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Rao Sahib Ayyathan Gopalan (3 March 1861 – 2 May 1948), popularly known as Darsarji and Darsar Sahib ("Darsar" means "doctor", derived from Latin word "docere" for doctor), was an Indian doctor, surgeon, professor, writer, philanthropist, social reformer, and Renaissance leader from Kerala. He is the founder of the Sugunavardhini movement (1900) and Depressed classes mission (1909) and also the leader and propagandist of
Brahmo Samaj Brahmo Samaj ( bn, ব্রহ্ম সমাজ, Brahmô Sômaj, ) is the societal component of Brahmoism, which began as a monotheistic reformist movement of the Hindu religion that appeared during the Bengal Renaissance. It was one of t ...
(1893) in
Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South C ...
. He denounced idol worship and fought to end those social practices in Kerala that he thought were unethical. Among his followers were Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi, Vaghbatananda, and Brahmavadhi P. Kunhiraman. Gopalan titled P. Kunhiraman as "Brahmavadhi" and Sivayogi as " Brahmananda Swami". He was awarded and honored by the
British government ga, Rialtas a Shoilse gd, Riaghaltas a Mhòrachd , image = HM Government logo.svg , image_size = 220px , image2 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg , image_size2 = 180px , caption = Royal Arms , date_es ...
with the highest civilian award and title, the " Rao Sahib", for his services. The formation of the Sugunavardhini movement, Depressed classes mission and Brahmosamaj played a significant role in the
Kerala reformation movement The Reformation movement in Kerala refers to a socio-cultural movement that began towards the end of 19th century and led to large scale changes in the social outlook of the southern Indian state of Kerala. Background The foundations of socia ...
.


Life

Gopalan was born at Anjarakkandi Thalassery, Kerala,in Ayathan family (Aristocratic royal family of Malabar) as the first son of Ayyathan Chandhan and Kallatt Chirutha Ammal. His youngest sister, Ayyathan Janaki Ammal was the first female doctor in Kerala as well as in Malabar(which was an administrative district of
Madras Presidency The Madras Presidency, or the Presidency of Fort St. George, also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision (presidency) of British India. At its greatest extent, the presidency included most of southern India, including the ...
during
British rule in India The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was himsel ...
).She was also the first female doctor from the Thiyya community and also hailed the title as the First Malayali lady doctor and surgeon. He opposed superstitions and caste believes at an early age. Gopalan was the Renaissance leader who had his hair cut as part of a protest during his high school years, contrary to the traditional way in which members of the ruling aristocratic community were forced to grow their hair and make a tuft of hair and keep it in a traditional way. Reluctant to observe caste differences or customs. He was against all caste evils and lived as a true "Brahmo" until his death. He did not act or oppose any other reform movements or any caste movements, but instead worked as a free man to revive society from all social evils. He never preserved the name of the caste in which he was born, nor spoke for their upliftment. Instead he criticized the superstitions and superstitious practices inside his own caste. Although he was from the Thiyya community, he never followed their customs and did not live as a Thiyya, thus being excommunicated from the thiyyar caste at an early age. He studied at Anjarakkandy elementary school, Brennen School, Mission High School and later joined Madras Medical College on 19 September 1884. He read about the Raja Ram Mohan Roy's Brahmo Samaj., Joined Brahmo Samaj and engaged in its social reform activities and became an active executive member of the General Committee of Calcutta Brahmo Samaj. He participated in the committee's annual conferences at various locations across India, along with Brahmo leaders such as Kesub Chandra Sen,
Debendranath Tagore Debendranath Tagore (15 May 1817 – 19 January 1905) was an Indian Hindu philosopher and religious reformer, active in the Brahmo Samaj (earlier called Bhramho Sabha) ("Society of Brahma", also translated as ''Society of God''). He joined Brah ...
, Sivanath Sastri,
Rabindranath Tagore Rabindranath Tagore (; bn, রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর; 7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941) was a Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer and painter. He resh ...
, and R. G. Bhandarkar. In 1888, he obtained a medical degree with honors and entered into government service.Dr.Ayathan Gopalan was the first male doctor from the Thiyya community and also in the family.He worked as a
medic A medic is a person involved in medicine such as a medical doctor, medical student, paramedic or an emergency medical responder. Among physicians in the UK, the term "medic" indicates someone who has followed a "medical" career path in postgr ...
in several hospitals across South India and as a medical lecturer. Gopalan married Kallat Kausallyaammal on 30 December 1894. Ramakrishna Gobal Bhandhakar, a Brahmo leader and social reformer at that time, conducted the wedding at the Madras Brahmo Samaj. Several Brahmo leaders presided over the wedding. This was the first Brahmo wedding to be conducted at Madras Brahmosamaj, and also the first Brahmo wedding of South India. Kausallyaammal was a strong supporter of Gopalan and assisted his social reform activities.


