Rao Sahib Dr. Ayathan Gopalan, Great renaissance leader and social reformer of Kerala.
Rao Sahib DR. Ayyathan Gopalan 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).
Among his followers included Brahmananda Swami sivayogi, Vaghbhatananda, and Brahmavadhi P. Kunhiraman.
Dr.Ayathan Gopalan titled P. Kunhiraman as "Brahmavadhi" and Sivayogi as "Brahmamanda".
Dr.Ayathan Gopalan was awarded and honoured by the British Government with the highest civilian award during British rule in India and with the title “Rao Sahib” for his medical and humanitarian services done for the society and mankind.
Gopalan was born at Telicherry (now Thalassery), as the first son of Ayathan Chandhan and Kallatt Chirutha Ammal.
His youngest sister Dr. Ayathan 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.
Dr. Ayathan Gopalan was the First Medical superintendent of Kuthiravattom Mental Hospital at Calicut and was the first Indian to occupy that post during British rule.
Dr. Ayathan Gopalan established first branch of Brahmo samaj in Kerala at Kozhikode and a “Brahmomandir”(Hall) to conduct prayer meetings at Chinthavalapu Jail road Calicut in 1898.
Now Ayathan school (Dr.Ayathan Gopalan Memorial High school) is been run in the premises of Calicut Brahmosamaj compound under the Calicut Brahmosamaj Trust, Malabar This is the only school left in Kerala which run under the patronage of Calicut Brahmosamaj, Malabar.
Dr.Ayathan Gopalan and his wife Kallatt Kousallya Ammal initiated the Sugunavardhini movement.
Sugunavardhini movement, worked to foster human values in children, attract children to social activities,To protect the rights of women, and children and provided 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.
Dr. Ayathan Gopalan established the “Lady Chandhawarkar Elementary School” with the intention to educate girls and the underprivileged sections of society.
Dr. Ayathan Gopalan founded “Ayathan Clinic and Dispensary" where free treatment's were given for the poor and needy.
Dr. Ayathan Gopalan also founded "Ayathan Weaving mill's" for giving secure jobs to the underprivileged section's.
Dr. Ayathan Gopalan along with his youngest sister Dr. Ayathan Janaki Ammal and his daughter in law Dr. Mandhakinibai Alummoottil conducted free medical camps for the benefit of public health.
Dr. Ayathan Gopalan translated “Brahmodharma” known as the “Bible of Brahmosamaj” into Malayalam from Sanskrit initially written by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore.
Dr. Ayathan Gopalan wrote the first biography book of Raja Ram Mohan Roy in Malayalam.
Reknowned Indian poet, scholar, and social reformer Rabindranath Tagore described Dr. Ayathan Gopalan as the “Raja Ram Mohan Roy of Kerala” during the annual general conference of Brahmosamaj.
First authoritative biography book of Ayathan Gopalan named as "Appan, oru ormapusthakam" in Malayalam language was written by Ayathan Alok.
First authenticative biography book of Rao Sahib Dr. Ayathan Gopalan, "Darsar, The untold story of an unsung hero" in English language written by Ayathan Alok.