Jaygopal Tarkalankar (1775-1846) Sanskrit scholar and writer, born on 7 October 1775 at Bajrapur village, Nadia district in west bengal. His father, Kebalram Tarkapanchanan, who taught him, was also a famous sanskrit scholar.

Jaygopal was associated with three famous oriental experts: Henry Thomas Colbrook, william carey and JC Marshman (1760-1837). He was Henry Thomas Colbrook's Sanskrit pundit for three years. He then served under William Carey from 1805-1923 at the serampore mission. He was also an associate of JC Marshman in the editorial department of the weekly Samachar Darpan from 1818-1823.

Jaygopal joined the sanskrit college in  Kolkata immediately after its establishment in 1824 as a professor of literature and continued teaching students for twenty-two years. Among his students were iswar chandra vidyasagar (1820-1891), madanmohan tarkalankar (1817-1858), and Tarashankar Tarkaratna (?-1858).

Jaygopal simplified the highly Sanskritised Bangla of the times into a readable and easily understandable language that could be used in day-to-day life. His major contributions were the revised versions of Krittivas's ramayana and Kashidas's mahabharata. He also wrote and edited a number of other books, including, Shikshasar (1818, second edition), Krishnavisayakshlokah, a translation of verses on Lord krishna by Vilvamangal (1817), Chandi (1819), Patrer Dhara (1821). He also compiled a Bangla dictionary: Bangavidhan (1838). Jaygopal played a vital role in the publication of the Mahabharata by the asiatic society of Kolkata. He also compiled a French dictionary as a member of a religious society established by raja radhakanta deb. He expired on 13 April 1846. [Dulal Bhowmik]