Given below are two statements : one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A) : 'Barnaparichay' of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's writen text was used as primer in Missionary Schools.
Reason (R): It was the text about Indian Varna system.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c). Assertion (A) is correct because 'Barnaparichay' became the standard primer for learning Bengali. However, Reason (R) is incorrect as the book is a linguistic primer for the Bengali alphabet, not a treatise on the caste (Varna) system.
Information Booster

• 'Barnaparichay' (Introduction to the Alphabet) was published by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in 1855.
• It revolutionized the teaching of the Bengali language by simplifying the complex script.
• Vidyasagar is known as the 'Father of Bengali Modern Prose'.
• The text remains the most influential primer in Bengal for primary education.
• Vidyasagar was also a major social reformer who advocated for widow remarriage.

• Varna System: Refers to the four-fold social stratification of Vedic society (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra).
• Barnaparichay has no connection to caste; the word 'Barna' in this context means 'letter' or 'alphabet'.
• Missionary Schools: Often adopted local linguistic texts to facilitate basic education and proselytization.