Dwarkanath Vidyabhusan Biography 
Dwarkanath Vidyabhusan was an Indian scholar and editor, better known as the founder of Somprakash, a weekly newspaper started on 15 November 1858. Somprakash was regarded as a trendsetter in those days which is credited as the first Bangla newspaper to indulge in political discussions. He has served as a professor at Sanskrit College, Kolkata. He established an English school called Harinavi DVAS High School in his hometown during his last days. He also financially supported this educational institution. He published a monthly magazine Kalpadrum for short period also. The noted religious reformer, social leader and scholar - Sivanath Sastri was his nephew.
He was born to the scholar, Harachandra Bhattacharya in 1820 in Chingripota, South 24 Parganas belonging to West Bengal of British India. His schooling was done at his native place and he joined Sanskrit College, Kolkata in 1832. After studies he worked both as teacher and librarian before assisting Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, principal of Sanskrit college. He was also active in movements which promoted women’s education. In 1856, his father established a printing press and died shortly after that. Dwarkanath took responsibility of the press and published two history books in Bengali - History of Greece and History of Rome. It helped him to earn recognition as a writer. He published his history books when mythology and erotic subjects were mostly published. Prakrito Prem, Prokrito Sukh and Biseswar Bilap are his poetry anthologies and Nitisar, Pathamrita, Chhatrabodh and Bhusansar Byakaran are his other works.
It was Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar’s idea to start a weekly newspaper. It was mainly done to hire a deaf scholar to give him a job. Later Dwarkanath Vidyabhusan took responsibilities of this newspaper as an editor. It strongly criticized the indigo planters and landlords and was also banned for a year by British it reappeared on 19 April 1880. After his death, a trust took over its responsibility and continued it for a few more years.
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Updated: March 17, 2014
