Country's leading cultural institute Chhayanaut organized a special virtual event on Saturday commemorating the 200th birth anniversary of legendary Indian educator and social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

The online event titled "Firey Ashi Bar Bar", broadcast on the institute's Facebook and YouTube pages at 8 pm, featured special renditions of songs, readings, and lectures from noted intellectuals including Professor Golam Murshid, prolific critic and researcher, as the main discussant.

Dr Sarwar Ali, executive president of Chhayanaut presented the opening monologue of the event, explaining this special initiative.

Abdus Sabur Khan Chowdhury read an article of Rabindranath Tagore which the Noble-laureate poet wrote on meeting Vidyasagar, while Jahirul Haque Khan and Dalia Ahmed, general members of Chhayanaut, read excerpts from Rabindranath Tagore's essay on the social reformer called 'Vidyasagarcharita' at the event.

The main discussant and keynote speaker of the event, professor Golam Murshid, explained the prolific journey of Vidyasagar by shedding the spotlight on his iconic personality and his monumental role in the Bengali societal system, literature and culture.

Students from Nalanda including Suhrid Samyadwip, Zaiba Tahzeeb, Sheikh Fabiha Haque, Samah Towfika Tapashee, Zogobrotee Dey Diganta, Surjo Anibar and Paromita Dhoritree Kotha read excerpts from Vidyasagar's books including 'Betal Panchabinsati' and 'Neetibodh'.

Noted singers Sumon Majumdar and Mita Haque presented songs from Jyotirindranath Tagore and Ramnidhi Gupta at the event.

Born as Ishwar Chandra Bandyopadhyay on September 26, 1820 at the Birsingha village of Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal - Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar is considered the "father of Bengali prose".

For his excellent performance in Sanskrit studies and philosophy, he received the title "Vidyasagar" ('Ocean of Knowledge' in Sanskrit) from the Sanskrit College, Calcutta, from where he received his alma mater.

In 2004, Vidyasagar was ranked number 9 in BBC's poll of the Greatest Bengali of all time.