Rereading Iswarchandra Vidyasagar’s Feminine Enlightenment

Abstract

Nineteenth century is noted for women oriented reforms and campaigns in India. Equally important was the male leadership of women oriented reforms. Men were depicted as the saviors of  women's liberation. Iswarchandra Vidyasagar's role in the women oriented campaign stood unique due to his selfless devotion to the campaign for legalising widow marriage. The paper deconstructs the above image of Vidyasagar, as constructed by historians and places his 'unique stance' in the broad ideological framework of social reformation of nineteenth century India.