Ayyathan Gopalan
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Rao Sahib Ayyathan Gopalan | |
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Thalassery, Kerala, India | |
Died | 2 May 1948 Calicut Shanthi Ashram | (aged 87)
Resting place | Santhi Gardens (Ayathan family cemetery, Calicut) |
Other names | Darsarji, Darsar Sahib |
Alma mater | Madras Medical College |
Occupations |
|
Notable work | Bhramodarma Malayalam (the Bible of Brahmo Samaj) Saranjiniparinayam Susheeladukham (musical dramas) |
Movement | Sugunavardhini movement (1900), Depressed classes mission (1909) |
Spouse |
Kallat Kausallya Ammal
(m. 1878–1930) |
Children | 5 |
Relatives | Rao Sahib , |
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 (1893) in Kerala.[1] 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,[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Vaghbatananda,[9][10][11][12][13] and Brahmavadhi P. Kunhiraman. Gopalan titled P. Kunhiraman as "Brahmavadhi" and Sivayogi as "Brahmananda Swami".
He was awarded and honoured by the British government with the highest civilian award and title, the "Rao Sahib",[14][15][16][17][18][19] for his services. The formation of the Sugunavardhini movement, Depressed classes mission and Brahmosamaj played a significant role in the Kerala reformation movement.
Life
Gopalan was born at Anjarakkandi
He studied at
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 at several hospitals in South India. He returned to Kerala in 1897 and joined the Calicut Lunatic asylum (now the Kuthiravattom Mental Hospital) as its first Indian superintendent. Meanwhile, caste and racial discrimination, 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
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
In addition to supporting and educating women and the underprivileged, their movement led reforms to oppose idolatry; promote and conduct Misra Vivaham (inter-caste marriages) and Misra Bhojanam (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).
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. "
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 honoured by the British Government with the highest civilian award and title, Rao Sahib,[14][15][16][17][18][19] for his social and humanitarian services.
He died on 2 May 1948.
Works
Gopalan translated the Bible of Brahmo Samaj,
- 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
- OCLC 1032604831.
- ^ Biography of Brahmananda swami Sivayogy by A K Nair.
- ^ Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi by Pavanan.
- ^ Biography of Brahmanada Sivayogi written by K Bheeman Nair "Asathyathil ninnu sathyathilekku"(അസത്യത്തിൽ നിന്ന് സത്യത്തിലേക്ക്).
- ^ Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi and His Selected Works by P.V. Gopalakrishnan.
- ^ "sivayogi". 29 April 2013.
- ^ Kerala Navothanam - Oru Marxist Veekshanam - P. Govindappilla (Chintha Publishers, Thiruvananthapuram-695001).
- OCLC 52726748.
- ISBN 9788170990949.
- ^ Shepherds' Chalet, Shepherds' Chalet, Shepherdschalet.com, retrieved 19 March 2014.
- JSTOR 3517171.
- ^ "Vagbhatananda".
- OCLC 978079481.
- ^ a b "British India: INDIAN TITLE BADGE (MYB # 327), RAO BAHADUR & RAO SAHIB MEDALS". worldofcoins.eu. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ^ a b "rai sahib".
- ^ a b "medal".
- ^ a b "rao sahib". 30 May 2023.
- ^ a b Introduction to the Constitution of India By Sharma, Sharma B.k.. 2007. p. 83.
- ^ ISBN 9788189899547.
- ^ Modern Kerala, Studies in social and agrarian relations (1988). Modern Kerala:Studies in social and agrarian relations. by K.K.N.Kurup. mittal publications 1988: K.K.N.Kurup. 1988. p. 86.
- OCLC 562478204.
- ISSN 2231-4547.
- )
- ISBN 9780195326086
- )
- ISBN 9780198790839
- )
- ISBN 9781315554709
- OCLC 1032604831.
- OCLC 1032604831.
- ^ "brahmosamaj". 29 May 2023.
- ^ "brahmosamajnet".
- ^ "brahmosamaj".
- ^ "brahmosamaj".
- )
- ^ "Ayathan school runs under the patronage of Brahmosamaj".
- )
- ISBN 9780195326086
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 [Sales Dept.]; National Book Stall.
- Prof.Sreedharamenon .A. (1987) Kerala History and its Makers, Kottayam; National bookstall
- ISBN 9788170990949
- Kurup (1988), p. 94
- JSTOR 3517171.
- 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