PSC Notes 85 - Personalities to know

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Personalities to know

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Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi: 

Brahmananda Sivayogi (1852-1929) the founder of the Sidhasramam was a strong advocate in Yoga system of philosophy. He founded the 'Ananda Maha Sabha' in 1918. Sivayogi fought against various social evils and was wished to bring changes in the Marumakkathayam system of inheritance, widow marriage, prohibition of liquor and female education. He laid stress on happiness (ananda) which was essential for the welfare of mankind. He has written more than 15 books including Mokshapradipam and Anandasutram. His personality and teachings truly influenced the social life of Kerala.

Chattampi Swami: 

Sree Vidyadhiraja Parama Bhattaraka Chattampi Swamikal popularly known as Chattampi Swamikal (1853–1924) was a Hindu sage and social reformer who revolted against the existing social order prevailed in the community. Swamikal as a social reformer could rouse the social consciousness of the Nairs and which in turn made them to fight against the social evils such as untouchability, sub-caste barriers and observance of irrational social practices. He worked in close co-operation with Sri Narayana Guru in the common cause of Hindu social and religious revival.

Sree Narayana Guru: 

Sri Narayana Guru (1854–1928 was a Hindu saint, sadhu and social reformer who had made a solid contribution to the social changes in Kerala. He revolted against the Brahmin dominance and campaigned for the alleviation of the rigours of caste. He also campaigned against the observance of practices such as Talikettukalyanam and Tirandukuli. His highly eclectic attitude in religious matters is evidenced by his famous saying "One Caste, one Religion, one God for man". Also being hailed as "the father of Modern Kerala Renaissance", the works of Sri Narayana Guru helped to rouse the Hindus from their age-long siesta and made them to realize their rights.

Vagbhatananda: 

Vagbhatananda Gurudeva(1885-1939) was a social reformer who played a crucial role in the social reform movement in modern Kerala. His magnetic personality and oratorical skill engrossed towards him a large number of supporters. He founded the Atmavidya Sangham, a group of professionals and intellectuals who had a more secular approach to reform. He condemned caste barriers and idol worship and urged his followers to reject such practices. Being a vigorous campaigner against addiction to liquor, his teachings helped to strengthen the base of the nationalist movement mainly in north Kerala.

Thycaud Ayya: 

Thaikkattu Ayyavu Swamikal (1814–1909) was a spiritualist who is considered to be one of the greatest social reformers of Kerala. He was the first to break customs related to caste in Kerala when caste restrictions and untouchability were at its peak. Ayyavu wrote several books on Bhakthi, Jnana and Yoga in Sanskrit, Tamil and Malayalam with Brahmotharakandom, Pazhanidaivam and Ramayanam Pattu prominent among them. His disciples Chattampi Swami, Narayana Guru, Swayam Prakasini Amma, and others followed the teaching of their great teacher.

Ayya Vaikundar: 

Vaikunta Swami (also known as Muthukutti Swami) (1809-1851) was a man of progressive social outlook. Even though he was also called as Mudichoodum Perumal, he had to give up the name as it could only be used by the upper class people during the time. So parents called him Muthukutty. After learning Nalvazhimoodur, Thirukural and the Bible he went for a pilgrimage and meditation in Thiruchentoor. Returned at the age of 24, he called himself as Vaikunda Swami. He tried to alter certain social customs which was prevailing at that time among Nadars. In 1836, he founded an organisation called 'Samatva Samajam' to fight for the redressal of the gripe of the Avarnas. The Samatva Samajam being one of the earliest social organisation, Vaikunda Swamikal become a pioneer social revolutionaries in Kerala. As his popularity increased, the King of Travancore arrested his and tortured. After returning from imprisonment, Vaikundar inspired a group of his devotees to undertake a religious exercise called Thuvayal Thavasu.

