Ayyathan Gopalan

Rao Sahib Ayyathan Gopalan (3 March 1861 - 2 May 1948), popularly known as "Darsarji"and "Darsar Sahib" ("doctor"), was an Indian physician, writer, philanthropist, and a social reformer. He is the founder of the Sugunavardhini movement and a leader and propagandist of Brahmo Samaj 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".

Rao Sahib

Ayyathan Gopalan
Born
Ayyathan Gopalan

(1861-03-03)3 March 1861
Thalassery, Kerala, India
Died2 May 1948(1948-05-02) (aged 87)
Calicut Shanthi Ashram
Resting placeSanthi Gardens (Ayathan family cemetery, Calicut)
Other namesDarsarji, Darsar Sahib
Alma materMadras Medical College
Occupation
  • Doctor
  • professor
  • social reformer
Notable work
Bhramodarma malayalam (Bible of bhramosamaj)
Saranjiniparinayam and Susheeladukham (Musical dramas)
MovementSugunavardhini movement, Brahmo Samaj
Spouse(s)
Kallat Kausallya Ammal
​
​
(m. 1878⁠–⁠1930)​
Children5
RelativesAyyathan Janaki Ammal
AwardsRao Sahib
This article is part of a series on
Reformation in Kerala
Background
Notable people
Others

He was awarded and honored 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 and Brahmosamaj played a significant role in the Kerala reformation movement.

Biography

Gopalan was born in Thalassery, Kerala, as the first son of Ayyathan Chandhan and Kallat Chiruthammal. His youngest sister, Ayyathan Janaki Ammal[20] was the first female doctor in Kerala (Malabar), which was an administrative district of Madras Presidency during British rule in India.

He opposed superstitions and caste believes at an early age. 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[21] on 19 September 1884. He read about the Raja Ram Mohan Roy's Brahmo Samaj.,[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] 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, Sivanath Sastri, Rabindranath Tagore, and R. G. Bhandarkar. In 1888, he obtained a medical degree with honors and entered into government service. He worked as a medic in several hospitals across South India and as a medical lecturer.

Gopalan married Kallat Kausallyaammal (Menon) 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. 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 1896 and joined the Calicut Lunatic asylum (now the Kuthiravattom Mental Hospital) as its first 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.

Gopalan extended his reform ideologies and propagated his reform activities by establishing the first branch of Brahmo Samaj[30][31][32][33][34] on 17 January 1898 at Calicut. To conduct Samaj's meetings and prayers, a separate brahmomandir (lit. "hall")—now Ayathan Gopalan Memorial School[35]—was opened to the public on 17 October 1900. The brahmomandir was inaugurated by Mana Vikraman Ettan Thampuran, the Zamorin King of Calicut.[36]

The second branch of Brahmo Samaj was established at Alappuzha in 1924.Later, Intercaste marriages were inspired in South Kerala. Under the leadership of Gopalan, social reforms were able to make great strides.

Later on Brahmosamaj branches were also set up at Alathur, Telicherry, and at different parts of Kerala .

Sugunavardhini Movement

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, especially the Harijan (Dalit) communities in Kerala, that were poorly treated by the higher castes, 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; 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).

Impact of Sugunavardhini 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.

On 4 June 1917, Gopalan was honored 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 at the age of 87 on 2 May 1948.

Works

Gopalan translated the Bible of Brahmo Samaj, Brahmodharma,[37][38] which was initially written in Bengali by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, to Malayalam in 1910. 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, Susheeladukham (musical drama), and Plaguefarse were among his famous dramas performed throughout by PSV Natya sangam in Kerala for many years. His other literary contributions are listed below:

  • Brahmadharmam
  • Saranjiniparinayam (musical drama)
  • Susheeladukham (musical drama)
  • Plague Farse (drama)
  • 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 Ammayude Ormadaykk (biography of mother Kallat Chiruthammal)

