Pandit Vedabandhu Sarma
| Pandit Vedabandhu Sarma | |
|---|---|
 Vedabandhu.jpg | |
| Born | R. Venkatachalam Iyer 1901 Thrikkannamangal, Kottarakkara |
| 💀Died | 19 November 1995 (approx. aged 94) Hebbal, Bangalore19 November 1995 (approx. aged 94) |
| Other names | Keraliya Jamadagni,Brahmachari Lakshman,V K Sarma' |
| 💼 Occupation | Linguist, Orator, Organizer, Writer, Freedom Fighter, Social reformer |
| Notable work | Sathyartha Prakasam, Rigveda Praveshika, Sandhyayum agnihotravum, Yavana Kavya Thathwangal, Bharathiya Kavya Sastrasaram, Yaskante nirukthopakramam |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Saraswathy Devi |
| 👶 Children | Ramakrishna Sarma, V. Anantha Krishna Sarma |
| Twitter= | |
Pandit Vedabandhu Sarma (1901-1995) was a sage, linguist, orator, organizer, writer, freedom fighter, social reformer and renaissance leader.
Early Life[edit]
Venkatachalam Iyer aka Vedabandhu Sarma was born in 1901 in a Tamil Brahmin family in Thrikannamangal, Kottarakkara. He was the first son of Krishna and S. Lakshmi Ammal. After completing his schooling at Kottarakkara, at the age of 17, he went to Kashi Hindu Banaras University to pursue higher studies under the tutelage of Hindi preachers led by Swami Swatantrananda, along with official college education and informal heritage, he also studied Sanskrit and Vedas together . Venkatachalam Iyer was actively involved in the freedom struggle .He came in contact with the Arya Samaj. He left Kashi to Lahore. He then joined the first batch of Dayananda Brahma Maha Vidyalaya in Lahore as an MA student and passed M A exam with high rank.
Journey to renaissance[edit]
During 1921, when Malabar Mopla Riot was started, Five members selected from the first batch of students from Dayananda Brahma Mahavidyalaya, Lahore should be sent to Malabar, Kerala for Arya Missionary work. The proposal was to submit names for the same. Venkatachalam Iyer, a malayalee, found a place in the list for the first time. Thus, during the Malabar Mappila riots of 1921, Pandit Rishiram and Venkatachalam Iyer came to Malabar in Kerala as Arya Samaj activists. He worked under many names. At this time, Acharya Vishva bandhu officially declared through letter, the name Vedabandhu to Venkatachalam . Pandit Rishiram and Lala Khushahalchandji, Qushasand and Panditji were there for many years. Maslanachand went back to Lahore. Then Sawalmalji, prof Lala Gangchandji and Pandit Vishnudam arrived at the camp. They all went back very quickly but Rishiram ji returned and started working with Vedabandhu. From then until 1956, Pandit Vedabandhu Sarma was at the helm of the Arya Samaj in Kerala. He was in a good contact with Sree Narayana Guru and Vagbhatanandan.
Social reformation activiies[edit]
Following the riots in Malabar in 1921, many Hindus converted to Islam in mass. A group of Arya Samaj activists led by Pandit Rishiram came to Kerala for reconverting them to Hinduism. Vedabandhu was Rishiram's main co-worker. They brought many people back to their motherland through the Shudhi movement. Vedabandhu was appointed to the leadership of the Arya Samaj activities started with its headquarters in Kozhikode. He travelled all over Kerala and organized Arya Samaj activities. He faced stiff opposition from orthodox Hindus in these activities. The enlightenment of Maharshi Dayananda Saraswati shed a new light on Indian society. Dayananda's call for a return to the Vedas and for liberation from the many social evils that plagued India by abandoning anti-Vedic practices created a stir in the society.
Many, like Vedabandhu, joined Dayananda's path. The Arya Samaj was involved in activities such as the abolition of untouchability, the elimination of racial discrimination, women's education and the remarriage of widows. The great scholar Vishva bandhu became a great sage of the Vedas under the discipleship of the sages. The events of 1921 led to the rise of the golden sun of renaissance in dark Kerala, which Swami Vivekananda described as a madhouse by a Vedic relative who fully embraced the message of Maharshi Dayanand. Dogs, cats and lizards can roam freely along the highway. Hindus, who are branded as inferior, are denied freedom of movement. If he converts to Christianity or Islam, he can walk the path untouched. Swami Vivekananda condemned this insane act.
