Alasinga Perumal

Alasinga Perumal Biography

Alasinga Perumal was a south Indian disciple of Swami Vivekananda. He was also known as a propagator of Vedanta. During Swami’s visits to Tamil Nadu, Alasinga Perumal‘s name has been frequently mentioned. He made great efforts to promote Swamiji’s work than anyone else in southern India, and he was one among those who strongly urged Swamiji to go to America and attend the Parliament representing India and Hinduism.  He started a religious journal Brahmavadin in 1896 that continued publishing till 1914, even after his death in 1909. He died at a young age of 44. History can’t neglect the fact that Alasinga played a significant role in sending Vivekananda to Chicago and the rest is history!

He was born in an orthodox Vaishnavite family at Chikkamagalur of Mysore in the year 1865. After graduation in science he took up the job of a school teacher. In the early 1890s he got information about the religious parliament to be held at Chicago in 1893. Alasinga Perumal and his friends were thrilled about this event. When Vivekananda reached Chennai in 1892, Alasinga along with his friends met him and he immediately felt that Swami was the right person to represent India at religious conference. He even collected money for Vivekananda’s travelling expenses and strongly urged that Swami should represent it. When Vivekananda faced financial troubles at America, he even sold his wife’s ornaments to send him money.

After the historic speech at Chicago, Vivekananda received very warm receptions from America and England. But it got less coverage in Indian newspapers. Alasinga Perumal organized a meeting at Pachaiyappa's Hall, Madras on 28 April 1894 which thanked Swamiji for his great efforts. The meeting was attended by many reputed people of the city. He also spearhead one meeting at KolkataAlasinga founded a religious organization named "Young Men's Hindu Association" in 1894. Swamiji wrote many letters to his favourite disciple.

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Updated: March 20, 2016