Our goal is to disseminate the Dravidian Wisdom by extending our outreach to global institutions of higher learning and multitude of libraries across Tamil Nadu, India and the world at large. We also encourage young research scholars and professors in this initiative.

In this issue we have 5 papers:

• EPorpanaikkottai Excavation (2021-2022): A Prelusive Inquisition on Sangam Age Lifestyle
• Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi’s contribution in the development of Tamil language
• VOC and Tuticorin Coral Mill Workers Agitation
• The Involvement of Arts in teaching and learning (from an Oyilattam point of view)
• Self-Respect Marriages in the Society and Law

Please read these papers and discuss them with your fellow scholars and educationists. 'Everything is for Everyone' - that is the core of the Dravidian Model. That applies to academics as well, wherein we aspire to share the fruits of Education and Research with every one of you. 'To acquire knowledge which harnesses the truth' - we will travel together in this academic journey. Thanks

In Tamil literature there is a classical word called ‘Pathigam’ which denotes an agglomeration of 10 songs. They accomplish one pathigam and move to the next pathigam. Similarly, we too are crossing our first decad and moving into the next decad. Let’s continue to enjoin upon ourselves to sow the seeds of social justice and harvest humanism in our academic endeavors.

The Board of Editors of Dravida Pozhil had a review session over the journey of the journal for the past 2.5 years. Our esteemed Chancellor, Aasiriyar K. Veeramani chaired this session. We reviewed our accomplishments & shortfalls with adequate data and indices. To continuously improve upon our accomplishments, our Hon. Chancellor has defined the next set of goals that we need to meet. We are pleased to share with you as well, the journal analytics of the past 2+ years in this issue.

This year proudly sees a Dual Centenary - Centenary of the Vaikom Struggle & Kalaignar Centenary.

To usher in the spirit of Equality in worship, there arose many struggles in the Indian subcontinent, and Vaikom Struggle is the Mother Struggle of all those struggles. Starting as a struggle for street entry, and growing as a struggle for temple entry, Vaikom led to universal accessibility of Temples to all Human beings. Similarly, caste hegemony which was prevailing in the sanctum of temples, was stuck like a thorn in the reformist heart of Periyar. It was Kalaignar who smashed this hegemony via government order and ushered in universal accessibility of Sanctums to all Human beings. It’s a great coincidence that both these Centenaries of Equality, are occurring at the same time and it’s an epoch in the History of Social Justice.

This issue of Dravida Pozhil features 5 Papers.

• Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and Development
• Social Justice & VOC (VO Chidambaram) in the Tamil Context
• A Historical Perspective of the Chekkaar (Oil Press) community
• Avvai – A Rare Tamil Scholar
• The Copper Plates of the later Cholas and Grants to Brahmins.

In this continuous journey of Education & Dravidian Intelligentsia, we will continue our fine Academic Research. Please do enjoy these papers and share them with your peers. The very purpose of the wealth of education is sharing. Let’s share the Dravidian Wealth of Education & Research.

This year gloriously sees the Centenary of the Vaikom Struggle.

To eradicate the mentality of supremacy and to usher in the spirit of Equality, there arose many struggles in the Indian subcontinent, and Vaikom Struggle is the Mother Struggle of all those struggles. Starting as a struggle for street entry, and growing as a struggle for temple entry, we have attained a state of universal access that Temples are accessible to all Human beings. Vaikom is the root of all these access.

A century has flied fast. But still, we haven’t gotten full equality in our social spheres. Though we have gained the right of temple entry, we are still slowly progressing on the right of All-caste Archakas in Temples. Let us usher in a condition in those temples that no one would be able to say that: “I am holier than thou”. Not only in temples, but in every social organization, let us strive for bringing everyone under the umbrella of Equality. ‘All are Born Equal’ – Let’s fully achieve this great Tamil Virtue, at least by this century.

This issue of Dravida Pozhil contains 5 Papers.

