Adi Dravida (or Adi Dravidar) is term used by the state of Tamil Nadu in India to denote Dalits. It means "original natives of Dravida land (southern India)". The term was coined by Tamil social activist Periyar Ramasami who worked against casteism and division among the people based on castes.In 1918 the Adi Dravida Mahajan Sabha requested the Indian government use the term to replace the current but pejorative term "Pariah" used for the community.