The Dravidian Path: From Keeladi to an Economy of Equity

Abstract

This study investigates the economic and sociological impacts of the Dravidian Model, a socio-political framework in Tamil Nadu that promotes equity and social justice. It posits a civilizational continuum stretching from the egalitarian, trade-oriented society unearthed at the Keeladi archaeological site (c. 6th century BCE) to the modern policy architecture of Tamil Nadu. The research confronts the enduring problem of caste-based "social toxicity" in India, framing the Dravidian Model as a robust response to this historical injustice. Using a mixed-methods approach based on secondary data from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25—including the Tamil Nadu Economic Survey, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), and National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5)—this paper employs econometric analysis (PSM, DDD, IV, SUR, ARIMAX) to evaluate the model's effectiveness. Key findings indicate that Tamil Nadu exhibits strong economic growth and outperforms national averages in human development. This success is increasingly recognized by international bodies, such as the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), which consistently ranks Tamil Nadu among the top states for investment and business environment. Crucially, the analysis refutes the "dependency trap hypothesis," demonstrating that welfare schemes function as "barrier-targeted investments" that significantly boost Labor Force Participation Rates (LFPR), especially for women and marginalized SC/ST communities. While absolute income inequality is widening, relative inequality metrics (Gini, Palma) show moderation. The study concludes that the Dravidian Model, rooted in the secular and equitable values evidenced at Keeladi, presents a viable, humane, and empirically successful alternative to purely growth-centric or neoliberal paradigms, proving that social equity is a prerequisite for, not an obstacle to, sustainable economic development.

Keywords: Dravidian Model, Keeladi, Economic Policy, EIU Ranking, Caste-based Inequalities, Social Mobility, Quantitative Research, Econometrics, Equity, Social Justice