Adi Dravida

Adi Dravidar
Regions with significant populations
Tamil Nadu
Languages
Tamil
Religion
Hinduism, Christianity, Islam
Related ethnic groups
Paraiyar, Paraiyar, Arunthathiyar

Adi Dravida (or Adi Dravidar) is term used by the state of Tamil Nadu in India to denote Dalits.

Origin

The term "Adi" means the name "Ad-i" given by the Aryans to “the first speaking race of mankind” in the fourth round (SD 2:452). The root ad is prominent in many ancient words: Sanskrit adi (first, primeval); Hebrew ’Adon (lord), ’Adonim (angles or planetary lords) — “the first spiritual and ethereal sons of the earth”. The Sons of Adi (sons of the first) are often called Sons of the Fire-Mist & The term means "original natives of Dravida land (southern India)".The Adi-Dravidan people are originally belong to Buddhist people.They followed buddism. Once these adi-dravidan people where also in a good designation before the domination of invaders.In those days Raja (King) will ask for suggestions & advises of adi-dravids for taking any important decisions. These people has been worked as advisor of kings before the arrival of invaders.Adi-dravidans are given honour by beating the drums (i.e.Parai in Tamil) while they are entering the Raja's sabha(hall meant for assembly of Rajas(King) & Ministers) in those days and hence they are called "Paraiyar" since they are honoured with that particular musical instrument (Drum-"Parai").Adi-Dravida peoples are the "original founders of the Tamil language". The original privilege of the adi-dravidans are buried by the invasion of other language and people.Hence, these people has lost their original identity, wealth, job designation, social status after the invasion & they are still struggling for more than centuries to rise up & get back to their original status in this society. Iyothee Thass, a leader of the outcast Paraiyar community, believed that the term "Paraiyar" was a slur. He attempted a reconstruction of the Tamil history, arguing that the Paraiyars were the original inhabitants of the land, who had been subjugated by upper-caste invaders. Another Paraiyar leader, Rettamalai Srinivasan, however, advocated using the term "Paraiyar" with pride, and formed the Parayar Mahajana Sabha ("Paraiyar Mahajana Assembly") in 1892.[1] Thass, on the other hand, advocated the term "Adi-Dravida" ("Original Dravidians") to describe the community. In 1892, he used the term Adidravida Jana Sabhai to describe an organisation, which was probably Srinivasan's Parayar Mahajana Sabha. In 1895, he established the “People’s Assembly of Urdravidians” (Adidravida Jana Sabha), which probably split off from Srinivasan's organisation. According to Michael Bergunder, Thass was thus the first person to introduce the concept of "Adi Dravida" into political discussion.[2]

Another Paraiyar leader, M C Rajah — a Madras councillor — made successful efforts for adoption of the term "Adi-Dravidar" in the government records.[1] In 1914, the Madras Legislative Council passed a resolution that officially censured the usage of the term "Paraiyar" to refer to a specific community, and recommended "Adi Dravidar" as an alternative.[3] In the 1920s and 1930s. E V Ramasami ensured the wider dissemination of the term "Adi Dravida".[2]

In 1918, the Adi Dravida Mahajan Sabha also requested the Indian government use the term to replace the current but pejorative term "Pariah" (Paraiyar) used for the community.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Srikumar 2014, p. 357.
  2. 1 2 Bergunder 2004, p. 69.
  3. ↑ Bergunder 2001, p. 260.
  4. ↑ Christophe Jaffrelot (2003). India's Silent Revolution: The Rise of the Lower Castes in North India. Columbia University Press. pp. 169–. ISBN 978-0-231-12786-8.

Bibliography

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