What are Dravidian languages?
Dravidian languages are a family of languages spoken (very much so in 2007) in South India, Central India, parts of North India and the Baluchi province of Pakistan. The major Dravidian languages are Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam. Dravidian languages are classified under one family basically for linguistic reasons, i.e., similarity of grammar and day-to-day words. The list of Dravidian languages is pretty long. Wikipedia goes like this:
Southern
South Central Central
Where are Dravidian languages being spoken?
The linguistic map of India is shown below (for further maps of world languages, click here):
The parts which appear reddish are areas where "Dravidian languages" are being spoken. Of course the most important Dravidian languages - Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam - are easy to see. But a closer look reveals more Dravidian languages being spoken even in Central India as well as in present-day Pakistan (the Brahui language of Baluchistan is Dravidian).
The Aryan Invasion Theory
Mostly because of the presense of Dravidian languages in North India and Baluchistan, linguists have had to come to the conclusion that an "Aryan Race" invaded India which was mostly Dravidian. They are of the opinion that the Aryans drove Dravidians to the south. This, in short, is the Aryan Invasion Theory.
Opposition to Aryan Invasion Theory
The theory is not liked by many, notable among whom are BJP and the Sangh Parivar, who think of this theory as a tool used by the British to divide North and South India. There have been many attempts to disprove the Aryan Invasion Theory, including recent claims (which have their share of opposition) of having decoded the Harappa-Mohenjodaro inscriptions about whom the "Aryan or Dravidian" question is raised by many.
Support for Aryan Invasion Theory
South Indian universities and centers of study support the Aryan Invasion Theory. In some universities, it is taken for granted. Nobody even questions the theory. For them, the difference between the two language families - Dravidian and Indi-Aryan - is enough proof for their stand about history. These universities have come up with many a PhD thesis, many a book about Dravidian languages, how they're unique, how all Dravidian languages have similar grammar, etc.
The theory is also supported by linguists all over the world. See references for details. It is these linguists who are called as people who "divide-and-rule" by the opponents of the theory.
Unscientific approaches of both camps
Both opposers and supporters of the Aryan Invasion Theory have shortcomings. It is funny how these shortcomings exist only in the Indian researchers.
The opposers of the theory (BJP, RSS & Co), although they've gone to lengths trying to disprove the Aryan Invasion Theory - something for which there is neither proof nor factual evidence, have failed to explain the similarity among Dravidian languages, and their marked linguistic difference between languages of the North which are called Indo-Aryan by linguists. In fact, the opposers even hide the fact that Dravidian languges fall into a different language family. I'd be darned if you find a map such as I've posted above in any publication of the Sangh Parivar. But the Sangh Parivar, if one has to take it seriously, must necessarily explain how their opposition to the Aryan Invasion Theory is consistent with linguistic facts. It's high time the opposers take a course in linguistics.
The supporters - people from South Indian universities - must take a scientific approach towards the theory instead of blindly agreeing with foreign linguists and historians. It is high time these people conduct deeper research into history and linguistics. Although the similarity of Dravidian languages has well been analyzed and researched, it's a pity that the Aryan Invasion Theory has been implicitly - and explicitly - assumed by these researchers. It's a grave mistake to take such things as given. It's a pity that these researchers don't come to conclusions about history on the basis of current linguistic proximity of Dravidian languages. What I mean is - they could use the fact that Dravidian languages are related in order to come to speculations - if not conclusions about the history of the speakers of Dravidian languages.
Why the Aryan Invasion Theory doesn't matter
The Aryan Invasion Theory - whether true or false - is useless in determining the future of speakers of Dravidian languages, unless it is politically engineered to determine. Why do I say that?
Whether the Aryan Invasion Theory is true or false, nobody can hide the fact that Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and every other Dravidian language is a "linguistic cousin" having not much to do with Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and Bengali. Nobody can discount the fact that day-to-day words in all Dravidian languages are linguistically proximate. Scientific proof exists for the similarity of these languages, and only those who care a hoot for science can bring other theories to hide the similarity. It is such people who go around trumpeting the falsity that Samskruta is the mother of all languages (funnily, the rest of the world doesn't think so - they class Samskruta along with other european languages and provide linguistic proof for their similarity (maatru, mother, etc etc.)
Nor would it be politically correct or desireable to prove that Dravidian languages are derived from Samskruta (as the Sangh Parivar thinks). Dravidian languages are on the rise - contrary to what the English media led by the Times of India tries to propagate. Kannadigas, Tamilians, Telugus and Malayalis are becoming increasingly aware of their uniqueness and fighting for linguistic rights.
Truth alone wins. satyamEva jayate.
References
1. http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/months/april/DravidianLanguageFamily.htm
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dravidian_languages
3. Dravida Bhashavijnana - Dr. Hampa Nagarajaiah, D.V.K. Murthy Publishers, Maisooru - 4.
4. Toulanika Dravida Bhasha Vijnana - Dr. K. Kempegowda, Bharati Prakashana, Maisooru
5. Dravidian Etymological Dictionary - Burrow and Emeaneau
Dravidian languages are a family of languages spoken (very much so in 2007) in South India, Central India, parts of North India and the Baluchi province of Pakistan. The major Dravidian languages are Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam. Dravidian languages are classified under one family basically for linguistic reasons, i.e., similarity of grammar and day-to-day words. The list of Dravidian languages is pretty long. Wikipedia goes like this:
Southern
South Central Central
- Kolami-Naiki
- Naiki
- Northwestern Kolami (India)
- Southeastern Kolami (India)
- Parji-Gadaba
- Duruwa (India)
- Mudhili Gadaba (India)
- Parji
- Pottangi Ollar Gadaba (India)
- Brahui (the only Dravidian language spoken in Pakistan; in the Balochistan province)
- Kumarbhag Paharia - (India)
- Kurux language (India)
- Kurux language Nepali - (Nepal)
- Malto
- Sauria Paharia (India)
Where are Dravidian languages being spoken?
