Writer, reformer and educationist Shivnath Shastri was born on this day. His maternal uncle, Dwarakanath Vidyabhushan, was editor of Somprakash, a weekly newspaper with which Vidyasagar was associated.
Shastri studied at Sanskrit College from where he obtained his title, Shastri. He had joined Keshab Chandra Sen’s Indian Brahmo Samaj in 1869. He took part in movements against drinking, and those that encouraged the emancipation and education of women and also literary as well as technical education. He edited several journals, including Somprakash for a while. He had established a girls’ school with others where he admitted his own daughter.
He taught at Adult Women School of Keshab Sen’s Bharat Ashram, Bhawanipore South Suburban School and Hare School, from where he resigned. He presided over widow remarriages. He left Keshab Sen’s Brahmo community over the issue of child marriage, of which he was a strong critic.
Shastri took a leading role in establishing Sadharan Brahmo Samaj (1878) and City School (1879). He wrote several books, including Ramtanu Lahiri O Tatkalin Banga Samaj and Atmacharita. The nationalist outfit Jugantar got its name from the novel written by Shastri.
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