The new and vast field of Artificial Intelligence is evolving to encompass reasoning, knowledge generation, planning, learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. Researchers are refining the technologies by integrating problem-solving methods such as artificial neural networks with approaches based on statistics, probability, and economics. It is a huge technological revolution.

The structures and mythical narratives advanced by our Puranas and Itihasas flourished only by selectively making the knowledge available to some and denying the same to others, and sometimes through the instruments of boons, curses, and remedies.

Today, we are standing on the brink of a new technological revolution. Whether we like it or not, these advancements are unstoppable. Every scientific and technological breakthrough inevitably carries its own unintended side effects. On this, there can hardly be any difference of opinion. Social media has become yet another manifestation of this phenomenon. These platforms and applications, which the younger generation navigates with remarkable ease, have become an inseparable and inescapable part of our everyday life.

The intellectual world, however, is acutely aware that this is a double-edged sword. In contemporary global politics, this virtual and illusory realm, with its unrestricted flow of information, misinformation, and carefully orchestrated propaganda, can easily draw us into its orbit. Yet, for all that appears new, this is, in truth, a path we have travelled before. Did not our Puranas, epics, and mythical narratives spread to every corner of India and become deeply embedded in our collective consciousness? What technology existed then to accomplish this?

It is, therefore, the understanding that 'the past is what passes us by, time and again' that must guide us. And it surely will.

The only way out is to promote rational thinking and build greater awareness. At this juncture, a Kural written by Thiruvalluvar more than two thousand years ago comes to mind:

எப்பொருள் யார்யார் வாய்க் கேட்பினும் அப்பொருள்
மெய்ப்பொருள் காண்பது அறிவு. (குறள் - 423)

It means that true wisdom lies in examining an idea and understanding its real meaning, regardless of who says it or from whom it is heard.

In the Indian context, Tamil society has long been regarded as a knowledge- based one. Social justice has been the foundation of our collective consciousness. However, at one stage in history, this consciousness and commitment to social justice and the virtue of sharing suffered a major setback.

It was against this backdrop that the Dravidian movement, led by Thanthai Periyar, together with his rationalist thought and initiatives for social justice, made a profound impact on our social life. Now, Periyar's ideas have once again become an important subject of discussion, and we have a responsibility on our shoulders to take his thoughts on social justice and present them from an analytical perspective in different languages.

With this objective, the Centre of Excellence for Periyar Thought at Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed to be University), Vallam, Thanjavur district, has been publishing the research journal Dravida Pozhil since 2021 under the able guidance of Asiriyar Thiru K. Veeramani.

Recently, Asiriyar K. Veeramani invited me to take up the responsibility of serving as the Honorary Editor of this journal. I accepted the suggestion with great happiness and consider it an honour. In the days ahead, Dravida Pozhil will continue to publish articles in both Tamil and English by eminent scholars, researchers, and writers. While maintaining a strong academic approach, the journal will remain firmly rooted in its ideological ground and in the principles of social justice.

This issue carries this editorial along with new articles by various researchers.

Dr. M. Sangaiya's article examines the educational reforms introduced by Sir Thomas Munro during his tenure as the Governor of the Madras Presidency. At a time when education remained the exclusive privilege of a small section of society, Munro worked with the objective of making it accessible to all. The principles he advocated for public education, mother-tongue instruction, and reforms in educational administration later laid the foundation for the expansion of education in South India.

Sundar Ganesan examines, in his article, the role of Sir John Marshall in transforming Indian archaeology into a more systematic and scientific discipline through his inquisitive vision and quest for truth. His article further explores how Marshall's discovery and announcement of the Indus Valley Civilisation pushed Indian history back to the pre-Vedic period and shattered the belief that the indigenous peoples of the Indian subcontinent were incapable of creating an advanced civilisation of their own. This reason alone is enough to celebrate John Marshall.

Through his article, Sathish pays tribute to Professor V.I. Subramaniam, one of the foremost scholars of Dravidian linguistics. V.I. Subramaniam was not merely an academic but also a visionary and an institution-builder. His contributions to comparative linguistics, lexicography, cultural history, and Dravidian studies have shaped the intellectual journeys of generations of researchers.

Tamil Kamarajan, in his article, attempts to answer an intriguing and important question: Was Periyar a philosopher? The increasing attention of scholars towards Periyar has led to different and newer interpretations of his ideas. It is against this backdrop that the article seeks to examine the philosophical foundations of Periyar's critiques of religion, caste, power, and knowledge, rather than approaching him merely as a social reformer or political activist.

I, too, have contributed an article to this issue. Titled 'The Antiquity and Continuity of Social Justice in Tamil Society,'' it examines how the idea of social justice was understood in ancient Tamil society and how its continuity is reflected in the welfare policies of modern Tamil Nadu.

It is the earnest wish of the editorial board that Dravida Pozhil should publish articles in both Tamil and English by distinguished researchers and writers. We believe that this will enable the journal to consistently uphold its standards of research and its intellectual depth. The Dravida Pozhil editorial board warmly looks forward to the cooperation and support of scholars, researchers, and writers in this endeavour.

Finally, I appeal to our readers to support Dravida Pozhil by subscribing to the journal. The price of a single issue in India is ₹200, while the annual subscription is ₹800. Readers outside India may purchase a single issue for US$15 or subscribe annually for US$50. Your modest contribution will certainly strengthen our collective endeavour to nurture research and promote meaningful public discourse.