Periyar Dasan
Abdullah Periyar Dasan | |
|---|---|
பெரியார் தாசன் | |
 Center Mediater | |
| Born | Seshachalam[1] 21 August 1949[2] Agaram village, North Arcot District, Tamil Nadu |
| Died | 19 August 2013 (aged 63)[2] |
| Cause of death | Liver cancer |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Tamil Professor, Actor |
| Employer | Pachaiyappa's College |
| Political party | MDMK |
| Spouse | Vasantha[2] |
| Children | Valavan Suratha[2] |
Periyar Dasan (21 August 1949 – 19 August 2013) was an eminent speaker and activist from Tamil Nadu. He was a Tamil scholar and thinker. He propagated atheism and rationalist ideologies for most part of his life. He has also appeared in around 15 Tamil-language films, starting with Karuthamma.
Early life
Born in a Shaivite family on 21 August 1949 at Agaram in Perambur, Dasan was attracted towards the rationalist ideals of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, the founder of the Dravidian movement. During his days in Pachaiyappa’s College, he changed his original name Seshachalam to Periyar Dasan ('Ardent follower of Periyar').[3] He was well-versed in Tamil literature, various religious studies, and English. He has authored around 120 books. He was served as a professor in his alma mater, Pachaiyappa’s College, for 34 years.
In 1991, Dasan embraced Buddhism and added Siddartha as a prefix to his name. He translated the Dhammapada, a compilation of Buddhist virtues, authored by B. R. Ambedkar, into Tamil. This took him to learn Pali and Sanskrit.
Taking everyone by surprise, he embraced Islam as his way of life on 11 March 2010 during a visit to Mecca and rechristened his name as ‘Abdulla Periyar Dasan’. Thereafter, he started giving a series of lectures on Islam.[4] Before embracing Islam, he spent 10 years in knowing the key aspects of that religion and learning the Koran and the Arabic language. Since 2004, he stopped his propagation of atheism.[5]
Filmography
 |
| Year | Film | Language | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Karuththamma | Tamil | Mokkaiyan | Debut film |
| 1996 | Tamizh Selvan | Tamil | ||
| 1996 | Aavathum Pennale Azhivathum Pennale | Tamil | Amavasai | |
| 1996 | Mappillai Manasu Poopola | Tamil | Dr. Kayalventhan | |
| 1999 | Kadhalar Dhinam | Tamil | ||
| 2001 | Azhagi | Tamil | ||
| 2001 | Anandham | Tamil | ||
| 2005 | Amma Appa Chellam | Tamil | ||
| 2005 | Ayya | Tamil | ||
| 2005 | Oru Kalluriyin Kathai | Tamil | College Peon | |
| 2008 | Arai En 305-il Kadavul | Tamil | Mokkai's Father | |
| 2008 | Dindigul Sarathy | Tamil | ||
| 2008 | Malarinum Melliya | Tamil | Cartman | |
| 2010 | Thamizh Padam | Tamil | Mokkai | |
| 2013 | Periyar Islathai Ettrara Ethirthara ? | Tamil | Abdullah Periyardasan | Documentary[1] |
| 2014 | Veeram | Tamil | Bhai | Posthumous appearance |
Death
He died on 19 August 2013 at the age of 63, after fighting liver cancer.[6] He is survived by wife Vasantha and two sons Valavan and Suratha.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Actor Periyardasan passes away". chennaionline.com. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Periyardasan takes final bow after multiple roles". newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ "FROM 'SLAVE OF PERIYAR' TO 'SLAVE OF ALLAH'". radianceweekly.com. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ "Periyar Dasan Dr. Abdullah". milligazette.com. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
- ^ "Periyar Dasan No More". indiaglitz.com. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ "Periyar Dasan Passes Away". kollytalk.com. Retrieved 10 December 2014.