• Ever Vibrant Revolutionary (EVR) Periyar & Ever Remembered Revolutionary Bhagat Singh
• The Myth of Rama Setu & Truth of the Sethu Canal
• Learning & Education from the Sangam Age to Chola Age
• Vaikom Struggle: Historical turning point for Social Justice
• Higher Education & the Dravidian Movement

The goal of this Dravida Pozhil journal is to establish the research capabilities of the Dravidian Intelligentsia globally. In this continuous journey of education, we wish to integrate the Dravidian thought amongst global faculties and continue fine Academic Research in the domains of Dravidian Culture & Dravidian Studies. Please do read these papers and share them with your peers. Let the readership grow!

Thus, this issue carries a plethora of warm wishes amidst the celebrations of a happy Pongal.

• Pour and Partake and Celebrate the Pongal (PathitRu Paththu, Sanga Tamil)
• A New Vessel brims with Sweet Milk Pongal (Cheevaka Chintamani)

Like the Sweetness of Literary Pongal, the Dravidian Research Pongal is also enchanting to our Intellect. Our Dravida Pozhil completes two years of age and stepping onto its third year. Measuring our previous paths and planning our oncoming paths, let’s devise an action plan for ourselves. Thus far, we have published 49 research papers and following are the domains that we have dwelt on.

Working and surpassing our own prior victories is the basis of Continuous Improvement. Our plans for this year are:

• Providing a platform for Research Students (esp. Women & Students from underprivileged communities)
• Joining Global Journal Directories of acclaimed Research Papers
• Shining the Lamp of Science on Dravidian based Research Topics

This issue of Dravida Pozhil contains 5 Papers.

• The Role of Self-Respect Movement in the War for Social Justice and Caste Annihilation in India.
• History of Social Justice in Sri Lankan Tamil Society.
• The (Dark) Secrets of the Vedas.
• Approaches of Self-Respect Movement on ‘Chastity’, ‘Husband-Wife Relationship’ and ‘Motherhood’
• Tamil & Dravidian are synonyms.

Please immerse yourself in these papers and share them with your peers. We immensely thank our dear Readers who have been travelling with us in this great Dravidian Academic Journey.

Introducing the Dravidian Model, not only to Tamil People, but also to the World Populace of West & East, and Benchmarking the Acts of Humanism that have grown in global lands with our own philosophies and practices, was the core aim of this conference.

The Central Theme of this Conference was Humanism & Social Justice, under which there were 10 sub themes as follows.

• Humanism and Women’s Rights
• Humanism in Children
• Day to Day Rational Thinking
• Dispelling the myth of Astrology
• Humanist Answers to the underprivileged
• Social Justice & Tamil History
• Dravidian Model of Social Justice
• Humanism in Education (free from Indoctrination)
• Humanism in Health & Wealth
• Humanist Answers to the Tamils & Immigrants

Hon. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. M.K. Stalin, Self-Respectful Aasiriyar Dr. K. Veeramani & Hon. Member of the Canadian Parliament, Thiru Gary Anandasangaree gave their thought provoking lectures along sides the Global Scholars. In recognition of the lifelong contributions to Humanism & Human Rights, Humanist Canada presented the Humanist Achievement award to Aasiriyar Dr. K. Veeramani.

At this Conference, Social Justice was celebrated, not only in speech but in action too. There was a Meal Packing event for the benefit of the impoverished children of the indigenous communities of Canada, and all the participants of the conference lent their hands in this exercise. There was a Book Fair as well. From Tamil Nadu, a Team from Dravidar Kazhagam arrived in Canada and participated in the Conference. A Social Drama filled with humor, by the tile – ‘Caste Filled World’ was also staged by the Nakkalites Team. All the delegates expressed happiness that this Conference has set a new milestone in the Global Path of Dravidam.

This issue of Dravida Pozhil contains 5 Research Papers.

