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.