Ayyathan Gopalan

Gopalan worked as a doctor, chief surgeon, and superintendent at several hospitals in South India, including in Salem, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Chennai, Mysore, and Bangalore (Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospitals). He returned to Kerala in 1896 and joined the Calicut Lunatic asylum (now the Kuthiravattom Mental Hospital) as its first 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.

Gopalan extended his reform ideologies and propagated his reform activities by establishing the first branch of Brahmo Samaj[30][31][32][33][34] on 17 January 1898 at Calicut. To conduct Samaj's meetings and prayers, a separate brahmomandir (lit. "hall")—now Ayathan Gopalan Memorial School[35]—was opened to the public on 17 October 1900. The brahmomandir was inaugurated by Mana Vikraman Ettan Thampuran, the Zamorin King of Calicut.[36]

The second branch of Brahmo Samaj was established at Alappuzha in 1924. A separate brahmomandir was also constructed in 1928 at Poonthoppu, Kommady, Alappuzha (now Grihalakshmi Gandhi Smaraka Seva Sangam), the land was donated by a landlord (Jenmi) of Alleppey and a friend of Gopalan, Mangalath Cochoumini Channar. Channar was once a strict follower of Sree Narayana Guru, but was later influenced by the reform activities and joined Gopalan and Brahmo Samaj. His daughter,Dr. M.C. Mandhakinibai, spearheaded the reform activities at Alappuzha Brahmosamaj and married Gopalan's third son, Devadath Ayathan. This was the first Brahmo wedding conducted at Alappuzha Brahmo Samaj, which popularised the custom of Misra Vivaham in southern Kerala.

Later on Brahmosamaj branches were also set up at Alathur, Telicherry, and at different parts of Kerala .

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, especially the Harijan (Dalit) communities in Kerala, that were poorly treated by the higher castes, such as the Brahmins and the Nairs. He established the Lady Chandhawarkar Elementary School with the intention to educate girls and the underprivileged sections of society. Weekly meetings were conducted at his home, Santhi Ashram. Women, children, and people from all backgrounds gathered there to share their sorrows with Gopalan and Kausallyaammal, who worked to address them. After Kausallya Ammal died, her daughter-in-law Dr. M.C. Mandhakini Bai Devadath took over to unite women and the lower sections of the community and help them assert their social rights. It was Dr. M.C. Mandhakini Bai who first proposed the concept of "Women's Organisation" and worked to protect their rights.

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).

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. Later, Brahmo Samaj branches were set up at Alathur, Thalassery, and other parts of Kerala and its impact was present throughout Kerala, including the Trivandrum and Cochin provinces.

Dr. Gopalan requested Sivayogi to write collections of hymns and songs for worship for Brahmo prayer meetings. Sivayogi accepted his request and wrote "Brahmasankeerthanam", which is a collection of hymns for prayers. Gopalan honored and titled him as "Brahmananda Swamikal" in recognition of his spiritual and literary knowledge, and also for extending their social services through Brahmosamaj.

Unlike the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP), which had been established by Guru[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] and was influential around the same time, 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.

Gopalan, though averse to idolatry and temple building, did not join with Guru. Gopalan did not oppose it either as he sensed the social relevance of the Sree Narayana movement. Gopalan realised that social reform was his way of life and did not take part in the national movement or agitations.

On 4 June 1917, Gopalan was honored by the British Government with the highest civilian award and title, Rao Sahib,[14][15][16][17][18][19] for his social and humanitarian services.

He died at the age of 87 on 2 May 1948.