Editor and scholar Dwarkanath Vidyabhushan passed away on this day.
After teaching at Fort William College for some time, he joined Sanskrit College as librarian and then teacher. He also worked as assistant to the principal Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar.
Vidyabhushan is remembered primarily as the editor of Somaparakash, the weekly newspaper started by Vidyasagar in 1858. The paper was published from Dwarakanath’s house at Changripota, a village near Sonarpur.
Somaprakash was one of the first Bengali publications to take up political discussions, and it did so in a fearless, fair and clear voice, without ever departing from polite language. It was extremely critical of the Vernacular Press Act (1878) and of child-marriage and casteism. It supported women’s education and widow remarriage. It raised its voice against the exploitation of Indian labourers by European indigo and tea planters.
Its criticism of the Vernacular Press Act led to the suspension of the publication for a year.
Vidyabhusan also edited a monthly magazine called Kalpadrum and several text books for children. He set up a school at his own expense.
