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:For other uses of Dravida, see Dravidian (disambiguation) Dravida is a term that represented various identities throughout the history of India. The ambiguity of the term has continued even today as sometimes it denotes people of South India, sometimes speakers of Dravidian languages.
Etymology This Sanskrit word is believed to be an equivalent of Prakrit form of the word in Tamil. Association with South Although around 350 CE. the first native Kannada empires, the Kadambas of Banavasi and Gangas of Talakad rose to power in northern and southern Karnataka respectively, the term Dravida came to denote not just Tamil or Tamil region but the entire South India because of the early political prominence and independence of the Tamil region. Pancha Dravida Brahmins Brahmins in old days were classified as Northern and Southern Brahmins. Northern Brahmins were called Pancha Gauda Brahmana and Southern Brahmins were known as Pancha Dravida Brahmana. The Dravida(Southern) regions included, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Dravida(Tamil Nadu and Kerala) and Andhra Pradesh. Manu Smriti and Dravida Manu Smriti declares all Dravidas are Shudras degraded from their Kshatriya position for not following Vedic rituals. Dravidas share this position along with Sakas, Yavanas, Pahlavas. The Dravidian speaking tribes in South India specialized in the fields autochthonous to South Indian landscape. Trivia The association of South Indian identity with Tamils continued even to modern times. During initial decades of 20th century and may be initial decades of Indian independence there was a conspicuous presence Tamil Brahmins in North Indian society who generally migrated from Madras province. This resulted in labelling of South Indians as Madrasis. However, this is viewed by all South Indians as derogatory. Also, Kannadigas and Telugus find the identity completely alien. | ||||||||
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