Adi Dravidar 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. Many Adi Dravidas have converted to Christianity Buddhism.Dravidian refers both to Dravidian languages a group of languages and to the Dravidian people who speak them.
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