Revision 7186195 of "P. Lakshmi 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    = 
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}}{{Complex}}
'''Pokala Lakshmi Narasu''' (1861 – 14 July 1934), sometimes known as '''P. L. Narasu''' or '''P. Lakshmi Narasu''', was an [[India|Indian]] [[Academia|scholar]], [[author]], [[Social reform|social reformer]] and [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] [[philosopher]]. He was a [[professor]] of [[Physics]].  His research papers have been [[Publishing|published]] in science [[Journal|journals]]. He worked mainly on [[dynamics]]. 

== Personal life ==
Narasu was born in 1861 to a rich family. His father was Pokla Chellum Narayanguru belongs to Kapu Community. He was a prominent lawyer at the [[Madras High Court]]. Narasu had one sister named Andal Ammal. He also had three brothers named Krishnaswamy, Ramanujan and Bhashyam. In 1911, Ramanujan and Bhashyam died in a [[train]] accident. Narasu's first wife was Rukmini Ammal. She was also active in public life through a Women’s Welfare Association. 

They had ten children, but only two survived. These two children were their son Venkat and daughter VeerLakshmi. Venkat died in [[Paris]] while he was studying. Narasu's wife died soon after. In 1925 Narasu married Ramarathnam Ammal, a [[widow]], as per [[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>{{Cite web|url=http://keetru.com/dalithmurasu/feb07/aloysious.php|title=Dalithmurasu {{!}} Ambedkar {{!}} Lakshmi Narasu {{!}} Budha|website=keetru.com|access-date=2020-08-06}}</ref>

== Education and professional life ==
Narasu studied [[science]]. He [[Graduation|graduated]] from [[:en:Madras University|Madras University]]. He was the joint winner of the Jagirdar of Arni’s Gold Medal of 1892-94. He joined the [[Madras Christian College]] as [[Professor|Assistant Professor]] in 1894. 

In 1909 Narasu left Christian College. He became a full-time professor at [[Pachaiyappa’s college]]. He was at the college for 16 years. Narasu [[Retirement|retired]] from teaching at the college in 1925. Narasu's main interests were [[exact sciences]], but he was also interested in [[society]], [[literature]], [[art]], [[philosophy]], [[history]], [[culture]] and [[religion]].

== Religious works ==
Pt. [[Iyothee Thassar]], M. Singaravelu(Father of Indian communist party) and P. L. Narasu started the South Indian Buddhist Association (Shakya Buddhist Society). This was to make Buddhism more popular. They worked with the [[Mahabodhi Society]] which [[Anagarik Dharmapal]] started in 1890. Narasu wrote several articles and books on [[Buddhism]]. The Shakya Buddhist Society used his book ''The Essence of Buddhism'' (1907) to [[Promotion|promote]] their ideas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/180723792|title=Trove|website=trove.nla.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2020-08-06}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=September 2020}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=42,4897,0,0,1,0|title=Buddhist Channel {{!}} India|website=www.buddhistchannel.tv|access-date=2020-08-06}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=September 2020}} The book had in huge demand in [[Japan]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Religion of Modern Buddhist|last=Narasu|first=P. L.|publisher= Samyak publication|year=2002|isbn=|location=|pages=XVIII|language=English}}</ref>{{sps|date=September 2020}} [[Czechoslovakia|Czechoslovakian]] [[Foreign minister|foreign Minister]] [[Jim Mosarik]] [[Translation|translated]] his other book ''What is Buddhism?'' (1916) into [[Czech language|Czech]]. It 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>{{sps|date=September 2020}} He also wrote ''Religion of Modern Buddhist'' in the early 1930s. He also wrote a book on [[caste]] called ''A Study of Caste'' (1922). 

In 1910, with the help of South Buddhist Association, he did a [[census]] of Buddhist people of [[Madras]]. He found there were 18,000.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Essence of Buddhism|last=Narasu|first=P. L.|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location= |pages=03|language=English}}</ref> Narasu gave lectures at various places to promote Buddhism. He also organised four Buddhist [[Conference|conferences]]. The first was held in 1917 at Moore Pavilion People’s Park in Madras. The second was in 1920 in [[Bangalore]]. The third was in Madras in 1928. The fourth one was 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>  

P. L. Narasu had a large [[influence]] on the work of [[Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar]], who revived [[Buddhism in India]]. He also republished (published again) his most famous book ''The Essence of Buddhism'' in 1948. He also wrote a [[preface]] to it. In the preface of the book he [[wikt:recommend|recommended]] the book for those who are interested in the study of Buddhism.

==Views==
{{NPOV|date=August 2020}}

===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>{{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=2020-08-06|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Writing ==
Narasu wrote many books especially in English. His books have been translated into many languages.<ref>http://roundtableindia.co.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8847:decoding-the-spirit-of-castes-a-book-review-of-pokala-lakshmi-narasu-s-a-study-of-caste&catid=119:feature&Itemid=132</ref><ref>http://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n89650321/</ref>

* ''Essence of Buddhism'' (1907)<ref>https://www.amazon.in/Books-P-Lakshmi-Narasu/s?rh=n%3A976389031%2Cp_27%3AP.+Lakshmi+Narasu</ref><ref>https://ia800205.us.archive.org/9/items/essenceofbuddhis015612mbp/essenceofbuddhis015612mbp.pdf</ref>
**The second edition of this book was published in 1911 by [[Anagarik Dharmapala]]; The third edition was published in 1948 by [[Babasaheb Ambedkar]]. This book has been translated into Hindi by [[Bhadant Anand Kausalyayan]] and G. Appa Duriyar translated the book into Tamil.
* ''What is Buddhism'' (1916)
* ''A Study of Caste'' (1922)<ref>https://www.amazon.in/Books-P-Lakshmi-Narasu/s?rh=n%3A976389031%2Cp_27%3AP.+Lakshmi+Narasu</ref><ref>http://archive.org/details/studyofcaste00plak</ref>
* ''Religion of the Modern Buddhist'' (2002; Samyak Publication, New Delhi)
* ''Buddhism In a Nutshell''

== References==
{{reflist}}

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


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[[Category:Indian writers]]
[[Category:Buddhists]]
[[Category:Tamil people]]