Participation in Vaikom Satyagraha[edit]
The Vaikom Satyagraha (1924) has been described as a milestone in the renaissance of Kerala. It was organized under the auspices of the Pradesh Congress Committee. K. Kelappan, T. K. Madhavan, Vedabandhu also worked as an active organizer and instigator of the leading struggle. Vedabandhu had taken a non-party stand. Under the tutelage of Pandit Rishiram, he guided about 12 Ezhava Samadhi members into Aryan Brahmins in the guise of Yajna. All of them were arrested by the police and cases were registered against them. Vedabandhu started the Arya Samaj in Alappuzha. The police, led by the then police chief Pichu Iyer, detained them and registered a case.
The Gusti Thirumulppad from Cherthala and Vedabandhu led the processions. The protesters claimed that they were not Ezhavas but Aryan Brahmins. If the Ezhavas convert to Christianity, why should they not walk the path for us Aryans? Under the influence of the aristocracy, the police refused to accept. In Vaikom, all the streets which were not allowed to pass through avarnas were specially fenced off and converted into temple sanctuaries.
The Congress had somehow to come out of this situation. We still have the experience of retreating from the forefront of the Satyagraha struggle. Travancore was then ruled by Sree Moolam Thirunal. Pitt, was the Commissioner of Police. Struggle should not be non-violent. The strike was called off following discussions with Pitt. The only achievement is that he was able to bring Swami Shraddhanandan to travel to Kerala.
The leaders of the struggle, including Kelappan, were aware of the fact that the Vaikom Satyagraha had failed to achieve its goal. They had privately admitted it.
Kalpathi Samaram[edit]
Excited by the Vaikom Satyagraha, a few Ezhavas led by an Ezhava lawyer from Palakkad marched through Agrahara Street in Kalpathi, Palakkad, violating caste restrictions. The lawyer was beaten to death by a group of agraharam Brahmins. His companions fled. Due to this incident, Palakkad became very famous the Ezhavas converted and became Christians. When they became Christians, they became untouchable and were given freedom of movement. Knowing this, Vedabandhu reached Palakkad. Arya Samaj work started. Later, he rented a room on Agraharam Street and started a stall selling Arya Samaj publications. Attempts by the Arya Samaj to enlighten the Brahmins of Kalpathy were unsuccessful. Vedabandhu led the procession through the Agraharam Street with the Ezhavas who had joined the Arya Samaj. The Brahmins organized and attacked the Arya Samaj activists with strong opposition. Without running back, the Arya Samaj led by Vedabandhu retaliated. Following the stabbing of a Brahmin, police action, arrest and prosecution ensued. Vedabandhu obtained a favorable judgment from the Madras High Court in favor of freedom of movement through Kalpathi Street. The Aryan community gained the right to convert to Hinduism just as Christian missionaries did.
What else but temple Entry?[edit]
Vedabandhu's argument is that what is needed now is to enter the temples beyond the closed roads. T. K. Madhavan and Kelappan confirmed. Vedabandhu's efforts were in that direction. Vedabasdhu began publishing pamphlets and articles explaining his arguments. The government of Travancore was not in favor of this. In the Temple entry Committee formed for this purpose, M.R. Madhava Warrier was the General Secretary and Vedabandhu was the Joint Secretary. With the exile of Sreemoolam Thirunal in 1924, he became the Regent of Travancore. During this period, Ambalappuzha Krishna Pillai was acting as Diwan. The government has decided to close the roads in the disputed temple premises and turn them into temple sanctuaries. Lord Wellington became Viceroy. When the Regent's rule came to an end, Sir C.P. became Government Adviser. Vedabandhu was able to develop a friendly relationship with Sir C.P and to convince him of his arguments. In the meantime, what about the Aryans, who do not support temple worship and idolatry? The question began to arise from many angles. As these discussions became active in the Arya Pradeshiya Sabha as well, Vedabandhu withdrew from the active activities of the Aryan Pradeshiya Sabha. He joined the Hindu Mahasabha in 1930 and led the temple entry movement. Along with many of his geniuses. The circle of friends was expanding.
