Adi Dravida

Adi Dravida is term used by the state of Tamil Nadu in India to denote Dalits. It means "Original natives or indigenous people of Dravida land ". The term was coined by Tamil social activist Periyar Ramasami who worked against casteism and division among the people based on castes.

Being deemed to be outcaste from Hindu society, Adi Dravida castes include Paraiah, Pallar, Chakkili or Arunthathiyar, among others. Many Adi Dravidas have converted to Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. Dravidian refers both to Dravidian languages, a group of languages, and to the Dravidian people, who use them. Dravidian language speaking people are the majority in the southern part of India. It must be noted however, that though the idea of Dravidian languages is widely accepted, the idea of a separate Dravidian race is highly controversial, and has its greatest political support in the state of Tamil Nadu.