• Humanism: Canadian Multiculturalism’s Secret Weapon.
• History of Social Justice in Tamil Society
• The Growth of Atheism & its Knowledge Corpus in the annals of history.
• The poems of Bharathidasan as portrayed and quoted in the works of Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi
• Hindu Code Bill & Dr. Ambedkar

Please immerse yourself in these papers and share them with your peers. Let the Dravidian Academic Journey, cross the oceans and attain glory all over the globe.

Introducing the Dravidian Model, not only to Tamil People, but also to the World Populace of West & East, and Benchmarking the Acts of Humanism that have grown in global lands with our own philosophies and practices, is the core aim of this conference. The humanist adages - “All Lives are born Equal” & “Every town is my town; Every human is my kin” got rooted in this Dravidian land even 2000+ years back.

The Central Theme of this Conference is Humanism & Social Justice, under which there are 10 sub themes as follows.

• Humanism and Women’s Rights
• Humanism in Children
• Day to Day Rational Thinking
• Dispelling the myth of Astrology
• Humanist Answers to the underprivileged
• Social Justice & Tamil History
• Dravidian Model of Social Justice
• Humanism in Education (free from Indoctrination)
• Humanism in Health & Wealth
• Humanist Answers to the Tamils & Immigrants

At this Conference, Social Justice will be celebrated, not only in speech but in action too. There is a Meal Packing event for the benefit of the impoverished children living in countries with a low human development index, and all the participants of the conference are going to lend their hands in this exercise. There is going to be a Book Fair and special book releases. From Tamil Nadu, a Team from Dravidar Kazhagam under the leadership of Aasiriyar Dr. K. Veeramani is travelling to the Conference. We wish the International Humanism Conference on Social Justice, a grand success.

This issue of Dravida Pozhil contains 5 Research Papers.

• Tamil Literature from Sangam to Modern Period - What does a search of the Tamil Electronic data reveal?
• Educational Development in the Dravidian Model and Current Issues in Education.
• Thirukkural in German (Karl Graul Translation)
• Contemporary Fake News: An Analysis of Issues identified in Sri Lanka
• Dravidian Movement & Trade Union Movement (Posts & Telecommunications) in Tamil Nadu

Please immerse yourself in these papers from varied domains and share them with your academic communities. Let the Dravidian Academic Journey, cross the oceans and attain glory all over the globe.

The adage ‘All Men & Women are born Equal’ is akin to the statement ‘The Sun rises in the East’. It is plain common sense. Are we struggling to establish this simple truth? Yes, not only amongst Tamil people, but world over, only to establish this simple truth, many movements have struggled in the past and are still continuing their struggle.

The battle between Superiority x Equality has been waged right from the days of Valluvar. That’s why he had to sing a simple statement like ‘piṟappu okkum ellā uyirkkum (All are born equal)’ as a core philosophy.

• Gender Equality
• Divisional Equality
• Class Equality
• Equality of Castes
• Equality of Religions
• Equality in Food
• Equality in Education

And there are many more facets of Equality in our daily lives. The word ‘Caste’ itself signifies superiority, and when all Castes become Equal, there is no such thing as Caste – right? Wherever the preaching of Superiority x Inferiority is advocated, we should leave no stone unturned and establish Equality as a true facet of Humanism. This is our bounden duty and giving back to the Society. This is a continuous process and has no retirement whatsoever.

This issue of Dravida Pozhil contains 5 Research Papers

• Cultural Diffusion and Tamil Merchants in History
• Critical Thinking in Masses & Social Justice
• Humanism & Thiruvalluvar
• Buddhism: Evolution & Decline – A historical view
• The History of Deceit of the Dravidian/Tamil Peoples

We request you to immerse yourself in this research, read the above papers and share with your academic communities. In this Dravidian Academic Journey, Readers like you have been traveling along with us, and our sincere love and thanks to you as ever. Come ye, let’s explore.

