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MAMATA Banerjee Unveils Vidya Sagar Statute in Kolkata

AMIDT post poll violence, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday unveiled a 6 feet statute of Pundit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820- 91), a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance. He wore many hats as philosopher, academic educator, writer, translator, printer, publisher, entrepreneur, reformer and philanthropist. He had fought for women’s empowerment and widow marriage despite being son of an orthodox Brahmin family. Ishwarchandra Vidya Sagar got his only son Narayan Chandra married an adolescent widow in 1870 setting an example in the society. The statute was installed in the College he had founded in 1972.It was installed at the same spot at the Kolkata College where his bust was vandalised in May. Bengal was rocked by the Vidyasagar statue vandalism and ensuing protests.  Addressing the mega event was attended by politicians, intellectuals, noted artists of the Bengali film industry and others, Mamata Banerjee said the people of the state would not tolerate attack on their icons and cultural heritage. There is a planned conspiracy to finish Bengal’s  culture ,she added .After the CM other guests took turns to garland the Vidyasagar statute .The bust of Vidyasagar was vandalised during a road show led by BJP president Amit Shah on May 14.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to install a statue of Vidyasagar made of astha dhatu at the same venue.  While Trinamool accused BJP of attacking Bengal’s culture and the noted reformist Vidyasagar, BJP accused Trinamool of resorting to violence to take on the rivals.  Mamata Banerjee also addressed a gathering of scholars, teachers and principals of a few schools to reiterate the contribution of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar in Bengali literature, society and education. Mamata Banerjee had accused BJP of the violence and bringing outsiders to cause vandalism and tarnish the image of the TMC ruled state Government.

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