish (1786 - 2 March 1845) was an Indian
lexicographer and Sanskrit scholar. He is known for his Bangabhashabhidhan, the first monolingual Bengali
dictionary, published in 1817. He taught at the Vedanta College established by Raja Rammohun Roy
, and later at Sanskrit College
from 1827-37. Closely associated with the work of Raja Rammohun Roy in Kolkata, he was the first secretary of the Brahmo Sabha established in 1828 and initiated Debendranath Tagore
and 21 other young men into Brahmo Samaj
in 1843. After Raja Rammohun Roy went to England, his unparalleled erudition and the devotional singing of Bishnu Chakraborti helped in the survival of the Brahmo Samaj.
Although he was opposed to Raja Rammohun Roy’s move to abolish the practice of sati
, he extended support to Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar in his move for remarriage of widows. He spoke strongly against the system of polygamy
, then prevalent in Hindu society, primarily amongst the Brahmins.
He was associated with the Tattwabodhini Sabha and aimed at the advancement of Bengali language through it. He worked for sometime on the government’s desire to replace Persian by Bengali as language of the courts. In this he had the active support of both David Hare
and Prasanna Coomar Tagore
. He strived hard for the use of Bengali as medium of education.
He was the younger brother of Nandakumar Vidyalankar (later Kulavadhuta Shrimad Hariharananda Tirthasvami), a wandering hermit, who had acquaintance of Raja Rammohun from his younger days. He was the worshipper of One True God according to the Mahanirvana Tantra.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
lexicographer and Sanskrit scholar. He is known for his Bangabhashabhidhan, the first monolingual Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
dictionary, published in 1817. He taught at the Vedanta College established by Raja Rammohun Roy
Ram Mohan Roy
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an Indian religious, social, and educational reformer who challenged traditional Hindu culture and indicated the lines of progress for Indian society under British rule. He is sometimes called the father of modern India...
, and later at Sanskrit College
Sanskrit College
Sanskrit College is a specialized state-government administered liberal arts college offering an undergraduate degree in Sanskrit language, Pali language, linguistics, and ancient Indian and world history. It is one of the affiliated colleges of the University of Calcutta. Founded on 1 January...
from 1827-37. Closely associated with the work of Raja Rammohun Roy in Kolkata, he was the first secretary of the Brahmo Sabha established in 1828 and initiated Debendranath Tagore
Debendranath Tagore
Debendranath Tagore was one of the founders in 1848 of the Brahmo Religion which today is synonymous with Brahmoism the youngest religion of India and Bangladesh....
and 21 other young men into Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj is the societal component of the Brahmo religion which is mainly practiced today as the Adi Dharm after its eclipse in Bengal consequent to the exit of the Tattwabodini Sabha from its ranks in 1859. It was one of the most influential religious movements responsible for the making of...
in 1843. After Raja Rammohun Roy went to England, his unparalleled erudition and the devotional singing of Bishnu Chakraborti helped in the survival of the Brahmo Samaj.
Although he was opposed to Raja Rammohun Roy’s move to abolish the practice of sati
Sati (practice)
For other uses, see Sati .Satī was a religious funeral practice among some Indian communities in which a recently widowed woman either voluntarily or by use of force and coercion would have immolated herself on her husband’s funeral pyre...
, he extended support to Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar in his move for remarriage of widows. He spoke strongly against the system of polygamy
Polygamy
Polygamy is a marriage which includes more than two partners...
, then prevalent in Hindu society, primarily amongst the Brahmins.
He was associated with the Tattwabodhini Sabha and aimed at the advancement of Bengali language through it. He worked for sometime on the government’s desire to replace Persian by Bengali as language of the courts. In this he had the active support of both David Hare
David Hare (philanthropist)
David Hare was a Scottish watchmaker and philanthropist in Bengal. He founded many important and prestigious educational institutions in Kolkata, such as the Hindu School, and Hare School and helped in founding Presidency College.-Early life:...
and Prasanna Coomar Tagore
Prasanna Coomar Tagore
See Tagore for disambiguationPrasanna Coomar Tagore was son of Gopi Mohan Tagore, one of the founders of Hindu College. He belonged to the Pathuriaghata branch of the Tagore family and was one of the leaders of the conservative branch of Hindu society...
. He strived hard for the use of Bengali as medium of education.
He was the younger brother of Nandakumar Vidyalankar (later Kulavadhuta Shrimad Hariharananda Tirthasvami), a wandering hermit, who had acquaintance of Raja Rammohun from his younger days. He was the worshipper of One True God according to the Mahanirvana Tantra.
Works
Vidyabagish compiled the first monolingual dictionary in Bengali in 1817 and was author of several books. His works include:- Bangabhashabhidhan (1817)
- Jyotish Sangrahasar
- Bachaspati Mishrer Vivadachintamanih
- Shishusebadhi (1840)
- Barnamala
- Nitidarshan
- Parameshvarer Upasana Bishaye Pratham Bakhyan