Revision 7053315 of "P. Laxmi Narasu" on simplewiki

{{tone|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- For more information see [[:Template:Infobox Writer/doc]]. --> 
| image         = P. Lakshmi Narasu.jpg
| image_size    = 200px
| alt           = 
| caption       = P. Lakshmi Narasu
| pseudonym     = 
| birth_name    = 
| birth_date    = 1861
| birth_place   = 
| death_date    = 14 July 1934 (aged 73)
| death_place   = 
| resting_place = 
| occupation    = Professor and writer
| language      = English and Tamil (writing languages), French, Japanese, Pali, Telugu and Sanskrit
| nationality   = Indian
| ethnicity     = 
| citizenship   = 
| education     = 
| alma_mater    = Madras Christian College
| period        = 
| genre         = Education, Literature, Religion and Science
| subject       = 
| movement      = 
| notableworks  = The Essence of Buddhism (1907) 
| spouse        = {{•}}Rukmini Ammal<br />
{{•}}Ramarathnam Ammal
| partner       = 
| children      = son: Venkat <br/>daughter: Veerlaxmi
| relatives     = 
| influences    = 
| influenced    = 
| awards        = 
| signature     = 
| signature_alt = 
| website       = 
| portaldisp    = 
}}
'''Pokala Laxmi Narasu''' (1861 – 14 July 1934), commonly known as '''P. L. Narasu''' and '''P. Laxmi Narasu''', was an Indian [[Academia|scholar]], [[author]], social reformer and [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] [[philosopher]]. He was a professor of [[Physics]] and his research papers had been published in prestigious science [[Journal|journals]] around the world. He had expertise in Physics in general, and dynamics in particular. He put to dust the scholastic arrogance of many [[European Union|European]] and [[British people|British]] scholars by overcoming them in the debates held on the subject.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/madras-miscellany-the-essential-buddhist/article2079228.ece|title=Madras miscellany: The &lsquo;Essential Buddhist'|last=Muthiah|first=S.|date=2011-06-05|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-07-31|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Rajan|first=K. Mavali|title=Role of Ayothidas Pandithar in uprising Subaltern conciousness|url=https://www.academia.edu/17345518/Role_of_Ayothidas_Pandithar_in_uprising_Subaltern_conciousness|language=en}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Narasu was born in 1861 in a rich family. His father Pokla Chellum Narayanguru was a prominent lawyer in [[:en:Madras High Court|Madras High Court]]. Among siblings he had one sister- Andal Ammal and three brothers- Krishnaswamy, Ramanujan and Bhashyam. In the year 1911 Ramanujan and Bhashyam died in a train accident. Narasu's first wife's name was Rukmini Ammal, who was also active in public life through a Women’s Welfare Association. Of their progeny of ten, only two survived, a boy Venkat, and a girl, Veerlaxmi. Venkat died prematurely in Paris while engaged in studies. The anaguish of his death brought about the demise soon after, of Rukmini Ammal. In 1925 Narasu married Ramarathnam Ammal, a widow, as per [[:en:Buddhist culture|Buddhist rite]] in the Perambur Viyaram.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Religion of modern Buddhist|last=Narasu|first=P. L.|publisher=Samyak Prakashan, New Delhi|year=2002|isbn=978-81-98524-70-8|location=Delhi|pages=IX|language=English}}</ref><ref>http://keetru.com/dalithmurasu/feb07/aloysious.php</ref>

== Education and professional life ==
P. Laxmi Narasu studied science, graduated from [[:en:Madras University|Madras University]] and was also the co-winner of the Jagirdar of Arni’s Gold Medal of 1892-94 batch. He joined the [[:en:Madras Christian College|Madras Christian College]] as Assistant Professor in 1894. Very soon he became a popular teacher among students. Narasu had a firm grasp of his subject matter. His altercation with one Professor Wilson, an Englishman, on the subject of Dynamics, Narasu’s speciality, became a lore among the students and colleagues even during his lifetime.<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/madras-miscellany-the-essential-buddhist/article2079228.ece</ref>

In 1909 Narasu left Christian College to become a full-time professor in Pachaiyappa’s college. For sixteen years he served the college well, actively participating in debates, activities and in the general administration. Narasu retired from teaching in the college in 1925.
A specialist in exact sciences, Narasu’s interests were not confined to the books, laboratories, classrooms, or the campus. He was a voracious reader of all that concerns man and society- literature, art, philosophy, history, culture and religion. Narasu became proficient in English by training. He also appeared to have picked up French, Sanskrit and Pali on his own.<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/madras-miscellany-the-essential-buddhist/article2079228.ece</ref><ref>https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/</ref>