Social reform activities


Establishment of Brahmosamaj branches in Kerala

Gopalan worked as a doctor, chief surgeon, and
superintendent Superintendent may refer to: *Superintendent (police), Superintendent of Police (SP), or Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), a police rank *Prison warden or Superintendent, a prison administrator *Superintendent (ecclesiastical), a church exec ...
at several hospitals in
South India South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union t ...
. He returned to Kerala in 1897 and joined the Calicut Lunatic asylum (now the Kuthiravattom Mental Hospital) as its first Indian superintendent. Meanwhile,
caste Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultura ...
and
racial discrimination Racial discrimination is any discrimination against any individual on the basis of their skin color, race or ethnic origin.Individuals can discriminate by refusing to do business with, socialize with, or share resources with people of a certain g ...
, malicious practices, and social injustices were prevalent in Kerala, and atrocities against women and children were at their peak. He instituted Brahmosamaj in Kerala for the first time in 1893. Gopalan extended his reform ideologies and propagated his reform activities by establishing the first branch of Brahmo Samaj on 17 January 1898 at
Calicut Kozhikode (), also known in English as Calicut, is a city along the Malabar Coast in the state of Kerala in India. It has a corporation limit population of 609,224 and a metropolitan population of more than 2 million, making it the second la ...
. To conduct Samaj's meetings and prayers, a separate (lit. "hall")now Ayathan Gopalan Memorial Schoolwas opened to the public on 1 October 1900. The was inaugurated by Mana Vikraman Ettan Thampuran, the Zamorin King of Calicut. Branches of Brahmo Samaj was set up at Alathur, Thalassery and also at Alappuzha in the year 1924.Later, Intercaste marriages were inspired in South Kerala. Under the leadership of Gopalan, social reforms were able to make great strides.


Sugunavardhini Movement and Depressed Classes Mission

In the year 1900, Gopalan and Kausallyaammal initiated the Sugunavardhini Movement and extended his social reform activities. Through this movement, he worked to foster human values in children, attract children to his social activities, protect the rights of women, and provide free education to girls and marginalised sections of society. In 1909 he established the Depressed Classes Mission for the upliftment of
Harijan Dalit (from sa, दलित, dalita meaning "broken/scattered"), also previously known as untouchable, is the lowest stratum of the castes in India. Dalits were excluded from the four-fold varna system of Hinduism and were seen as forming ...
(Dalit) communities in Kerala, under which he established schools and provided free education for downtrodden sections of the society. He established the Chandhawarkar Elementary School with the intention to educate girls and the underprivileged sections of society. In addition to supporting and educating women and the underprivileged, their movement led reforms to oppose
idolatry Idolatry is the worship of a cult image or "idol" as though it were God. In Abrahamic religions (namely Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, the Baháʼí Faith, and Islam) idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than the ...
; promote and conduct (inter-caste marriages) and (inter-dining); spread women's education; maintain gender equality; eradicate untouchability, caste and racial discrimination; and conduct mass prayers and communion debates. Gopalan also participated in the Thali Road strike (Samaram at Calicut).


Impact of Sugunavardhini, Depressed Classes Mission and Brahmosamaj at Malabar

The hymns for prayers sung at Brahmo Samaj were composed by Gopalan and are compiled in his book ''Keerthanaratnamala.'' He conducted several inter-caste marriages at Brahmo Samaj and worked to promote non-idol worship. " Brahmodharma", better known as the Brahmosamaj Bible, was written in Bengali by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore and was translated by him into Malayalam. He promoted his reformist ideologies by conducting dramas, public awareness campaign, and writings. The Sugunavardhini Movement and Brahmo Samaj were composed mostly of professionals and intellectuals, including Brahmananda Swamisivayogi, Vagbhatananda Guru, and Brahmavadi P. Kunhiraman, all with a more secular approach to reform. He raised his children, grandchildren, and all his followers as a good man, without raising them to live under a particular race, religion, or creed. It is for this reason that their name has been retained as "Brahmo" without a caste name. All of his children are intermarried (Intercaste marriage). All of them were married according to Brahmasamaj rituals. Even today, his children, grandchildren, family and followers remain casteless without caste names. Rabindranath Tagore described Ayyathan Gopalan as the "Raja Ram Mohan Roy of Kerala" during the annual general meeting of the Brahmo Samaj. On 4 June 1917, Gopalan was honored by the
British Government ga, Rialtas a Shoilse gd, Riaghaltas a Mhòrachd , image = HM Government logo.svg , image_size = 220px , image2 = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg , image_size2 = 180px , caption = Royal Arms , date_es ...
with the highest civilian award and title, Rao Sahib,"British India: INDIAN TITLE BADGE (MYB # 327), RAO BAHADUR & RAO SAHIB MEDALS". worldofcoins.eu. Retrieved 18 October 2014. for his social and humanitarian services. He died on 2 May 1948.


