Periyar Dasan

Periyar Dasan (21 August 1949 – 19 August 2013) was an Indian scholar, eminent speaker, and activist from Tamil Nadu. He propagated atheism and rationalist ideologies for most part of his life, and later Islam. He has also appeared in around 15 Tamil-language films.

Periyar Dasan
Center Mediater
Born
Seshachalam[1]

(1949-08-21)21 August 1949[2]
Perambur, Madras Province, India
Died19 August 2013(2013-08-19) (aged 63)[2]
Chennai, India
NationalityIndian
OccupationTamil Professor, Actor
EmployerPachaiyappa's College
Political partyMDMK
Spouse(s)Vasantha[2]
Children2[2]

Early life

Born in a Shaivite family on 21 August 1949 at Agaram in Perambur, Dasan was attracted towards the rationalist ideals of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, the founder of the Dravidian movement. During his days in Pachaiyappa’s College, he changed his original name Seshachalam to Periyar Dasan ('Ardent follower of Periyar').[3] He was well-versed in Tamil literature, various religious studies, and English. He has authored around 120 books. He was served as a professor in his alma mater, Pachaiyappa’s College, for 34 years.

In 1991, Dasan embraced Buddhism and added Siddartha as a prefix to his name. He translated the Dhammapada, a compilation of Buddhist virtues, authored by B. R. Ambedkar, into Tamil. This took him to learn Pali and Sanskrit.

Taking everyone by surprise, he embraced Islam as his way of life on 11 March 2010 during a visit to Mecca and rechristened his name as ‘Abdulla Periyar Dasan’. Thereafter, he started giving a series of lectures on Islam.[4] Before embracing Islam, he spent 10 years in knowing the key aspects of that religion and learning the quran and the Arabic language.[5]

Filmography
This film-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Year Film Role Notes
1994KaruththammaMokkaiyanDebut film
1996Tamizh Selvan
1996Aavathum Pennale Azhivathum PennaleAmavasai
1996Mappillai Manasu PoopolaDr. Kayalventhan
1999Kadhalar DhinamRaja's father
2001Azhagi
2001Anandham
2003Amma Appa ChellamKannaiah
2005Ayya
2005Oru Kalluriyin KathaiCollege Peon
2008Arai En 305-il KadavulMokkai's Father
2008Dindigul SarathySarathy's grandfather
2008Malarinum MelliyaCartman
2009-2011VasanthamTamil TV Serial
2010Thamizh PadamMokkai
2013Periyar Islathai Ettrara Ethirthara ?Abdullah PeriyardasanDocumentary[1]
2014VeeramBhaiPosthumous appearance

Death

He died on 19 August 2013 at the age of 63, after fighting liver cancer.[6] He is survived by wife Vasantha and two sons Valavan and Suratha.[2]

References
  1. "Actor Periyardasan passes away". chennaionline.com. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  2. "Periyardasan takes final bow after multiple roles". newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  3. "FROM 'SLAVE OF PERIYAR' TO 'SLAVE OF ALLAH'". radianceweekly.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  4. "Periyar Dasan Dr. Abdullah". milligazette.com. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  5. "\\\'Periyar Dasan's conversion not a surprise\\\' - The New Indian Express". www.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  6. "Periyar Dasan Passes Away". kollytalk.com. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
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