== Religious work ==
Pt. [[:en:Iyothee Thassar|Iyothee Thassar]], T. Singarivelu and P. L. Narasu founded the South Indian Buddhist Association (Shakya Buddhist Society) to propagate Buddhism In collaboration with the [[:en:Mahabodhi Society|Mahabodhi Society]] founded by [[:en:Anagarik Dharmapal|Anagarik Dharmapal]] in 1890. Narasu has written several articles and books on Buddhism. His book 'The Essence of Buddhism' (1907) was considered as mouthpiece of the Shakya Buddhist Society.<ref>http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=42,4897,0,0,1,0#.XHqN_uBX40O</ref> The book had in huge demand in [[Japan]]. His other book 'What is Buddhism?' (1916) was translated by Czechoslovakian foreign Minister [[:en:Jim Mosarik|Jim Mosarik]] and was regarded as a guide on Buddhism.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Religion of modern Buddhist|last=Narasu|first=P. L.|publisher=Samyak Prakashan, New Delhi|year=2002|isbn=978-81-98524-70-8|location=Delhi|pages=XVIII|language=English}}</ref> He also wrote 'Religion of Modern Buddhist' in early 30s of twentieth century. It is believed that he also wrote a book, ‘Buddhism in Nutshell’ but manuscript of the book couldn’t be found.<ref>https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/download/fedora_content/download/ac:163651/content/Ayyathurai_columbia_0054D_10271.pdf</ref>  He also wrote a seminal book on caste titled as ‘A Study of Caste’ (1922). In 1910 with the help of South Buddhist Association he did census of Buddhist people of [[Madras]], which turned out to be 18,000. For the propagation of Buddhism, Narasu delivered many lectures at various places. He also organized four Buddhist conferences in his life time. The first was held in 1917 at Moore Pavilion People’s Park in Madras, second in 1920 in [[Bangalore]], third in Madras in 1928 and the fourth one was held in Bangalore Presidency, at Tirupatur Kolar Gold Field in 1932.<ref>{{Cite book|title=What is Buddhism|last=Narasu|first=P. L.|publisher=Samyak Prakashan, New Delhi|year=|isbn=81-88794-42-2|location=Delhi|pages=8, 9|language=English}}</ref>  It is said that he got converted to Buddhism in [[Sri Lanka]]. Afterwards, he devoted his entire life preaching Buddhism to the world.<ref>https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/</ref> 

[[Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar]], who revived [[Buddhism in India]], was greatly influenced by the thoughts of P. L. Narasu on Buddhism. He also republished his most famous book ‘The Essence of Buddhism’ in 1948 and also wrote a preface to it. In the preface of the book he recommended the book for those who are interested in the study of Buddhism. He considered it as one of the best available books in the world on Buddhism. The reader gets familiar with the greatness of Prof. P. L. Narasu which was put forth by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in his preface to ‘The Essence of Buddhism’. He wrote, “Professor Narasu…. Fought European arrogance with patriotic fervor, orthodox Hinduism with iconoclastic zeal, heterodox Brahmins with a nationalistic vision and aggressive Christianity with a rationalistic outlook, all under the inspiring banner of ….the teaching of the great Buddha.”<ref>{{Cite book|title=What is Buddhism|last=Narasu|first=P. L.|publisher=Samyak Prakashan, New Delhi|year=|isbn=81-88794-42-2|location=Delhi|pages=3, 4|language=English}}</ref><ref>https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0340476</ref><ref>https://nmuthumohan.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/ayothee-dasa-pandithar-dalit-consciousness-in-south-india/</ref><ref>https://drambedkarbooks.com/2015/05/20/20th-may-in-dalit-history-birth-anniversary-of-iyothee-thass-great-social-reformer-and-buddhist-scholar/</ref><ref>https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/madras-miscellany-the-essential-buddhist/article2079228.ece</ref>

==Views==
===Thoughts on caste===
[[Caste]] is a crippling disease. The physician’s duty is to guard against disease or destroy it. Caste organization crushes the individual under its dead weight and hinders progress by killing all consciousness of liberty.

=== Thoughts on women ===
Though perfectly consistent with the principles of the Dhamma, which sees no difference between man and man, except that which may exist by superiority of virtue, yet the step taken by the Buddha and his followers was indeed bold, considering the depraved moral condition of Ancient India and the consequent low self-estimation in which woman was then held. 
Thoughts on Science: The scientific method is at once experimental and rational, requiring such evidence as will make doubt impossible. Science aims at obtaining a complete systematic survey of all possible phenomena in terms of irreducible elementary processes. Knowledge that is not scientific is not to establish immutable truths and eternal dogmas, but to approach truth by approximations.

== Death ==
Prof. P. L. Narasu passed away at the age of seventy-three on 14 July 1934, due to heart problems. His body was cremated in a simple Buddhist ceremony in the Mylapore burning-yard.<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/madras-miscellany-the-essential-buddhist/article2079228.ece</ref>

== References==
{{reflist}}
== External links==
* [https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/madras-miscellany-the-essential-buddhist/article2079228.ece Madras miscellany: The ‘Essential Buddhist' (''The Hindu'')]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Narasu, P. L.}}
[[Category:Indian writers]]
[[Category:Buddhists]]
[[Category:Tamil people]]