New Education Policy (2020) and Dravidian Ideology (1916-2022): Educational and Social Implications in Tamil Nadu

Dr. S. Narayanamoorthy

Abstract: This study explores the implications of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 within the framework of Dravidian ideology (1916-2022) and its effects on the educational and social landscape of Tamil Nadu. By tracing the historical development of Dravidian educational thought-from the Justice Party (1916), Self-Respect Movement (1925), and Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) pre- and post-1967 policies-the paper highlights how education has been employed as a mechanism for social justice, rationalism, linguistic equality, and empowerment of marginalized communities. The article examines key Government Orders, legislative resolutions, and committee reports, including the Communal G.O. of 1921, midday meal scheme G.O.s, and the Justice A.K. Rajan Committee report (2022), to demonstrate Tamil Nadu?s strategic opposition to centralisation and privatisation under the NEP. By juxtaposing pre-1967 resolutions with contemporary reforms, it argues that the state?s educational approach reflects a sustained ideological continuity rooted in Dravidian principles rather than mere political resistance. The findings underscore the importance of aligning educational reforms with historical, social, and federal considerations to ensure equitable and empowering outcomes.

Keywords: New Education Policy 2020, Dravidian ideology, educational social justice, Tamil Nadu education policy, federalism in education

How to Cite?: Dr. S. Narayanamoorthy, "New Education Policy (2020) and Dravidian Ideology (1916-2022): Educational and Social Implications in Tamil Nadu", Volume 14 Issue 12, December 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 2240-2241, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR251226230042, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR251226230042