The linguistic map of India is shown below (for further maps of world languages, click here):
The parts which appear reddish are areas where "Dravidian languages" are being spoken. Of course the most important Dravidian languages - Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam - are easy to see. But a closer look reveals more Dravidian languages being spoken even in Central India as well as in present-day Pakistan (the Brahui language of Baluchistan is Dravidian).
The Aryan Invasion Theory
Mostly because of the presense of Dravidian languages in North India and Baluchistan, linguists have had to come to the conclusion that an "Aryan Race" invaded India which was mostly Dravidian. They are of the opinion that the Aryans drove Dravidians to the south. This, in short, is the Aryan Invasion Theory.
Opposition to Aryan Invasion Theory
The theory is not liked by many, notable among whom are BJP and the Sangh Parivar, who think of this theory as a tool used by the British to divide North and South India. There have been many attempts to disprove the Aryan Invasion Theory, including recent claims (which have their share of opposition) of having decoded the Harappa-Mohenjodaro inscriptions about whom the "Aryan or Dravidian" question is raised by many.
Support for Aryan Invasion Theory
South Indian universities and centers of study support the Aryan Invasion Theory. In some universities, it is taken for granted. Nobody even questions the theory. For them, the difference between the two language families - Dravidian and Indi-Aryan - is enough proof for their stand about history. These universities have come up with many a PhD thesis, many a book about Dravidian languages, how they're unique, how all Dravidian languages have similar grammar, etc.
The theory is also supported by linguists all over the world. See references for details. It is these linguists who are called as people who "divide-and-rule" by the opponents of the theory.
Unscientific approaches of both camps
Both opposers and supporters of the Aryan Invasion Theory have shortcomings. It is funny how these shortcomings exist only in the Indian researchers.
The opposers of the theory (BJP, RSS & Co), although they've gone to lengths trying to disprove the Aryan Invasion Theory - something for which there is neither proof nor factual evidence, have failed to explain the similarity among Dravidian languages, and their marked linguistic difference between languages of the North which are called Indo-Aryan by linguists. In fact, the opposers even hide the fact that Dravidian languges fall into a different language family. I'd be darned if you find a map such as I've posted above in any publication of the Sangh Parivar. But the Sangh Parivar, if one has to take it seriously, must necessarily explain how their opposition to the Aryan Invasion Theory is consistent with linguistic facts. It's high time the opposers take a course in linguistics.
The supporters - people from South Indian universities - must take a scientific approach towards the theory instead of blindly agreeing with foreign linguists and historians. It is high time these people conduct deeper research into history and linguistics. Although the similarity of Dravidian languages has well been analyzed and researched, it's a pity that the Aryan Invasion Theory has been implicitly - and explicitly - assumed by these researchers. It's a grave mistake to take such things as given. It's a pity that these researchers don't come to conclusions about history on the basis of current linguistic proximity of Dravidian languages. What I mean is - they could use the fact that Dravidian languages are related in order to come to speculations - if not conclusions about the history of the speakers of Dravidian languages.
Why the Aryan Invasion Theory doesn't matter
The Aryan Invasion Theory - whether true or false - is useless in determining the future of speakers of Dravidian languages, unless it is politically engineered to determine. Why do I say that?
Whether the Aryan Invasion Theory is true or false, nobody can hide the fact that Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and every other Dravidian language is a "linguistic cousin" having not much to do with Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and Bengali. Nobody can discount the fact that day-to-day words in all Dravidian languages are linguistically proximate. Scientific proof exists for the similarity of these languages, and only those who care a hoot for science can bring other theories to hide the similarity. It is such people who go around trumpeting the falsity that Samskruta is the mother of all languages (funnily, the rest of the world doesn't think so - they class Samskruta along with other european languages and provide linguistic proof for their similarity (maatru, mother, etc etc.)
Nor would it be politically correct or desireable to prove that Dravidian languages are derived from Samskruta (as the Sangh Parivar thinks). Dravidian languages are on the rise - contrary to what the English media led by the Times of India tries to propagate. Kannadigas, Tamilians, Telugus and Malayalis are becoming increasingly aware of their uniqueness and fighting for linguistic rights.
Truth alone wins. satyamEva jayate.
References
1. http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/months/april/DravidianLanguageFamily.htm
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dravidian_languages
3. Dravida Bhashavijnana - Dr. Hampa Nagarajaiah, D.V.K. Murthy Publishers, Maisooru - 4.
4. Toulanika Dravida Bhasha Vijnana - Dr. K. Kempegowda, Bharati Prakashana, Maisooru
5. Dravidian Etymological Dictionary - Burrow and Emeaneau
2 comments:
Just one question, why is the so called dravidian language of malayalam is rich in sanskrit (which is supposedly a aryan language)than any other indian language including hindi.
Malayalam has lots of Samskruta words simply because it has freely borrowed words from Samskruta. Kannada is also rich in Samskruta words.
I don't have facts to prove that Hindi has fewer Samskruta words than Malayalam, but one thing I can say is - Hindi has turned to Urdu for many of its words, thereby "reducing its attention" towards Samskruta.
But one thing you should note is - to establish linguistic proximity, one needs to consider day-to-day words like "Hand, ear, land, air, tree, stone", etc, and of course Grammar. In these, Malayalam is closer to Kannada, Tamil and Telugu than to Samskruta or Hindi.
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