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{{short description|Indian physician, writer, social reformer (1861–1948)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Fanpov|date=April 2020}}
{{COI|date=April 2020}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = [[Rai Sahib|Rao Sahib]]
| name = Ayathan Gopalan
| image = AyathanAlok.jpg
| caption =
| other_names = Darsarji, Darsar Sahib
| birth_name = Ayathan Gopalan
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1861|03|03}}
| birth_place = [[Thalassery|Tellicherry]], [[Malabar District]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br/>(present day [[Kannur district|Kannur]], [[Kerala]], India)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1948|05|02|1861|03|03}}
| death_place = Calicut Shanthi Ashram, [[Malabar District]], [[Madras Presidency|Province of Madras]], [[Dominion of India]]<br/>(present day [[Kozhikode district|Kozhikode]], [[Kerala]], India)
| resting_place = Santhi Gardens (Ayathan family cemetery, Calicut)
| movement =Brahmasamaj(1898), Sugunavardhini movement (1900), Depressed classes mission (1909)
| spouse = {{Marriage|Kallat Kausallya Ammal|1878|1930}}
| children = 5
| alma_mater = [[Madras Medical College]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Doctor|professor|social reformer}}
| known_for =
| notable_works = ''Bhramodarma Malayalam'' (the Bible of [[Brahmo Samaj]])<br/>''Saranjiniparinayam'' <br/> ''Susheeladukham'' (musical dramas)
| relatives = [[Ayathan Janaki Ammal]] (sister)
| family =
| awards = [[Rao Sahib]]
}}
{{Reformation in Kerala}}

'''DR. Rao Sahib Ayathan 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]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bose, Ram Chandra.|title=Brahmoism; or, History of reformed Hinduism from its origin in 1830,.|date=1884|publisher=[[Funk & Wagnalls]]|oclc=1032604831}}</ref> 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]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=Biography of Brahmananda swami Sivayogy by A K Nair}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi by Pavanan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Biography of Brahmanada Sivayogi written by K Bheeman Nair "Asathyathil ninnu sathyathilekku"(അസത്യത്തിൽ നിന്ന് സത്യത്തിലേക്ക്)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi and His Selected Works by P.V. Gopalakrishnan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sreyas.in/brahmananda-sivayogi|title=sivayogi|date=29 April 2013|access-date=10 September 2019|archive-date=22 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322074926/http://sreyas.in/brahmananda-sivayogi|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Kerala Navothanam - Oru Marxist Veekshanam - P. Govindappilla (Chintha Publishers, Thiruvananthapuram-695001)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi and his selected works|last=Gopalakrishnan, P. V.|date=2002|publisher=Kalpaz Publications|isbn=8178351013|oclc=52726748}}</ref> [[Vagbhatananda|Vaghbatananda]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=Kurup, K. K. N. (1988), Modern Kerala: Studies in Social and Agrarian Relations |publisher=Mittal Publications|year=1988|isbn=9788170990949}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Shepherds' Chalet, Shepherds' Chalet, Shepherdschalet.com, retrieved 19 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Kurup, K. K. N. (September 1988). "Peasantry and the Anti-Imperialist Struggles in Kerala". |journal=Social Scientist|volume=16|issue=9|pages=35–45|year=1988|doi=10.2307/3517171|jstor=3517171|last1=Kurup|first1=K. K. N.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vagbhatananda-admavidya.com/|title=Vagbhatananda|access-date=10 September 2019|archive-date=27 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927081405/http://vagbhatananda-admavidya.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Maharṣi Vāgbaṭānanda Gurudēvar.|last=Brahmavrathan, Swami.|date=1971|oclc=978079481}}</ref> and Brahmavadhi P. Kunhiraman. Gopalan titled P. Kunhiraman as "Brahmavadhi" and Sivayogi as "[[Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi|Brahmananda Swami]]".

He was awarded and honoured by the [[British Raj|British government]] with the highest civilian award and title, the "[[Rai Sahib|Rao Sahib]]",<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> for his services. The formation of the Sugunavardhini movement, Depressed classes mission and [[Brahmo Samaj|Brahmosamaj]] were a part of the [[Kerala reformation movement]].

==Life==
Gopalan was born at [[Anjarakkandy]], [[Thalassery|Tellicherry]] (now Thalassery), as the first son of Ayathan Chandhan and Kallat Chirutha Ammal. His youngest sister, [[Ayathan Janaki Ammal]], was the first woman doctor and surgeon in Kerala.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Modern Kerala, Studies in social and agrarian relations |date=1988|publisher=Mittal Publications|first=K.K.N.|last=Kurup|page=86}}</ref>