Kallur Narayana Pillai, Attukal Neelakanta Pillai ,M. R. Madhava Warrier, E. Subramanya Iyer also collaborated with him. As a part of this, MLC Kalar Narayana Pillai was appointed to receive the Kurumban God in front of the Chengannur Mahadeva Temple. Sree Chithira Thirunal came to power and Sir C.P. After becoming a Diwan, the way to the temple was paved. Sree Chithira Thirunal issued the historic Temple Entry Proclamation in 1936. In the ensuing period, Vedabandhu again actively returned to Arya Samaj work. He slowly made Thiruvananthapuram his center. It was during this period that he became a non-permanent teacher at the Sanskrit College, Thiruvananthapuram. From then until 1949, Vedabandhu continued to travel to and from Lahore and Kerala. After losing his son in 1949, Vedabandhu moved to his guru's place in Hoshiarpur.
Back in Lahore[edit]
The conditions were right for India to gain independence and at the same time for the partition of India. Discussions were also active on the areas to be included in independent India and Pakistan. It was generally believed that Lahore, the center of Arya Samaj activities, would be in India. But contrary to expectations, it was finally decided to include Lahore in Pakistan. Nehru was angered by the official Arya Samaj stand that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a devotee of the Arya Samaj and a devotee of Maharshi Dayananda, should be made the Prime Minister. This also led Lahore to join Pakistan. The one nation was divided into two. After partition, the Hindus had to leave everything as refugees and go to India. Trains full of refugees were arriving in India. The society had to give up everything that belonged to the Arya Samaj in Lahore. Even in this situation, Vedabandhu was able to pack many valuable books in sacks and bring them to India in an adventurous manner. Vedabandhu was involved in activities to help the refugees. He arrived in Hoshiarpur for the Visvesvaraya Vedic Research Institute.
In the world of Letters -Back to Kerala[edit]
from 1927 to 1936, when he was the secretary of the Temple Proclamation Committee for Temple Entrance, he shifted his territory to Travancore. Subsequently, Sajeeva Hindu Dharma Seva was started under the name of Vedabandhu. With the proclamation of temple entry in 1936, Vedabandhu started his Arya Samaj activities centered in Thiruvananthapuram. Vedabandhu established the Arya Samaj centres at Palakkad, Kottarakkara and Thiruvananthapuram. The Palakkad Arya Samaj was first established in 1926. He was a renaissance leader, Vedic writer, Vashi, Sanskrit scholar, linguistic researcher, Maharshi Dayananda Pathikan, the first Arya Samaj Vedic propagandist in Kerala and author of many Vedic texts. He authored 25 books and numerous articles.
His friendship with Prof. Guptan Nair and his compulsion forced Vedabandhu to involve in writing. In the early days, he published some of his own books under the title Aryaprakashanam from Kottarakkara. His earliest works were Adashasmskarakanaya Dayanand, pamphlets entitled Malabar Mappila Vidroh in Hindi (English and Malayalam),. The Malayalam translation of Dayanandan's Satyarthaprakasham has been published by Vedabandhu. It was soon banned. Satyarth published in the name of Brother Lakshman by the Aryan Pradeshik Prtinidhi Sabha. Rigveda Praveshika is an authoritative book on Rigveda in Malayalam published by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi.
Books of Vedabandhu: - 1. Adarshasamsmarakanaya Dayanandan, 2. MalabarMappila Lahala, Malabar Mappilavidroh; 3. Malabar Mappila Riots, 4. Sandhya Manthra Vyakhya, 5. Samudaya Parivarthanam, 6. Jathiyum Parivarthanavum,7. Dayananda Darshanam, 8. Satyarthaprakasam (Paribhasha), 9. Sandhyayum Agnihotravum, 10. Purushasuktam, 1.Kathathopanishad Bhashyam 12. Mundakopanishad Bhashyam, 13. Ishavasyopanishadh Bhashyam, 14. Kavyakalayeppatti (Poetry Cl), 15. Kavya Silpam (Ars Poitica) , 16.arthavijganam , 17.Yavanakavyathathwangal, 18. Bhartheeya kavyasashtrasaram, 19. Rasabharathi , 20.Abhinavagupthante Rasasidhantham 21. Rigveda Praveshika 22.tandava Lakshanam, 23.Nirukthopakramam 24. Manthraavum and Manasanthiyum .
