Periyar Dasan was a renowned orator and activist from Tamil Nadu, recognized for his erudite expertise in Tamil literature, various religious studies, and English. As a Tamil scholar and thinker, he dedicated his life to promoting Atheist and Rationalist ideologies. Furthermore, he had a prolific career in the Tamil-language film industry, featuring in approximately 15 films, starting with Karuthamma.
Born into a Shaivite family, Periyar Dasan was drawn to the Rationalist ideals of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, the founder of the Dravidian movement. During his time at Pachaiyappa's College, he changed his original name, Seshachalam, to Periyar Dasan, signifying his devotion to Periyar. He went on to author around 120 books, showcasing his vast knowledge and literary prowess.
Periyar Dasan served as a professor at his alma mater, Pachaiyappa's College, for an impressive 34 years. In 1991, he converted to Buddhism, adopting the prefix Siddartha to his name. This spiritual journey led him to learn Pali and Sanskrit, and he translated the Dhammapada, a compilation of Buddhist virtues authored by BR Ambedkar, into Tamil.
In a surprising turn of events, Periyar Dasan converted to Islam on March 11, 2010, during a visit to Mecca, rechristening himself as 'Abdulla Periyardasan'. Following this, he delivered a series of lectures on Islam. Prior to embracing Islam, he spent 10 years studying the key aspects of the religion, learning the Holy Quran, and the Arabic language. Notably, he ceased promoting Atheism in 2004.
