Periyar Dasan Explained

Dr. Abdullah or Dr. Periyar Dasan
Birth Name:Seshachalam[1]
Birth Date:1949 8, df=yes[2]
Birth Place:Perambur, Madras Province, India
Occupation:Philosophy Professor, Actor
Employer:Pachaiyappa's College
Death Place:Chennai, India
Party:MDMK
Spouse:Vasantha
Children:2
Nationality:Indian

Dr. Periyar Dasan or Dr. Abdullah (born Seshachalam; 21 August 1949 – 19 August 2013) was an Indian scholar, professor, eminent speaker, and activist from Tamil Nadu. He propagated atheism and rationalist ideologies for most part of his life and later converted to Islam. He has also appeared in around 15 Tamil-language films.

Early life and background

Seshachalam was born in a Shaivite family on 21 August 1949 at Agaram in Perambur. He 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 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 served as a professor in his alma mater, Pachaiyappa’s College, for 34 years and as a corporate trainer, psychologist, psychotherapist, and students counsellor for many years.[4]

In 1991, Dasan embraced Buddhism and added Siddhartha 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 Abdullah, and his wife Vasantha was given the name Fathima.[5] Thereafter, he started giving a series of lectures on Islam.[6] Before embracing Islam, he spent 10 years knowing the key aspects of that religion and learning the Quran and the Arabic language.[7]

Publications

Tamil

Filmography

YearFilmRoleclass=unsortableNotes
1994 Karuththamma Mokkaiyan Debut film and National Award winning production
1996 Tamizh Selvan
1996 Aavathum Pennale Azhivathum Pennale Amavasai
1996 Mappillai Manasu Poopola Dr. Kayalventhan
1999 Kadhalar Dhinam Raja's father
2001 Azhagi
2001 Anandham
2003 Amma Appa Chellam Kannaiah
2005 Ayya
2005 Oru Kalluriyin Kathai College Peon
2008 Arai En 305-il Kadavul Mokkai's Father
2008 Dindigul Sarathy Sarathy's grandfather
2008 Malarinum Melliya Cartman
2009-2011 Vasantham Tamil TV Serial
2010 Thamizh Padam Mokkai
2013 Periyar Islathai Ettrara Ethirthara ? Abdullah Periyardasan Documentary
2014 Veeram Bhai Posthumous appearance

Death

Dasan died on 19 August 2013 at the age of 63, after fighting liver cancer.[10] He is survived by wife Vasantha and two sons Valavan and Suratha.[2] [11] As per his last wish, his body was given to the Madras Medical College for Research on August 20. Immediately after death, his eyes were donated to Sankara Nethralaya.[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Actor Periyardasan passes away. https://web.archive.org/web/20141209233456/http://chennaionline.com/movies/star-track/20134123124137/Actor-Periyardasan-passes-away.col. dead. 9 December 2014. 2014-12-09. chennaionline.com.
  2. Web site: Periyardasan takes final bow after multiple roles. https://web.archive.org/web/20131020050318/http://newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Periyardasan-takes-final-bow-after-multiple-roles/2013/08/20/article1742658.ece. dead. 20 October 2013. 2014-12-09. newindianexpress.com.
  3. Web site: FROM 'SLAVE OF PERIYAR' TO 'SLAVE OF ALLAH'. 2014-12-09. radianceweekly.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20150722181135/http://www.radianceweekly.com/197/5131/dump-the-nuclear-liability-bill/2010-03-28/from-darkness-to-light/story-detail/from-slave-of-periyar-to-slave-of-allah.html. 22 July 2015. dead.
  4. Web site: Periyardasan takes final bow after multiple roles. 2021-04-21. The New Indian Express.
  5. Web site: Buddy's words turned Periyar Dasan into Dr Abdul. 2021-04-21. The New Indian Express. 21 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210421032249/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2010/apr/12/buddys-words-turned-periyar-dasan-into-dr-abdul-145412.html. dead.
  6. Web site: Periyar Dasan Dr. Abdullah. milligazette.com. 10 December 2014.
  7. Web site: \\\'Periyar Dasan's conversion not a surprise\\\' - The New Indian Express. https://web.archive.org/web/20200701135930/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2010/apr/13/periyar-dasans-conversion-not-a-surprise-145723.amp. dead. 1 July 2020. 2020-07-01. www.newindianexpress.com.
  8. Web site: புத்தரும் அவரது தம்மமும் (கருத்து=பட்டறை). 2021-04-21. CommonFolks.
  9. Web site: இந்திய மரபும் பார்ப்பன திரிபும். 2021-04-21. CommonFolks.
  10. Web site: Periyar Dasan Passes Away. kollytalk.com. 10 December 2014. 30 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180730170921/http://www.kollytalk.com/cinenews/periyar-dasan-passes-away-107806.html. dead.
  11. Web site: Kollywood Movie Actor Periyar Dasan Biography, News, Photos, Videos. 2021-04-21. nettv4u. en.