Bodheswaran
Encyclopedia
Bodheswaran (1901–1990) was a poet and social reformer from Kerala
, India.
, India, in December 1901. Named Kesavan by his parents, he was attracted to the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda
as a teenager and joined with the religious teacher Narayana Guru
for around two years after leaving school. He then changed his named to Bodheswarananda at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple during a period when he traveled around the country. It was during this time that he associated with Sannyasins and with nationalist activists in Bengal
,and also attended meetings at which activists such as Mohandas K. Gandhi and Motilal Nehru
spoke.
Upon return from his travels, Bodheswaran was advised by Narayana Guru to meet with Chattampi Swamikal
, who subsequently influenced him greatly. More immediately, he continued his interest in Indian nationalism and took to the public stage. After a short spell during which he favored the Arya Samaj
movement, he moved on to be involved in such social reform movements as Vaikkom Satyagraha and the Temple Entry Movement
.
He also became a worker for the Indian National Congress
and changed his name once more, to Bodheswaran.
After Indian independence Bodhesswaran gradually withdrew from political activism, although he remained a Congressman until his death. He lectured and wrote on the subject of Swamikal, his belief being, according to Nair and Devi, that Swamikal was "an embodiment of perfect knowledge".
Bodheswaran was married to V. K. Karthiayani, a Professor of Sanskrit in the Government Sanskrit College, Thiruvananthapuram. He has three daughters, Hridayakumari, Sugathakumari
and Sujatha who are teachers, writers and social activists and sustain the movements initiated by their father.
Bodheswaran died in July 1990.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India.
Early life
Bodheswaran was born in NeyyattinkaraNeyyattinkara
Neyyattinkara is municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. The name Neyyattinkara in Malayalam literally means the shore of Neyyar River. Neyyar River flows from Agasthyarkoodam , the highest peak in southern end of the Western Ghats. The taluk has a total...
, India, in December 1901. Named Kesavan by his parents, he was attracted to the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
as a teenager and joined with the religious teacher Narayana Guru
Narayana Guru
Sri Nārāyana Guru , also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami, was a Hindu saint, sadhuand social reformer of India. The Guru was born into an Ezhava family, in an era when people from backward communities like the Ezhavas faced much social injustices in the caste-ridden Kerala society...
for around two years after leaving school. He then changed his named to Bodheswarananda at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple during a period when he traveled around the country. It was during this time that he associated with Sannyasins and with nationalist activists in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
,and also attended meetings at which activists such as Mohandas K. Gandhi and Motilal Nehru
Motilal Nehru
Motilal Nehru was an early Indian independence activist and leader of the Indian National Congress, who remained Congress President twice, and...
spoke.
Upon return from his travels, Bodheswaran was advised by Narayana Guru to meet with Chattampi Swamikal
Chattampi Swamikal
Sree Vidyadhiraja Parama Bhattaraka Chattampi Swamikal was a Hindu sage and social reformer. His thoughts and work influvenced the launching of many social, relegious, literary and political organizations and movements in Kerala and for the first time gave voice to those who were...
, who subsequently influenced him greatly. More immediately, he continued his interest in Indian nationalism and took to the public stage. After a short spell during which he favored the Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded by Swami Dayananda on 10 April 1875. He was a sannyasi who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Dayananda emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya...
movement, he moved on to be involved in such social reform movements as Vaikkom Satyagraha and the Temple Entry Movement
Temple Entry Proclamation
The Temple Entry Proclamation issued by Maharaja Shri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and his Dewan Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer in 1936 abolished the ban on low-caste people or avarnas from entering Hindu Temples in the state of Travancore .The edict is as follows:Today, the Temple Entry...
.
He also became a worker for the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
and changed his name once more, to Bodheswaran.
After Indian independence Bodhesswaran gradually withdrew from political activism, although he remained a Congressman until his death. He lectured and wrote on the subject of Swamikal, his belief being, according to Nair and Devi, that Swamikal was "an embodiment of perfect knowledge".
Bodheswaran was married to V. K. Karthiayani, a Professor of Sanskrit in the Government Sanskrit College, Thiruvananthapuram. He has three daughters, Hridayakumari, Sugathakumari
Sugathakumari
Sugathakumari is an Indian poet and activist, who has been at the forefront of environmental and feminist movements in Kerala, South India. She played a big role in the Save Silent Valley protest. She formed Abhayagrama, aka Abhayagramam, a home for destitute women and a day-care centre for the...
and Sujatha who are teachers, writers and social activists and sustain the movements initiated by their father.
Bodheswaran died in July 1990.