Like the Sweetness of the Home Pongal, Like the Joy of the Literary Pongal, the Dravidian Research Pongal is also enchanting to our Intellect. Our Dravida Pozhil - Research Journal too starts a new & promising year with this Issue.

What cannot be measured, cannot be managed! Measuring our previous paths and Planning our oncoming paths is the professional approach that we undertake. Last year Dravida Pozhil dwelt on the following research domains.

• Dravidian Canvas in Sanga Tamil, Akam/PuRam Social approaches
• Thirukkural and Dravidam, Denial of Manu Smriti
• Tamil Nadu & Periyar, Sri Lanka & Social Justice
• Vaikom - The Root of all Social Justice Struggle
• Malayalam & Tamil, Sanskrit Hegemony and European Views
• Feminism & Dravidam in Journalism
• Dravidian Movement, Black Lives Matter Movement & African Comparatives
• Historicity of Dravidian Civilization & Keezhadi based Archaeological Specialties
• Caste Eradication via Science
• Dravidian Cinema Disposition & Social Histories
• Philosophies of Nastika Religions vis-à-vis Dravidam & Saiva Sabha
• Dravidian contribution to Religious Equality & Tamil based Archana and Worship

Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu announced the Government Plans of Tamil Archana (Worship) and All Caste Archakas last year, as Dravida Pozhil was also dwelling on those Research Topics. Periyar's Birthday was officialized as Social Justice Day by the Government and It was really a successful year last year. What about this year? What are our Plans?

• Platform for Research Scholar Students (esp. Women & Students rising from underprivileged communities)
• Introduction of Global Academia & World Research Literature in Tamil
• Conversations with Scholars of Global Repute & Dravidian based Research Topics
• Joining Global Journal Directories & bilingual Translations of acclaimed Research Papers
• Shining the Lamp of Science on Dravidian based Research Topics

We entrust onto ourselves, the above five goals for this year. Breaking one's own record from past year into this year is the essence of Continuous Improvement. We shall perform; We shall achieve!

This issue of Dravida Pozhil contains 5 Papers.

• The Issue of ‘ai’ & ‘au’ in Tamil Language and Periyar's Proactiveness
• Aryan Myths & Fallacies about Thiruvalluvar
• The Grammatical Expertise in Tholkaappiya Poonga of Kalaignar
• Sanga Tamil Natrinai via Periyarist Outlook
• Women Personalities of the Dravidian Movement

In this Dravidian Academic Journey, dear Readers like you who travel with us are the Tasters of the Research Fruit. Please join hands as we make the World shine in Dravidian Philosophy and Dravidian Philosophy shine across the World.

This issue blossoms on Oct 15, which is the birthday of the 1st Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu – Hon’ble A. Subbarayulu, a doyen of the Justice Party – the forerunner of the Dravidian Movement. It also happens to be the Centenary Celebration of Social Justice, as the Dravidian Government headed by the Raja of Panagal passed the famous Communal G.O. 613 on Sep 16 1921. This spearheaded the process of Reservation (Affirmative Action) for the depressed classes and showed the way of Social Justice for the whole of India.

As we celebrate these momentous occasions, let us resolve our gratitude to the Dravidian Movement which opened the Doors of Education to us all. Let us also take the Pledge of Social Justice and carry the flame to the next generation.

This 4th issue of Dravida Pozhil contains 6 Papers.

• Valluvar and Periyar, the Two Rationalists of Tamil Nadu
• The Legend of Valluvar - An Evaluation by Stuart Blackburn: Our Evaluation of his views.
• African & Dravidian - Comparative Components
• Re-Reading of Sanga Tamil Classicism, facilitated by Periyar’s Thoughts
• Comparisons between The Kural & Manu Smriti
• Vaikom – Forerunner of Indian Social Emancipation Movements

The cover-page features a scene from Vaikom and affirms its early leads as a Peoples’ Movement, fighting for the cause of Equality. In the era of Struggle for Indian Independence, Vaikom symbolizes the Struggle for Social Independence.

