A Social Movement in Nineteenth Century South Tamil Nadu

In modern Tamil Nadu social protest and anti-caste movements are always attributed to the Dravidian movement and E.V.R. Periyar. Individuals and organisations who played an active part earlier in challenging the odious system of caste and practice of social discrimination hardly find a place in the public discourse. Collective actions without a charismatic leader have often been treated dismissively. Nadars, called Shanars too, as social group conducted social movements in southern parts of Tamil Nadu even before the birth of the Dravidian movement and Periyar. Their first form of subaltern protest was to embrace Christianity. This conversion helped them to access English education and the resultant empowerment. The contribution of European Christian missionaries to this phenomenon was praiseworthy. Those who did not opt for conversion later entered into petty trade and business and earned an independent livelihood.