See also

References
  1. Bose, Ram Chandra. (1884). Brahmoism; or, History of reformed Hinduism from its origin in 1830,. Funk & Wagnalls. OCLC 1032604831.
  2. Biography of Brahmananda swami Sivayogy by A K Nair.
  3. Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi by Pavanan.
  4. Biography of Brahmanada Sivayogi written by K Bheeman Nair "Asathyathil ninnu sathyathilekku"(അസത്യത്തിൽ നിന്ന് സത്യത്തിലേക്ക് ).
  5. Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi and His Selected Works by P.V. Gopalakrishnan.
  6. "sivayogi". 29 April 2013.
  7. Kerala Navothanam - Oru Marxist Veekshanam - P. Govindappilla (Chintha Publishers, Thiruvananthapuram-695001).
  8. Gopalakrishnan, P. V. (2002). Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi and his selected works. Kalpaz Publications. ISBN 8178351013. OCLC 52726748.
  9. Kurup, K. K. N. (1988), Modern Kerala: Studies in Social and Agrarian Relations. Mittal Publications. 1988. ISBN 9788170990949.
  10. Shepherds' Chalet, Shepherds' Chalet, Shepherdschalet.com, retrieved 19 March 2014.
  11. Kurup, K. K. N. (1988). "Kurup, K. K. N. (September 1988). "Peasantry and the Anti-Imperialist Struggles in Kerala"". Social Scientist. 16 (9): 35–45. doi:10.2307/3517171. JSTOR 3517171.
  12. "Vagbhatananda".
  13. Brahmavrathan, Swami. (1971). Maharṣi Vāgbaṭānanda Gurudēvar. OCLC 978079481.
  14. "British India: INDIAN TITLE BADGE (MYB # 327), RAO BAHADUR & RAO SAHIB MEDALS". worldofcoins.eu. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  15. "rai sahib".
  16. "medal".
  17. "rao sahib".
  18. Introduction to the Constitution of India By Sharma, Sharma B.k.. 2007. p. 83.
  19. Kaur, Madanjit (2008). Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Unistar Books. 2008. ISBN 9788189899547.
  20. 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.
  21. Madras Medical College. (1856–77). Annual Report of the Madras Medical College. Session 1855-56( -1876-77). OCLC 562478204.
  22. Nazir, Parwez (2011). "Raja Ram Mohan Roy: Social Reform and Empowerment of Women". Journal of Exclusion Studies. 1 (2): 1. doi:10.5958/j.2231-4547.1.2.013. ISSN 2231-4547.
  23. Rammohun Roy, Raja, 1772?-1833. (1996). Sati, a writeup of Raja Ram Mohan Roy about burning of widows alive. B.R. Pub. Corp. ISBN 8170188989. OCLC 38110572.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. Hatcher, Brian A. (1 January 2008), "Debendranath Tagore and the Tattvabodhinī Sabhā", Bourgeouis Hinduism, or Faith of the Modern Vedantists, Oxford University Press, pp. 33–48, doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195326086.003.0003, ISBN 9780195326086
  25. Śāstrī, Śibanātha, 1847-1919. (1948). Men I have seen; personal reminiscences of seven great Bengalis. Sadharan Brahmo Samaj. OCLC 11057931.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. Killingley, Dermot (27 June 2019), "Rammohun Roy and the Bengal Renaissance", The Oxford History of Hinduism: Modern Hinduism, Oxford University Press, pp. 36–53, doi:10.1093/oso/9780198790839.003.0003, ISBN 9780198790839
  27. Seminar on Perspectives of the Bengal Renaissance (1976 : Rajshahi University) (1977). Reflections on the Bengal renaissance : [papers read at a seminar, "Perspectives of the Bengal Renaissance"]. Institute of Bangladesh Studies, Rajshahi University. OCLC 557887410.
  28. "Rabindranath Tagore: His Life and Thought", The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore, Routledge, 24 February 2016, pp. 1–17, doi:10.4324/9781315554709-1, ISBN 9781315554709
  29. Bose, Ram Chandra. (1884). Brahmoism; or, History of reformed Hinduism from its origin in 1830,. Funk & Wagnalls. OCLC 1032604831.
  30. Bose, Ram Chandra. (1884). Brahmoism; or, History of reformed Hinduism from its origin in 1830. Funk & Wagnalls. OCLC 1032604831.
  31. "brahmosamaj".
  32. "brahmosamajnet".
  33. "brahmosamaj".
  34. "brahmosamaj".
  35. "Ayathan school runs under the patronage of Brahmosamaj".
  36. Krishna Ayyar, K. V., 1894- (1999). The zamorins of Calicut: from the earliest times down to A.D. 1806. Publication Division, University of Calicut. OCLC 607834506.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  37. Ṭhākura, Debendranātha, 1817-1905. (c. 1943). The offering. [Reprinted on the occasion of the centenary celebration of Maharshideva's initiation into the Brahma Dharma]. OCLC 910095.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. Hatcher, Brian A. (1 January 2008), "Debendranath Tagore and the Tattvabodhinī Sabhā", Bourgeouis Hinduism, or Faith of the Modern Vedantists, Oxford University Press, pp. 33–48, doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195326086.003.0003, ISBN 9780195326086

Bibliography
  • Dr. Ayyathan Gopalan Malayalam Memoir (2013) edited by V.R.Govindhanunni published by Mathrubhumi books, Kozhikode
  • Maharshi Vaghbhatananda Gurudevar, by Swami Brahmavrithan
  • Prof. Sreedharan Menon .A. (1967). A Survey of Kerala History. Kottayam: Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society [Sales 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, ISBN 9788170990949
  • Kurup (1988), p. 94
  • Kurup, K. K. N. (September 1988). "Peasantry and the Anti-Imperialist Struggles in Kerala". Social Scientist. 16 (9): 35–45. doi:10.2307/3517171. 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
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