He attended Anjarakkandy Elementary School, [[Government Brennen College]] and Mission High School. He later joined [[Madras Medical College]]<ref>{{Cite book|title=Annual Report of the Madras Medical College. Session 1855-56( -1876-77).|last=Madras Medical College.|date=1856–1877|oclc=562478204}}</ref> on 19 September 1884. He read about the [[Ram Mohan Roy|Raja Ram Mohan Roy's]] Brahmo Samaj.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Nazir|first=Parwez|date=2011|title=Raja Ram Mohan Roy: Social Reform and Empowerment of Women|journal=Journal of Exclusion Studies|volume=1|issue=2|pages=1|doi=10.5958/j.2231-4547.1.2.013|issn=2231-4547|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Sati, a writeup of Raja Ram Mohan Roy about burning of widows alive|last=Rammohun Roy, Raja, 1772?-1833.|date=1996|publisher=B.R. Pub. Corp|isbn=8170188989|oclc=38110572}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Hatcher|first=Brian A.|title=Debendranath Tagore and the Tattvabodhinī Sabhā|date=1 January 2008|work=Bourgeouis Hinduism, or Faith of the Modern Vedantists|pages=33–48|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|isbn=9780195326086|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195326086.003.0003}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Men I have seen; personal reminiscences of seven great Bengalis.|last=Śāstrī, Śibanātha, 1847-1919.|date=1948|publisher=Sadharan Brahmo Samaj|oclc=11057931}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Killingley|first=Dermot|chapter=Rammohun Roy and the Bengal Renaissance|date=27 June 2019|pages=36–53|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780198790839|doi=10.1093/oso/9780198790839.003.0003|title=The Oxford History of Hinduism: Modern Hinduism}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Reflections on the Bengal renaissance : [papers read at a seminar, "Perspectives of the Bengal Renaissance"]|last=Seminar on Perspectives of the Bengal Renaissance (1976 : Rajshahi University)|date=1977|publisher=Institute of Bangladesh Studies, Rajshahi University|oclc=557887410}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|chapter=Rabindranath Tagore: His Life and Thought|date=24 February 2016|pages=1–17|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781315554709|doi=10.4324/9781315554709-1|title=The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Brahmoism; or, History of reformed Hinduism from its origin in 1830,.|last=Bose, Ram Chandra.|date=1884|publisher=Funk & Wagnalls|oclc=1032604831}}</ref> 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 as the first doctor in Kerala.

Gopalan married Kallat Kausallya Ammal on 30 December 1894. [[R. G. Bhandarkar|Ramakrishna Gobal Bhandhakar]], a Brahmo leader and social reformer at that time, conducted the wedding at the Madras Brahmo Samaj.{{cn|date=March 2026}}

== Social reform activities ==
=== Establishment of Brahmosamaj branches in Kerala ===
Gopalan worked as a doctor, chief surgeon, and [[Chief physician|superintendent]] at several hospitals in [[South India]]. He returned to Kerala in 1897 and joined the [[Kuthiravattam Mental Hospital|Calicut Lunatic asylum]] (now the [[Kuthiravattam Mental Hospital|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<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bose, Ram Chandra.|title=Brahmoism; or, History of reformed Hinduism from its origin in 1830|date=1884|publisher=Funk & Wagnalls|oclc=1032604831}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=brahmosamaj|date=29 May 2023|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Brahmo-Samaj|access-date=31 October 2019|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201045845/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Brahmo-Samaj|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=brahmosamajnet|url=https://www.thebrahmosamaj.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=brahmosamaj|url=https://www.thebrahmosamaj.net/history/history.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=brahmosamaj|url=http://adaniel.tripod.com/brahmosamaj.htm}}</ref> on 17 January 1898 at [[Kozhikode|Calicut]]. To conduct Samaj's meetings and prayers, a separate {{Lang|hi|brahmomandir}} (lit. "hall"){{Em dash}} was opened to the public on 1 October 1900. The {{Lang|hi|brahmomandir}} was inaugurated by [[Zamorin of Calicut|Mana Vikraman Ettan Thampuran]], the Zamorin King of Calicut.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Krishna Ayyar, K. V., 1894-|title=The zamorins of Calicut: from the earliest times down to A.D. 1806|date=1999|publisher=Publication Division, University of Calicut|oclc=607834506}}</ref> 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 Calicut Brahmosamaj Society.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ayathan school runs under the patronage of Brahmosamaj|url=http://ayathanschool.com/history.php|access-date=4 April 2020|archive-date=6 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806172046/http://ayathanschool.com/history.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Branches of Brahmosamaj at Thalassery and Palakkad was formed subsequently. In 1924 a branch of Brahmosamaj was established at Alappuzha and a separate Brahmomandir was constructed in 1928 at Kommadi, Poonthoppu.

=== Sugunavardhini Movement and Depressed Classes Mission ===
In the year 1900, Gopalan and wife 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. He established the Lady Chandhawarkar Elementary School at Calicut with the intention to educate girls and the Dalit (Harijan) communities.

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 a boarding school at Kallai, Kozhikode, One day and night school at Palakkad, and a day school at Thalassery under the Depressed Classes Mission. The Brahmosamajists of Palakkad and Telicherry took care of the day to day activities of these schools.

He founded "Ayathan Weaving mill's" for giving secure jobs to the underprivileged section's and also the "Ayathan Clinic and Dispensary" where free treatment's were given for the poor and the underprivileged. Around 1920's a Medical school started by the British Government named the Medical School, Mananchira (Now training institute function here) This was a branch of Madras Medical College and Dr. Ayathan Gopalan was appointed as the Professor of this Medical School. He also served as the registrar of Special Marriage act and was given the rank and adored as the honorary Magistrate by the British Indian Government.

