Arunachalam K. Chattopadhyay

A 19th-century Indian social reformer who pioneered women's education and challenged caste discrimination

Arunachalam K. Chattopadhyay (1840–1916) was a visionary social reformer from Tamil Nadu, India, whose work laid foundational stones for modern education systems and gender equality. Born into a Brahmin family, he rejected caste privileges to champion women's education at a time when female literacy rates were below 1%. Chattopadhyay established India's first girls' school in 1868 in Madras, which later became the Adayal School, and authored Women's Education (1870), a seminal text advocating girls' right to learn. He also co-founded the Tamil Isai Sangam music academy, blending cultural preservation with progressive ideals. Chattopadhyay's Dayanand Sarabhai School became a model for inclusive education, admitting students from all castes. His 1885 campaign against child marriage influenced later legal reforms, showing how grassroots activism could shift societal norms. Despite facing ostracization, Chattopadhyay's legacy endures through educational institutions and his advocacy for inter-caste marriages, proving that individual courage could catalyze systemic change.