lyothee Dass (1845-1914) was born at Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu). His father, Chandasamy, was an Adi-Dravida. lyothee Dass was a scholar in Tamil and Pali. Also a reputed medical doctor, he owned a dispensary named Buddhist Medical Hall at Royapettah, Madras. He used to give free medical aid to poor people. Earlier, he was a Vaishnavite. Later he studied the truth contained in other religions like Christianity, Jainism, Budhism. Then he quit Hinduism, based on inequality, unreason and exploitation, and revived Budhism, based on liberty, equality and fraternity. In 1891, Pandit lyothee Dass met Colonel Henry Steel Olcott and asked him to revive Budhism in India. Col. Olcott took lyothee Dass to Sri Laika where he was ordained by Venerable Sumangala Maha Nayaka. Inspired by Col. Olcott, Madam Blatvasky and Anagarika Dharmapal, he began his missionary work under the South Indian Sakya Buddhist Association established by him in 1900 at Madras. He started branches at Marikuppam (1907) and Kolar Gold Field (1914). He said the Untouchables were originally Budhists, and their salvation lay in Budhism. He realized the importance of education and with the help of Col. Olcott started four schools for the Dalits in Madras. He was a great thinker and writer. He wrote: Buddhar Adivedam, Tiruvalluvar Araichi, Kural Kadaval Vazthu, Ambikai Amman, Murugakadavul, Harshandran Poigal, Indirar Desa Saritam, Yadartha Yesha Brahmana Vibaram, Gajamukha Moorty Unmai, Kabaleesvar Vibhuti Aaraichi and Trikural. All these books are in Tamil and they expose the myth of Brahmin superiority, irrational Hindu literature and exploitative caste system. Later Prof. L.N. Narasu and Adv. Singarvelu came to his help in his social and religious activities. He married Dhanalakshmi, the younger sister of Dewan Srinivasan and had four sons and two daughters. One son, Rajaram, went to Natal, South Africa, and tried to spread Budhism there. Later ACP Perriaswamier founded the Natal Buddhist Society in 1920. Pandit lyothee Dass was the first Budhist revivalist in India among Dalits. He died on May 5, 1914 at the age of 69. (Taken from Dalit Movement in India & its Leaders by R. K. Kshirsagar)
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar had visited Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) to study Budhism and the works of lyothee Dass EDITOR.
