Who is Dravidian ? Who is Tamilian?

So why does the political leadership in Tamilnadu insist on calling the citizens of Tamilnadu as Dravidians, rather than merely Tamilians ? There is a growing political Tamil nationalist movement that keeps raising this question.

On the face of it – the term “Dravidian” has meaning only when backed by the force of political propaganda. The word in practical use only denotes Brahmins from Tamil lands who were settled in northern territories. At best, it is a language family that is absolutely not traceable to race in the following sense. You cannot use it to certify that a a Balija Naidu or a Chettiar or a Tuluva Vellalar or any group is a Dravidian race or Dravidian stock today.

So it is odd, isnt it? A identity called Dravidian forced down the throat of Tamil people that is of no value except to obfuscate the Tamil identity.

No there is more. It is linked to the very foundation of the Dravidian movement. A criminal passion to spite and exclude the Tamil Brahmins.

Meet “The Professor”

Let us hear from the senior most intellectuals of the Dravidian movement themselves.

The person in the picture below is Mr K. Anbazhagan fondly known as Perasiriyar “The Professor”. Outsiders and Non-Tamils have little chance of knowing him but he is one of the giants of the Dravidian movement. He is named Perasiriyar “The Professor” to denote the intellectual nature of this work. He is also from the elite Vellala Mudaliar caste, I mention the caste here to denote that there are no valid social justice grievances from his group, hence any Brahmin hatred has to be of a pristine nature.

In a meeting to commemorate The Professor, the chief of the Dravidian Kazhagam – the parent of the DMK recounted his answer to the question

Who is a Dravidian ? Who is a Tamilian?

கேள்வி: எதற்காக தமிழ்நாட்டில் தமிழர்களாகிய நாம் ‘திராவிடர் கழகம்‘ என்று பெயர் வைக்க வேண்டும்? ‘தமிழர்’ என்னும் பெயருடன் இருக்கக் கூடாதா? என்று கேட்டார்கள்.

நான் அவர்களுக்குச் சொன்ன விளக்கம் இதுதான்.

1. பார்ப்பனரை விலக்காத பெயர் ‘தமிழன்’,

பார்ப்பனரை விலக்கிய பெயர் ‘திராவிடன்’ என்பதுதான்!

2. தமிழர் என்று கூறிக் கொள்ளுவதில் நான் பெருமைப்படுகிறேன். திராவிடர் என்பதால் நான் உரிமை பெறுகிறேன்.

3. உண்மையாகவே நாம், ‘தமிழர்’ என்று சொல்லும் பொழுது நமக்குக் கிடைக்காத உரிமையும், பெருமையும் ‘திராவிடர்’ என்று சொல்லுகிறபொழுது நமக்குக் கிடைக்கிறது என்பதை நாம் மறந்துவிடக் கூடாது.

4. நான் திராவிடன் என்று சொல்கிறபொழுது நான் ஆரியத்தோடு ஒட்டாது, இன்னொரு இனத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவன் என்று பிரித்துக் காட்டுகிற அந்த ஆற்றல் தமிழ் மொழிக்கு உண்டு. தமிழ் மொழி பேசுகிற வேறு இனத்தவராகவும் இருக்கலாம்.

Translation

Question : Why should we Tamilians living in Tamilnadu should call ourselves “Dravidians” ? Is it wrong to call ourselves Tamilians?

The Professor Answers :

1. The word Dravidian excludes the “Tamil Brahmins” (Paapaans) but the word Tamilians does not exclude the Paapaan.
2. The reasons (2) (3) (4) are vapid, meaningless, alliterative and contestable. (2) says we are proud to say Tamils but we get our rights as Dravidians. Wut? (3) is cruft and opposing to the previous one says In reality the pride and rights we get as Dravidians we do not get as Dravidians, (4) When I say I am Dravidian, I signal I am against Aryans and dont mix with them.

Hence the real “money shot” is the first reason.

Let me see if I got it right. The Dravidian elite (an alliance of three uppermost non-Tamil-Brahmin castes) have willingly forced a contrived identity upon 70 million people merely to exclude Tamil Brahmins.

No one can question Dravidian and live to tell the tale

In the same speech the leader the parent of DMK, Mr K. Veeramani says this proudly

He says “To this date, there is no one who has questioned Dravidian cadre – and has escaped”. This is the very definition of fascist totalitarianism. To accomplish this once again I get back to the primary power of Dravidians. A certain criminal “mens” that is able to constantly intimidate with rude vulgarity and shows slyly that Police power that derives from Rule of Law and Constitution is merely a function of Dravidian-ism.

Odds with what Periyar himself says

Periyar himself has given a definition of Dravidian in Viduthalai. The highlighted text says “Dravidian is nothing but a euphemism for Shudra”. This is super odd ? Why would the Scheduled Castes accept the forced Shudra identity merely to exclude the Brahmin? In any case, the Shudra itself is a fake group that has zero relevance in Tamil lands. That is for another day.