In the four Dravidian states of South India, the Dravidian Movement rose up against Brahmin dominance. From the 1930s to the 1950s, philosophers and other organizations formed little movements claiming that South Indians were a distinct ethnic group with a distinct culture from North Indians.
Brahmins were originally from the north, according to the Dravidian movement, and they had imposed Sanskrit, religion, and their heritage on the people of South India.
Foundation of the movement
The Dravidian movement in British India began with the creation of the Justice Party by T. M. Nair and P. Theagaraya Chetty on November 20, 1916, in Victoria Memorial Hall in Madras, as a result of a series of non-Brahmin conferences and gatherings in the presidency.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, communal split between Brahmins and non-Brahmins developed in the presidency, owing to caste prejudices and disproportionate Brahminical presence in government offices.
In Madras Presidency, Zamindars and Maharajas formed the South India Welfare Association in 1916 to challenge the growing power of Brahmins in society and politics.
Dr. TM Nair, Theagaroya Chetty, Dr. C Natesa Mudaliar, Panagal's Raja, and Sir A Ramaswamy Mudaliar were among the organization's notable non-Brahman leaders. It began publishing the English journal 'Justice,' and as its popularity grew, the organization became known as the Justice Party.
Role of E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker
Periyar, E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, was dissatisfied with Brahmanical supremacy in society and in the Congress Party, which he believed was dominated by Brahmins.
In 1925, he founded the Self-Respect Movement to promote the rights of non-Brahmins. The goal was to create a society where disadvantaged classes had equal human rights.
The Justice party's popularity faded, and no party member was elected to the state assembly in 1936.
Following the defeat, the Justice party approached Periyar, and the Justice party was taken over by Periyar, who decided to leave politics and transform the Justice party into the Dravidar Kazhagam, a social organization (Dravidian Organization).
Formation of DMK
In the 1950s, the DMK arose as a political party and a movement based on strong caste, regional, and even separatist beliefs.
It was the offspring of two pre-independence Tamil Nadu movements: the non-Brahmin movement, which had resulted in the formation of the pro-British Justice Party in 1920, and the strongly reformist anti-caste, anti-religion Self-Respect Movement led by E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, better known as Periyar (Great Sage).
Naicker and C.N. Annadurai launched the Dravida Kazhagam (Federation) or DK in 1944, but Annadurai founded the Dravida Munnetra (Progressive) Kazhagam in 1949. (DMK). However, unlike the Justice Party and Naicker, Annadurai had taken a firmly anti-imperialist, pro-nationalist stance before 1947.
Demands and ideology of DMK
The DMK was anti-Brahmin, anti-North, and anti-Aryan, portraying southern Brahmins and North Indians as Aryans and all other South Indians as Dravidians. It was a rallying cry against the North's cultural, economic, and political dominance South.
In 1938, Naicker and others organized a protest against the Congress ministry's proposal to introduce Hindi in Madras schools, claiming that it was an example of Brahminical North Indian cultural dominance. The DMK also pledged to combat what it called "Hindi imperialism's" expansion in the South.
Its principal aim, however, was for a distinct autonomous South Indian state—Dravidnadu or Dravidasthan—consisting of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala—as a homeland for the Dravida.
Political developments
Several developments in the 1950s and 1960s, on the other hand, progressively led to a shift in the DMK's core political focus. It also switched its focus from race to Tamil consciousness, pride in Tamil language and culture, and pride in being a Tamil, throughout time.
It maintained, however, its antagonism to Hindi and emphasis on extreme social reforms, particularly in terms of abolishing all caste divisions and instilling a rational and critical approach to the classical 'Hindu' scriptures.
The DMK's secessionist stance gradually shifted as it began to participate in elections and parliamentary politics, as well as because other southern states declined to endorse separation.
The 16th Constitutional Amendment was passed in 1962, as a result of Nehru's intention to deal strongly with any secessionist movement. It declared the promotion of secession to be a crime.
It changed from secessionism to demands for greater state autonomy, more powers for the states while limiting the central government's powers, an end to the Hindi-speaking North's dominance and unfair treatment of the South, and more central economic resources for the development of Tamil Nadu.
The DMK grew into a state-wide party with support in both urban and rural areas, with a platform of radical economic reforms, social change, and the advancement of modern Tamil language and culture. It also modified its anti-Brahmin position by declaring itself a party for all Tamils that would include Tamil Brahmins.
Split in DMK
MGR formed the All-India Anna DMK after the DMK split in 1972. (AIADMK). In Tamil Nadu, a two-party system has formed, however, it is managed by the two Dravidian parties, who have alternated in power in the state since then.
The DMK was transformed from a secessionist movement into an integral part of India's democratic and secular political system, and a 'politically mature and pragmatic' regional, or rather one-state, party, as a result of participation in electoral politics, assumption of office, and greater integration of Tamil Nadu with the national economy.
The DMK, like the other prominent parties, was split into two main parties and then several smaller parties. The DMK and AIADMK (and their offshoots) have allied with Congress, the CPI, CPM, Janata Dal, and other all-India parties at various times. In addition, the two gradually softened their anti-North and anti-Hindi positions.
They have abandoned the concept of Dravidnadu, as well as the goal of bringing the four southern states into the Indian Union. They have put their goal of eradicating the caste system on hold, as a result of which the Scheduled Castes and other oppressed castes have shied away from them.
The self-respect movement gained popularity across the country because of its ideas, such as encouraging inter-caste relationships to replace caste-based arranged marriages. The movement also promoted 'self-respect marriages,' which were performed without the use of a Brahmin priest.
The Dravidian Movement had a profound impact on the people of South India's political, social, and religious lives. It spread the message of Tamil nationalism to the general public.
Written By - Himanshi Nebhnani
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