In Sanskrit, Vidya means knowledge or learning and Sagar means ocean or sea. He received the title 'Vidyasagar' ('Ocean of learning' or 'Ocean of knowledge') from the Calcutta Sanskrit College (where he graduated), due to his excellent performance in Sanskrit studies and philosophy. He also rationalized and simplified the Bengali alphabet and type, which had remained unchanged since Charles Wilkins and Panchanan Karmakar had cut the first (wooden) Bengali type in 1780. His efforts to simplify and modernize Bengali prose were significant. Vidyasagar was a philosopher, academic, educator, writer, translator, printer, publisher, entrepreneur, reformer, and philanthropist. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar CIE ( Bengali: ঈশ্বরচন্দ্র বিদ্যাসাগর Ishshor Chôndro Biddashagor 26 September 1820 – 29 July 1891), born Ishwar Chandra Bandopadhyay ( Bengali: ঈশ্বরচন্দ্র বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়, Ishshor Chôndro Bôndopaddhae), was an Indian Bengali polymath and a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance. Philosopher, academic, educator, translator, printer, publisher, entrepreneur, reformer, philanthropist Ghatal subdivision, Paschim Mednapur, West Bengal, India Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. This section may contain original research.
