PREFACE
THE following pages represent a course of lectures delivered under the terms of the Sankara-Parvati Endowment, University of Madras, on the 29th and 30th of November 1940.
An endeavour has been made in these lectures to examine the prevalent opinion held by scholars, both Western and Indian, on the origin of the Dravidians and their culture, and it is shown that the Tamils were the original inhabitants of the land who had evolved. an independent culture of their own which is generally known as Dravidian. These Tamils have handed down their culture to the succeeding generations in the East as well as in the West. Thus their contribution in the ancient and the modern times is something original, arresting and impressive. The 'Notes' appended to these lectures may enable the readers to form a judgment on the conclusions reached by the author.
I have to thank the Syndicate of the University of Madras for inviting me to deliver these lectures and permitting me to print them.
I am grateful to Dr. G. Srinivasa Murti, B.A., B.L., M.B. & C.M., Vaidyaratna, Captain, Honorary Director of the Adyar Library for having generously included