=== Impact of Sugunavardhini, Depressed Classes Mission and Brahmosamaj in Kerala ===

In addition to supporting and educating women and the underprivileged, their movement led reforms to oppose [[idolatry]]; promote and conduct {{Lang|hi|Misra Vivaham}} (inter-caste marriages) and {{Lang|hi|Misra Bhojanam}} (inter-dining); spread women's education; maintain gender equality; eradicate untouchability, caste and racial discrimination; and conduct mass prayers and communion debates. He led many strikes such as the Chevayur road samaram, Parayanchery paraya colony samaram, Puthiyara road samaram to name a few. 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. "[[Brahmo Dharma|Brahmodharma]]", better known as the Brahmosamaj Bible, was written in [[Bengali language|Bengali]] by [[Debendranath Tagore|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 Swami Sivayogi|Brahmananda Swamisivayogi]], [[Vagbhatananda|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) and were married according to Brahmasamaj rituals.

Rabindranath Tagore described Ayathan Gopalan as the "Raja Ram Mohan Roy of Kerala" during the annual general conference of the Brahmo Samaj.

On 4 June 1917, Gopalan was honoured by the [[British Raj|British Government]] with the highest civilian award and title, [[Rai Sahib|Rao Sahib]],<ref name=":0">"British India: INDIAN TITLE BADGE (MYB # 327), RAO BAHADUR & RAO SAHIB MEDALS". worldofcoins.eu. Retrieved 18 October 2014.</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=65&size=big&cat=|title=rai sahib|access-date=10 September 2019|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203140841/http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=65&size=big&cat=|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=65&size=big&cat=|title=medal|access-date=10 September 2019|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203140841/http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=65&size=big&cat=|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=21524.0|title=rao sahib|date=30 May 2023|access-date=10 September 2019|archive-date=24 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024044312/http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=21524.0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=Introduction to the Constitution of India By Sharma, Sharma B.k.. 2007. p. 83.}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite book|title=Kaur, Madanjit (2008). Maharaja Ranjit Singh. |publisher=Unistar Books |year=2008|isbn=9788189899547}}</ref> for his social and humanitarian services.

He died on 2 May 1948.

==Works==
Gopalan translated the Bible of Brahmo Samaj, [[Brahmo Dharma|Brahmodharma]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=The offering. [Reprinted on the occasion of the centenary celebration of Maharshideva's initiation into the Brahma Dharma].|last=Ṭhākura, Debendranātha, 1817-1905.|date=c. 1943|oclc=910095}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Hatcher|first=Brian A.|title=Debendranath Tagore and the Tattvabodhinī Sabhā|date=1 January 2008|work=Bourgeouis Hinduism, or Faith of the Modern Vedantists|pages=33–48|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780195326086|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195326086.003.0003}}</ref> which was initially written in [[Bengali language|Bengali]] by [[Debendranath Tagore|Maharshi Debendranath Tagore]], to Malayalam in 1904. He wrote the first Biography book of Raja Ram Mohan Roy in Malayalam and also wrote songs and [[Kirtan|keerthanams]] to be sung during Brahmo Samaj prayer meetings. He propagated his reform ideologies through drama, public awareness, and his writings. ''Saranjiniparinayam''(1899)(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)(1899)
* ''Susheeladukham'' (musical drama)(1903)
* ''Plague Farse'' (drama)
* ''Gaanamaalika''
* ''Grihadharma Geethamrutham''
* ''Keerthanaratnamala''
* ''Brahmamatham''
* ''Rammohunroy (Harikatha)'' (Biography of Raja Ram Mohan Roy)
* ''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)

== See also ==
* [[Ayyathan Janaki Ammal]]
* [[Vagbhatananda]]
* [[Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi]]
* [[Mithavaadi Krishnan]]
* [[Moorkoth Kumaran]]
* [[Kallingal Madathil Rarichan Moopan]]

== References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* 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
* [[K. K. N. Kurup|Kurup, K. K. N.]] (1988), ''Modern Kerala: Studies in Social and Agrarian Relations'', Mittal Publications, {{ISBN|9788170990949}}
* [[Vagbhatananda#CITEREFKurup1988|Kurup (1988)]], p. 94
* [[K. K. N. Kurup|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

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gopalan, Ayyathan}}
[[Category:1861 births]]
[[Category:1948 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian medical doctors]]
[[Category:Medical doctors from Kerala]]
[[Category:People from Thalassery]]
[[Category:Social reformers]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Magistrates]]
[[Category:Indian phycologists]]
[[Category:Madras Medical College alumni]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Activists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]
[[Category:Dalit activists]]
[[Category:Dalit writers]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Indian atheists]]
[[Category:Scholars from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Brahmos]]
[[Category:Indian reformers]]
[[Category:Hindu revivalists]]
[[Category:Brahmoism]]
[[Category:Neo-Vedanta]]
[[Category:Anti-caste activists]]

Ayathan Gopalan - Revision history

Eldartpy at 17:49, 28 April 2026