Works

Gopalan translated the Bible of Brahmo Samaj, Brahmodharma, which was initially written in Bengali by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, to Malayalam in 1904. He also wrote songs and keerthanams to be sung during Brahmo Samaj prayer meetings. He propagated his reform ideologies through drama, public awareness, and his writings. ''Saranjiniparinayam''(1901)(musical drama), ''Susheeladukham''(1903) (musical drama), and ''Plaguefarse''(drama) were among his famous dramas performed throughout by PSV Natya sangam in Kerala for many years. His other literary contributions are listed below: * ''Raagamaalika''(1894) first book * ''Brahmadharmam'' * ''Saranjiniparinayam'' (musical drama) * ''Susheeladukham'' (musical drama) * ''Plague Farse'' (drama) * ''Gaanamaalika'' * ''Grihadharma Geethamrutham'' * ''Keerthanaratnamala'' * ''Brahmamatham'' * ''Rammohunroy (Harikatha)'' * ''Madhaaikyam'' * ''Madhavum Guruvum'' * ''Madhavan'' * ''Aaradhanayude Randu Padikal'' * ''Brahma Madhavum Ithara Madhangalum'' * ''Jaathi'' * ''Vivaahageethangal'' * ''Jai Britannia'' * ''Yeshu Daivamayirunnuvo!'' * ''British Bharana Mahathmyam'' * ''Ente Amma'' (memoir of mother Kallat Chiruthammal)


Books about Ayyathan Gopalan

* First authoritative biography book of Ayathan Gopalan "Appan, oru ormapusthakam" in Malayalam written by Ayathan Alok. * First authenticative biography book of Rao Sahib Dr. Ayathan Gopalan, "Darsar, The untold story of an unsung hero" in English (author Ayathan Alok).


See also

* Ayyathan Janaki Ammal * Vagbhatananda * Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi * Mithavaadi Krishnan * Moorkoth Kumaran * Kallingal Madathil Rarichan Moopan


References


Bibliography

* Appan ''oru ormapusthakam'' First authoritative biography book and memoir of Ayathan Gopalan written by Ayathan Alok (2021). * Darsar,"The Untold story of an Unsung hero", first biography of Rao Sahib Dr. Ayathan Gopalan written in English by Ayathan Alok. * Dr. Ayyathan Gopalan ''Malayalam Memoir'' (2013) edited by V.R.Govindhanunni published by Mathrubhumi books, Kozhikode * Maharshi Vaghbhatananda Gurudevar, by Swami Brahmavrithan * ''A Survey of Kerala History'' Prof. Sreedharan Menon .A. (1967). Kottayam: Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society ales Dept. National Book Stall. * Prof.Sreedharamenon .A. (1987) ''Kerala History and its Makers'', Kottayam; National bookstall * Kurup, K. K. N. (1988), ''Modern Kerala: Studies in Social and Agrarian Relations'', Mittal Publications, * Kurup (1988), p. 94 * Kurup, K. K. N. (September 1988). "Peasantry and the Anti-Imperialist Struggles in Kerala". ''Social Scientist''. 16 (9): 35–45. . . * Biography of Brahmanada Sivayogi written by K Bheeman Nair ''Asathyathil ninnu sathyathilekku''(അസത്യത്തിൽ നിന്ന് സത്യത്തിലേക്ക്) * ''Biography of Brahmananda Swami Sivayogy'' by A K Nair * ''Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi'' by Pavana *''Journal of Indian history'', University of Kerela Press, 2001 p270 {{authority control 1861 births 1948 deaths 20th-century Indian medical doctors Indian writers Medical doctors from Kerala People from Thalassery Social reformers Indian male writers Malayali people Magistrates Indian phycologists Madras Medical College alumni 19th-century Indian writers 20th-century Indian writers Writers from Kerala 20th-century Indian philosophers 19th-century Indian philosophers Activists from Kerala Indian social reformers Dalit activists Malayalam-language writers Indian atheists Scholars from Kerala Indian Sanskrit scholars 19th-century Indian male writers 20th-century Indian male writers Brahmos Indian reformers 20th-century Hindu philosophers and theologians Hindu revivalists Brahmoism Neo-Vedanta Anti-caste activists