Articles by Vedabandhu: - Kurava (Malayalarajyam 13.12.1954), 2. Kurakam Kulakkozhiyano Malyalarajyam 03.01.1955) . Vedangaleyum upanishathukaleyum sambadhicha chila thettudharanakal (Malayalarajyam 21.01.1955) . 5. Avesthayum vedavum (Malayalarajyam 28.01.1955), 6.vedavyakhyanangalude anukramamaya charithram (Malayalarajyam 1133 meenam) . 7 MAxmuller rachicha vedabhashyam (Malayalarajyam 1955 idavam) 8. Aristotilinte poetics (Deshabandhu 08.01.1958). 9.venkadhwariyude vushwagunadarshanam (Ayyappan -karkkadam 1132). 10 urvashiyum pupooravassum (Ayyappan -karkkadam 1130). Vedarthavum puranakathayum (Ayyappan -thulam 1130) and many other articles.
Meeting of Legends[edit]
The Arya Samaj is a movement that has made a strong presence in the Renaissance movement across India. The history of the Renaissance cannot be written without replacing Maharshi Dayananda Saraswati and his Satyartha Prakash. Pandita Vedabandhu Sarma is an epoch maker who led the renaissance movement in Kerala through Arya Samaj activities. He has brought many individuals to the path of bliss. P. Keshavdev, Bodheshwaran and Abhayadev are just some of them. He was in constant contact with spiritual masters, social reformers, and political, cultural, and literary figures to establish his ideals. Sir CP, Kumbalathu Shankupilla, Mahapandithan P.S. Prof. Subbaramabhattar, Literary Sovereign. S. Guptan Nair, n. V. Krishnavaryar, Suranadu Kunjan Pillai and Vedic scholar Narendra Bhushan are some of them. Of these, he was in constant correspondence with Guptan Nair and Narendra Bhooshan till the last moment. These were all about conveying the true message of the Vedas to the world and about the desired social change.He has a good contact with Patradhipar T.K Narayanan ,another leader who was one of the dearest disciples of Sree Narayana Guru. These were the real faces of the renaissance activities in Kerala Revealing.
He was concerned about the resurgence of casteism under the guise of secularism. In his last days, Narendra Bhooshan was content to carry the lamp, which he had torched in 1921, beautifully. Expressing this happiness, Narendra Bhooshan received the publishing rights to all the works of Vedabandhu. In 1984, Vedabandhu came in contact with Narendra Bhooshan through a letter. Narendra Bhooshan has met Vedabandhu once in his life. That too he was in Bangalore during his retirement in 1989. But that relationship and the meeting brought the two closer together. Narendra Bhooshan considered the blessings of his mentor and the letters he always received as the most precious gift of his life. He placed all the awards he received below the praise of Vedabandhu. He always turned his face on celibacy. He did not want name or fame at all. Even when Prof. Guptan Nair and Narendra Bhooshan planned to make an attempt to honor him with the Sahitya Akademi, Vedabandhu lovingly forbade it.
On the occasion of Centenary celebration of Aryasamaj, Narendra Bhooshan Smaraka Pratishtapanam (a trust in the name of Narendra Bhooshan) published their magazine Arshanadam as a special edition in the memory of Vedabandhu. Also started a language research institute Vedabandhu Bhasha Padana Gaveshana Kendram in his birth place Thrikknnamangal, Kottarakkara.
Other Names[edit]
Venkatachalam Iyer , Vedabandhu, Brhmachari Lakshman , Vedabandhu Sarma, V B Sarma , Sathyavrath Sarma , Keraliya Jamadagdni.
Personal life[edit]
Venkatachalam Iyer was born in the Ammanamkottu Math, west of the Thrikannamangal Sri Krishnaswamy Temple, Kottarakkara born in 1901,the first son of Krishna and S. Lakshmiammal . His father was a village officer. He has one brother and five sisters. Bhagavathyammal, Saraswatiyammal, Gomatiammal, Meenakshiammal, Chellammal. Married to Smt. Saraswati Devi. he had two sons. The elder son Ramakrshna Sarma,died at the age of nineteen and V Anandakrishna Sarma. Vedabandhu Sarma passed away at the age of 94, 20November 1995 , in Hebbal, Bangalore.
References[edit]
http://new.solminds.in/ksa/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/catalogue_2021_new.pdf
https://archive.org/search.php?query=Whos-Who-Of-Indian-Writers
https://books.google.com/books?id=fi0LAQAAIAAJ&q=vedabandhu+report
https://archive.org/details/sandhyayum-agnihotravum
https://www.exoticindiaart.com/book-author/vedabandhu/
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