Ayyathan Gopalan

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. 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 honoured by the British government 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.

Life
Gopalan was born at Anjarakkandi Thalassery, Kerala, 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 during British rule in India)

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 Keshub Chandra Sen, Debendranath Tagore, Sivanath Sastri, Rabindranath Tagore, and R. G. Bhandarkar. In 1888, he obtained a medical degree with honours and entered into government service.

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.

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    on 17 January 1898 at Calicut. To conduct Samaj's meetings and prayers, a separate brahmomandir (lit. "hall")— was opened to the public on 1 October 1900. The brahmomandir was inaugurated by Mana Vikraman Ettan Thampuran, the Zamorin King of Calicut. This is situated in Jail road, Chinthavalap at Calicut. Now Dr.Ayathan Gopalan Memorial school is being run in the premises of Calicut Brahmosamaj. This is the only school left in Kerala which run under the patronage of Brahmosamaj under Brahmosamaj trust. —

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) 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; 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, 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 honoured by the British Government with the highest civilian award and title, Rao Sahib,     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).