Ayothi Dasa Pandithar

October 21, 2005

A commemorative postage stamp on Pandit C. Iyothee Thass, a Tamil Activist and a practitioner of Siddha medicine, founder of Punchmar Mahajana Sabha :

Issued by India

Issued on Oct 21, 2005

Issued for : The Department of Posts is proud to issue commemorative postage stamp on Ayothidhasa Pandithar.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Shankha Samanta
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 500 Paisa

Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : C. Ayodhya Dasa (Kathavarayan)

Born on May 20, 1845 at Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, India

Died on 1914

About :

A social reformer, educationist and a visionary Shri Ayothidhasa Pandithar was far ahead of his times.
Ayothidhasa was born on 20^th May 1845 in Coimbatore District of Tamilnadu. He was named ‘Kathavarayan’ by his parents. After acquiring proficiency in Siddha medicine, he changed his name as Ayothidhasa Kaviraj Pandithar.
Shri Ayothidhasa Pandithar established ‘The Advaithantha Sabha’ in Nilgiris in 1870 and ‘Dravida Mahayana Sabha’ in 1891.
A sincere social worker and philanthropist, he was a pioneer and forerunner to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Shri Periyar and campaigned against caste system and untouchability and advocated social equality. He took up the causes of the poor and the downtrodden and fought against orthodoxy. A man of action, Shri Ayothidhasa Pandithar heralded a social revolution in Tamilnadu.
Shri Ayothidhasa Pandithar published a weekly called ‘Oru Paisa Thamizhan’ in 1907. He wrote more than 20 books on various fields. A good orator, he was fluent in Tamil, Sanskrit, Pali and English. His views on the writings of Tiruvalluvar and Auvaiyar gave a new insight and different exposition in terms of Buddhism. He founded Chakkia Buddhist Association which evoked great response among social and political parties. He gave a new direction to the Tamil Literature.
Ayothidhasa Pandithar passed away in 1914 but his views on social issues have left a lasting impact.
Text : Based on material given by the proponent.