Tamil Nadu Timeline

Social ReformNational and Dravidian movements

Council adopts the term Adi Dravida

· Chennai

Acting on a resolution by M. C. Rajah, the Madras Legislative Council adopted Adi-Dravida officially in place of terms like Paraiya and Panchama.

Elected as a Justice Party candidate in November 1920, M. C. Rajah was the first Scheduled Caste member voted into the Madras Legislative Council. In 1922 he introduced a resolution calling for the words Paraiya and Panchama to be removed from official use. In their place the council adopted Adi-Dravida, with Adi-Andhra for the Telugu areas. This marked an early instance of the authorities accepting Dalit demands for respectful naming.

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