He was a brilliant student at Sanskrit College, Calcutta, where he received the title Vidyasagar (“Ocean of Learning”), and in 1850 he was appointed head pandit (scholar-teacher) of Fort William College, Calcutta. A year later he became principal of Sanskrit College, where he promoted the study of English and admitted students of lower castes.

Vidyasagar was well-read in English literature and was influenced by Western ideas. Although an orthodox high-caste Brahmin, he took a leading part in social reform movements, notably a successful campaign to legalize remarriage of widows, many of whom had been married for the first time in childhood. He also opposed child marriage and polygamy and did much to promote the education of girls, but his reforming zeal met with much opposition from orthodox Hindus.

Vidyasagar was a prolific and vigorous writer. Among his works are Vet─l Pañcavimsati (1847; “Twenty-five Tales of a Goblin”); Shakuntal─ (1854), which was based on a famous play by the Sanskrit poet and dramatist K─lid─sa; and Sit─r Vanav─s (1860; “The Exile of Sita”).