As we near the 1st year anniversary of Dravida Pozhil, we plan to also trod on newer paths like an exclusive research space for Student Scholars, Introduction to Global Research Literature, and Interviews with Global Research Scholars.

We thank our esteemed readers who took the journal to national and international heights.

Please continue to walk with us in this Dravidian Academic Journey. Together we will make the World shine in Dravidian Philosophy and Dravidian Philosophy shine across the World. That’s because: Dravidian = Equality!

The last two issues have received a great feedback from both national & international scholars. Many academicians have provided academic appreciation and constructive criticism. We are happy with such a wide reception for Dravida Pozhil

• Our Objective is to foster and inculcate the research capabilities of Dravidian Intelligentsia to Global Academic Standards, and integrate Dravidian Philosophy with the collegium of renowned Scholars worldwide.
• Our Destination is the Unison of People and Scholars of the Dravidian land, and deliver the fruits of our research to enable Social Justice to the Society at large

In this yeoman task, we are collaborating with global universities and national scholars, and also providing opportunities for budding scholars (especially women scholars and scholars from underprivileged communities) and enabling a true research community.

Towards the path of Continuous Improvement, this 3rd issue contains 6 papersfrom Tamil Nadu, on Sri Lanka, and from Norway

• Towards the path of Continuous Improvement, this 3rd issue contains 6 papersfrom Tamil Nadu, on Sri Lanka, and from Norway
• Social Justice in Sri Lanka (Eezham) – Some Introductory Thoughts
• The Philosophies of Lokāyata & Periyārism
• Traces of Tamil Language in Early Malayalam Records
• Inroads of Caste into Christianity and its Erosion
• Dravidian Civilization – Historicity & Antiquity

Please do read the above papers which have been duly reviewed by domain experts and relish the variety, subtlety, criticality and naturality of thought in these essays. If you have any questions, please reach out to us or the Authors themselves directly.

The cover-page of this Issue is decorated with a depiction of Keezhadi archaeological site. The 1st issue of Dravida Pozhil sported a scene from Harappa and now is a scene from Keezhadi. The History & Antiquity of Tamils do NOT sport any Religion, but only sport Humanism. Scholars are confirming this culture from both the Indus Valley & the Vaigai Valley. Where the Indus Valley Civilization left, the Tamil Classical Literature (Changa Tamil aka Sanga Tamil) picked up.

We request you to read Dravida Pozhil - not only in a solitary mode, but in an accompanied mode. Reading alone, never quenches one’s thirst, but a collective Discussion with Peers and Friends, nurtures the intellect. That nurturing leads to Humanism.

Please do join us in this Dravidian Academic Journey of cultivating Social Justice in the Tamil Land.

Continuous Improvement is the essence of Human Journey as studied in the field of Anthropology. Surpassing previous accomplishments in the long journey of education, this 2nd issue blossoms with intricate research articles in the Dravidian space.

While showcasing the research capabilities of the Dravidian Intelligentsia, we also need to integrate the Dravidian Thought & Philosophy with the auspicium of renowned Scholars worldwide. In this initiative, Dravida Pozhil seeks to enable a deep academic research, maintaining global academic standards, and deliver the fruits of the research to our common people and scholars alike.

Towards this task, we already stated that, we will collaborate with global scholars and also provide opportunities for other scholars, budding women scholars and blossoming scholars from the underprivileged communities. Keeping with our dreams & promises, this issue carries fine research papers from two Women Scholars. Let Feminism grow in leaps and bounds in the field of research as well.

The 2nd issue contains 6 research papers from Tamil Nadu and the United States:

• Hegemony of Religious Texts and Tamil based Worship vs. Sanskrit Ritualism.
• Dravidian Movement & Thirukkural Renaissance
• Tamil Themes – aka poruḷ & puṟa poruḷ – Native or Foreign?
• The Approach Methodology of Periyar
• The first Women Stalwarts in Tamil Journalism
• The Question of Caste vs. Equality

The above Papers have been duly reviewed by domain experts. We wish you a deep reading and a pleasant sharing experience. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us or the Authors themselves.

