Dravidians - the real Indigenous Indians

The history of the Dravidian people is complex and spans several millennia. While the exact origins of the Dravidian people are still debated, many scholars believe that they are indigenous to the southern regions of India and have lived in the area for at least 4,500 years.

The earliest known civilization in the southern part of India was the Indus Valley Civilization, which existed from around 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE. While it is not known for certain if the Indus Valley Civilization was Dravidian, it is believed that the Dravidian-speaking people were present in the region during this time.

In the centuries that followed, the southern region of India was ruled by a number of different kingdoms, including the Chera, Chola, and Pandya dynasties. These kingdoms were known for their advancements in art, literature, and architecture, and they played a significant role in shaping the culture and traditions of southern India.

During the medieval period, southern India was invaded by a number of different empires, including the Delhi Sultanate and the Vijayanagara Empire. In the 16th century, the region was colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, who introduced Christianity and Western-style education to the area.

In the 20th century, the Dravidian people played a key role in India's struggle for independence from British colonial rule. Today, the Dravidian people continue to be a significant cultural and linguistic group in India, with over 200 million speakers of Dravidian languages living in the southern and eastern parts of the country.

Dravidian vs. Aryan

The terms "Dravidian" and "Aryan" are commonly used to refer to two distinct linguistic and cultural groups in India. The Dravidian people are associated with the Dravidian languages, which are spoken primarily in southern India and parts of Sri Lanka, while the term "Aryan" is often used to describe the Indo-European-speaking people who migrated to northern India from Iran and other northern countries around 1500 BCE.

The Dravidian and Aryan populations have different linguistic, cultural, and genetic backgrounds. The Dravidian languages, which include Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, have a distinct grammar, vocabulary, and phonetics that are unrelated to the Indo-European languages spoken by the Aryans. Additionally, Dravidian culture has its own unique traditions, customs, and practices that distinguish it from Aryan culture.

Genetically, studies have shown that Dravidian and Aryan populations have different ancestries. Dravidians are believed to be descended from a group of people who migrated from Africa to India over 40,000 years ago, while the Aryans are believed to have migrated from Central Asia into northern India around 1500 BCE. These migrations and interactions between different groups have contributed to the diversity of India's population and the richness of its cultural heritage.

It is important to note that the terms "Dravidian" and "Aryan" have been used historically to promote divisive and discriminatory ideologies, particularly during the colonial period in India. Today, it is widely recognized that these terms are complex and do not represent homogeneous groups of people, and efforts are being made to promote unity and inclusivity across all of India's diverse communities.