Mannathu Padmanabhan (1878 - 1970)

Founded Nair Service Society 1n 1914
Born in Perunna, Changanacherry.
First president of Travancore Devaswam Board.
Involved in Vaikom Satyagraha, Guruvayoor Satyagraha, Indian National Congress and Vimochana Samaram
He was honored with the title Bharata Kesari by the President of India
Mannam Memorial is located in changanacherry.
Sardar KM Panikker praised him as "Madan Mohan Malaviya of Kerala."

Autobiography : Ente Jeevitha smaranakal

Kuriakose Elias Chavara(1805 - 1871)

Born in kainakari, Kuttanad
Beatified     8 February 1986, Kottayam by Pope John Paul II
Canonized :23 November 2014, Rome by Pope Francis
Major shrine :St. Joseph's Syro-Malabar Dayra Church, Mannanam, Kottayam
He played a major role in educating the people of the lower ranks of society.
Founder of Nasrani Deepika 1846 from  St Joseph Press, the first Malayali press.
In 1864, while he was serving as the Vicar General of Syrian Catholics, he ordered to start a school along with every church (palli) which was successful in making free education available for everyone. Thus schools in Kerala came to be known as pallikudam.
He founded an Indian religious congregation for men, now known as the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. (CMI)

He founded, the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel, the first religious congregation for women in 1866 (CMC)

Dr Palpu (1863 -1950)

"Political father" of Ezhavas.
Born in Petta , Trivandrum

Palpu was the third signatory to the Malayali Memorial  in 1891.

Ayyathan Gopalan (1863- 1949)

Gopalan was born in Thalassery. 
He started the Kozhikode branch of Brahmosamaj in 1898. 
He also founded Chandavarkar Elementary School in Kozhikode to encourage education among Dalits. 
He was later honored with the title 'Rao Sahib'.

Ayyankali (1866-1941)

Pulaya reformer.
Born in Venganoor, Thiruvanantapuram
Advocated  for the  right for Pulayas to  walk  along the public roads in Travancore
In 1907 he founded the Sadhu Jana Paripalana Yogam, which later became Pulaya Maha Sabha
Gandhiji visited Ayyankali in1934 and called him "Pulaya raja".
He was nominated to Srimulam Prajasabha in 1910 and remained in office for 25 years.
He was the first person from depressed classes to be nominated to Tranvancore legislative Assembly.
Leader of first strike of Agriculture labourers in Travancore.

Barrister G. P. Pillai (1864–1903)

Govindan Paramaswaran Pillai, commonly known as Barrister G. P. Pillai, was born in Pallippuram, Thiruvananthapuram, India, in an aristocratic Nair family.
The first person from Thiruvananthapuram to pass the Barrister examination. 
He played a major role in the formation of Malayali Memorial in 1891.

He established the first English language newspaper in South India, the Madras Standard. He wrote many articles against the oppressive rule of Travancore Diwan CP Ramaswami Iyer

Kumaran Ashan ( 1873 – 1924)

Got title as MAHAKAVI from madras university. Kumaranasan was the only poet in Malayalam who became mahakavi without writing a mahakavyam.
Disciple of Sri Narayana Guru.
Served as SNDP Secretary
Worked in Vivekodayam Newspaper.
Joseph Mundassery called him as "Viplavathinte Sukra nakshtaram".

Redemeer was the name of boat which caused death of ashan

Vakkom Moulavi (1873 -1932)

Founder and Publisher of Swadeshabhimani, Muslim Scholar, Social leader and reformer.
Father of Muslim Renaissance
Publications:The Muslim 1906 ,Al-Islam(1918) and Deepika(1931). 
Moorkkothu Kumaran (1874- 1941)started publishing an educational journal named 'Vidyalayam' and was also the first editor of 'Deepam' magazine
Poykayil Yohannan /Poyakayil Appachan/ Kumara Guru (1878 -1939)
Born in Eraviperoor, Pathanamthitta.

Famous Dalit activist, poet and founder of Pratyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha(PRDS): founded in1909)