The Cholas created a class of landless labourers - Ravikumar M.P.

The Cholas created a class of landless labourers.

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Questioning a section of Tamil nationalists and Dravidian parties celebrating the Cholas, VCK General Secretary and Villupuram MP D. Ravikumar said the Chola kings promoted “Sanskrit” and “Sanatana”. 

“We can understand the BJP celebrating them. But why should the Dravidian parties also do the same?” he asked.

Ravikumar argued that the Cholas created a large landless class by granting thousands of acres of fertile land as “Brahmadeyams” and creating “Chaturvedimangalams”.

“Their actions enabled the priestly class, confined earlier to spiritual affairs, to enter the economic sphere. Under the Chola rule, a new class of landless labourers emerged because they were required to work on lands donated to priests. Until then, the lands were largely held by those who tilled them. This shift led to labour exploitation and altered social relations fundamentally,” he said.

He contended that the caste system became rigid, and Tamils suffered major social, cultural, and economic setbacks during the period of the Chola rule between the 10th and the 13th centuries.”