Ayathan Gopalan

RAO SAHIB DR. AYATHAN GOPALAN

RAO SAHIB DR.AYATHAN GOPALAN , a well known Physician ,Writer, Social reformer and founder of Sugunavardhini Organisation and Brahmo Samaj movement in kerala , was born in Telicherry as the first son of Ayathan Chandhan and Kallat Chiruthammal in the year 1861(3rd March 1861).He had a younger brother Ayathan Kunjiraman and two sisters Ayathan Madhavi and DR.Janaki ayathan. DR.Janaki Ayathan has been titled as the First Lady doctor of Kerala (First Malayali Lady Doctor) .

After completing his school education from Brennen School and Mission high school of Telicherry he went to join medicine in Madras Medical College in the year 1884(September 19th 1884).It was during this time he came to know more about Brahmo Samaj movement which was started at Calcutta on 20 August 1828 and its founder Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Debendranath Tagore .He was deeply impressed by its reform activities in abolishing the evil practices that prevail in the societies.

He started his social activities along with his medical education at Madras.In 1888 he finished his LMP(Licentiate Medical Practitioner) exam with first rank and joined in Government Service. He served as a Doctor in Belthangadi Dhakshina Kannada,Bangalore,Mysore,Mangalore,Madras,Trichy,Wayanad,Alathur,Calicut,and other places across South India. He extended his social services along with the service as a Doctor in all those places he worked.

He hailed the name as the best Doctor in all the places he worked.

In 1894(December 30 1894) he married Kallat Kausallya, daughter of Kallat Ramunni Menon and Thumboli Manikkam (Predecessor of Andalur Temple of Telicherry).

His marriage was the first marriage to be conducted according to Brahmo Samaj rituals in Madras Brahmo Samaj. Dr.Ramakrishna Bhandarkar ,Debendranath tagore and thousands of brahmo samaj followers and people were present for the Brahmo wedding ceremony The marriage of his sister Madhavi Ayathan with Palathil Govindhan was also conducted in Madras Brahmo Samaj according to its rituals.

In 1897 he was appointed in Calicut as the First Superintendent in Calicut Lunatic Asylum (now known by Kuthiravattom Mental Hospital,Calicut). after taking over the position he took immediate steps in renovating buildings and the surroundings of asylum.He never allowed any patients to be bonded which was prevalent during those days for mentally illed. He allowed them to do as they wished .

During his service at Calicut he felt the need to expand his social activities to abolish all the evils of the society that prevailed during those days. He started Brahmo Samaj reform in 1897 and extended its reform activities over Telecherry, Alathur, Alappey and other places in Kerala.He travelled throughout Kerala for Propagating the Principles of BrahmoSamaj.

It was during this period that his first son Chandra Mohan Ayathan was born in Calicut(January 17th 1897). His second son Ayathan Bhuvana Das was also born in Calicut in the year 1898(november 7th 1898).

He was successful in abolishing all evil practises and superstitions that prevailed during those days and he gained appreciations and support from all walks of the society and gained prominence in the society.

The people were so attracted by the activities of Dr.Gopalan and extended their help in any way.

Kausallya Gopalan was the leading light behind the reform activities of DR.Ayathan Gopalan. In 1899 the foundation stone of Calicut Brahmo samaj building has been laid and it was inaugrated by H.H.Manavikraman Ettan Thampuran the Zamorin of Calicut ,and opened for public in the year 1900 (October 17th 1900) .

Their only one daughter Sarojabhai Ayathan was born during this year (June 27th 1900).

Atrocities against women and children during those days were higher in number. Dr.Gopalan felt the need for uplifting downtrodden sections of the society especially women and children and established Sugunavardhini Organisation(15th of August 1900) for the upliftment of women and children and also the lower divisions of the society .

Kausallya Gopalan was the one who supported in establishing this venture and was the one who stood in front as a leading light in their activities.

Kausallya Gopalan gathered a group of women which are considered as the weaker section of the society and worked for protecting the rights of women and children.

Sugunavardhini was the first organisation that raised voice for protecting rights of women and children. Dr.Gopalan and Smt.Kausallya Gopalan conducted meetings of Sugunavardhini every week ,It was a platform laid for them to discuss the current isssues of the society , atrocities against children and women,evil practices and superstitious beliefs etc.

People from all corners of life attend this weekly meetings to share their problems.

Sugunavardhini Organisation combined with the reform movements of Brahmo Samaj had sucessfully achieved in gaining solutions to all problems of the downtrodden sections of the society.

As the reform movements were going in progress he was again transferred to Madras.But the reform movements of Samaj and Sugunavardhini never ended. In the absence of Dr.Gopalan ,Kausallya Gopalan conducted meetings of Sugunavardhini and continued its social activities .It was during this time Dr.Gopalan translated the book Brahmadharmam (Bible of Brahmosamaj) into malayalam.

He appointed his trustworthy followers in Alappey, Telecherry,Alathur and Calicut Brahmosamaj and ensured that the social activities progress uninterruptedly. He appointed his trustworthy follower Karat Govinda Menon(later known by Brahmanandha Swami Sivayogi) and Vayaleri kunjikannan gurikkal(later known by Vaghbhatananda guru) to look after Calicut Brahmosamaj.

DR.Gopalan was the one who tittled "BRAHMANANDHA" for Swami Sivayogi and "BRAHMAVADHI" for P.KUNJIRAMAN, both were his favorite disciples.

Gopalan got transferred to Lady Curson hospital(Bangalore) and it was during this time his fourth child Ayathan Devadath was born(October 30th 1906).

In 1907 he came back to Calicut for the second time .His last son Ayathan Balagopal was born during this time (November 1st 1907) The British Government gave him an additional charge as Medical school Lecturer and that the charge of District Magistrate.

DR.Gopalan was awarded with "RAO SAHIB" in the year 1917(November 7th 1917) the highest civillian award of British Government for his excellent performance in his duty as a Physician and for the kind services he had done for the society.

He is the author of famous musical dramas "Saranjiniparinayam" and "Suseeladukham" which was played in Calicut Townhall. These dramas unveiled the atrocities and evil customs that prevailed in the society during those days .

He also wrote many hymns and poems for reciting in Brahmo meetings.

Gaanamalika,Yeshu daivamayirunnuvo,Plaguefarse(Drama),Rammohan roy Harikatha,Brahmasangeerthanangal,Brahmageetham etc ..are his other works.

He is the founder of Lady Chandawarkar Elementary School which was established for educating poor and backward classes of the society. This school made a revolution in education in building up strong groups of literate people from the backward classes of society.

He also established free dispensaries and a Weaving factories for the poor.

·       He breathed his last in the year 1948.(May 2nd 1948).