Also, there was a symposium on papers featured in the last issue of Dravida Pozhil, during Feb 2021 at USA. Scholars from Tamil Nadu also joined that event online. A feature of those proceedings is also listed in this issue. Such discussion should happen for every article and every issue of the Journal. Reading alone never quenches the thirst of a researcher. A collective debate and discussion enhances our knowledge. Knowledge enhancement is the way to Social Enhancement.

Rationality, Culture, Civilization, Art, History, Language and Humanities are the many facets of the humankind, and Academic Research in those domains integrating with Dravidian Philosophy is our Mission. Towards achieving an egalitarian society, we are ploughing, seeding and cultivating the land of Dravidian Research. Without any fear or favor, without any bias or premeditation, only with a fine sense of academic and professional ingenuity, we have embarked on this journey.

Let us walk together on the road of research. Please join with us in this Dravidian Academic Journey.

The Tamil word ‘Pozhil or poḻil’ not only means a grove, garden or oasis. It means where the water fluxes continuously and self-sustains in a grove of flora & fauna. Similarly, in this Dravidian Oasis – Dravida Pozhil, the concept and cohesion of Dravidian culture will flux and self-sustain with continuous improvement.

Rationality, Culture, Civilization, Art, History, Language and Humanities are the facets of the humankind.This Research Journal aims to dwell on those domains and enable a deep academic research in those faculties and deliver the benefits of research to all.

• Fine Academic Research in the domains of Dravidian Culture, Dravidian Civilization, Dravidian Social Justice, Dravidian & Tamil Studies.
• Deliver the fruits of this research to benefit both the Dravidian Tamil general populace and the scholars alike.
• Integrate Dravidian thoughts and philosophies with the auspices of Global Scholars, maintaining high Educational Standards and Global Academic Standards.
• Showcase the research capabilities of the Dravidian Intelligentsia globally, and maintain a Dravidian database of research papers and thesis.

In view of the above goals, we will collaborate with global scholars and also provide opportunities for other scholars, budding women scholars and blossoming scholars from the underprivileged communities. This Journal on Dravidian Studies is quarterly, bi-lingual, deemed-university based and will also partner with global indexes.

This first issue contains 6 splendid research papers. In addition to papers from Tamilnadu, we also have papers from Canada and Europe. “Every town is my town, Every human is my kin” is a great humanist thought, offered to the whole world by Tamilnadu. If anywhere, there exists a threat to the Tamil philosophy of “All lives are Born Equal”, then that threat exists to Tamilnadu as well. (Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere). The papers include:

• Black Lives Matter agitations in America & the Dravidian Movement – An Analogy
• Dravidian Philosophies in the Classical Sanga Tamil Age
• British/European Sankritist Scholars and the Foundations of Indian Culture & Society
• The Onomastics of the word ‘Tamilnadu’ and the role of Periyar
• Dravidian/Aryan dichotomy in the 19th CE Saiva Sabhas
• Caste Eradication via knowledge propagation of DNA Testing and Genetics

Papers on the above subjects were duly reviewed by domain experts. Please read and spread the word. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Editors or the Authors themselves directly.

Academic Excellence in Dravidian Studies is the need of the hour and we thank Aasiriyar Dr. K. Veeramani for recognizing this need and spearheading this research effort. At this hour, we also reminisce and pay our thanks and respects to Dravidian Intellectual Stalwarts like Pt. Iyothee Thass, Periyar EVR, Dr. Ambedkar, Arignar Anna, Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi and thousands of other stars in the Dravidian Galaxy, as we start this academic journey.

See you every three months on this Dravidian Pathway of Academics. We wish on this great Tamizh festive day, ‘Happy Pongal’ and ‘Merry Tamil New Year’ to all our readers.