1(e) 'Khap' Panchayat
10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.1 Indian Village > Traditional village institutions
Dravidian Languages — 2020 Paper II
Question · 2020 · Paper II · 10 Marks
Dravidian languages
Model Answer
VAID ICSApproach
- Demand of Question: Describe the distribution, classification and major linguistic features of the Dravidian language family in India.
- Structuring the Response: Introduce the family, give major branches and languages, note structural features and anthropological significance.
- Key Dimensions to Cover: Caldwell, South/Central/North Dravidian, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gondi, Kurukh, Brahui and agglutination.
Model Answer
Introduction
The Dravidian languages constitute one of the major language families of South Asia. Robert Caldwell, in A Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian Family of Languages (1856), established their linguistic unity and distinction from Indo-Aryan languages.
Major classification
Dravidian languages are commonly grouped into several branches:
- South Dravidian:
- Tamil
- Kannada
- Malayalam
- Tulu
- South-Central Dravidian:
- Telugu
- Gondi
- Konda and related languages
- Central Dravidian:
- Kolami
- Naiki
- Parji and related languages
- North Dravidian:
- Kurukh/Oraon
- Malto
- Brahui
Characteristic features
Dravidian languages commonly show:
- agglutinative morphology;
- suffix-based grammatical formation;
- subject-object-verb word order;
- extensive use of retroflex consonants;
- postpositions rather than prepositions;
- grammatical distinctions expressed through suffixes.
Distribution and tribal relevance
Although concentrated mainly in southern India, Dravidian languages are also spoken by tribal populations in central and eastern India, such as Gonds and Oraons.
Brahui, spoken in Pakistan, demonstrates the historically wider distribution of the family.
Anthropological significance
Linguistic distribution provides evidence concerning:
- migration;
- cultural contact;
- ethnic history;
- long-term interaction between Dravidian and Indo-Aryan speakers.
Conclusion
The Dravidian family illustrates India’s deep linguistic antiquity and diversity, extending far beyond the major literary languages of southern India.
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UPSC Anthropology Optional 2020 — Paper II
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10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.2 Palaeo-anthropological evidences from India > Narmada Man
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Syllabus: Paper II > 3.2 Caste system in India > Structure and characteristics
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10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.2 Caste system in India > Dominant caste
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10 Marks150 words
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10 Marks150 words
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Syllabus: Paper II > 7.1 Constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
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10 Marks150 words
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10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 2. Demographic profile of India > Linguistic elements > Dravidian family
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15 Marks
Syllabus: Paper II > 1.3 Ethno-archaeology in India > Survivals and parallels
Syllabus: Paper II > 9.1 Tribal policies, plans and programmes of tribal development
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.1 Indian Village > Impact of globalization on Indian villages
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Syllabus: Paper II > 3.4 Impact of Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Christianity on Indian society > Islam
Syllabus: Paper II > 7.2 Impact of development programmes and welfare measures on tribals
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10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 4. Emergence, growth and development of anthropology in India > Contributions of Indian anthropologists
Syllabus: Paper II > 6.2 Problems of the tribal communities > Land alienation
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10 Marks150 words
Syllabus: Paper II > 5.2 Linguistic and religious minorities and their social, political and economic status
Syllabus: Paper II > 3.2 Caste system in India > Caste conflict and violence
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10 Marks150 words
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