Parpanar
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Parpanar (also Parppanar, Parppaan, or Paappaan). Associated word (Parppaneeyam). Feminine version Paappaaththi. This Tamil word, originally a normal reference to members of the Brahmin caste, is now a highly derogatory slur used for insulting Brahmins in Tamil Nadu. The feminine version, Paappaaththi is considered even more derogatory.
Until the late 1800s, this term was a reasonable, though not the preferred, term for Tamil Brahmins. The Dravidian Movement led by E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker(EVR) started using this in a derogatory manner and continues to do so today. Associated with this, the word Parppaneeyam[1] was coined to refer to casteism. While the word Jaatheeyam (literally "casteism") already existed for this purpose, by using the word Parppaneeyam, the Dravidian Movement could isolate Brahmins and target them for sole blame for creating and maintaining the institution of caste in Hinduism. Other upper castes, which formed the backbone of the Dravidian Movement were not considered to be in any way guilty of this casteism. In modern Tamil Nadu, most incidents of caste oppression and violence are perpetrated by the non-Brahmin land owning castes in rural areas.
Publications that use the word Parpanar commonly today are those run by followers of E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker - for example, http://www.viduthalai.com and http://www.unmaionline.com, both edited by K. Veeramani of the Dravidar Kazhagam.
[edit] Typical Usage and Examples
The word 'Parpanar' or 'Parppaan' is used typically in a derogatory fashion in journals run by followers of EVR. Examples are given below:
http://www.viduthalai.com/20070120/snews10.htm "Parppaanin varuNa manappAnmai" - The Brahmin's casteist thought process
http://www.viduthalai.com/20070113/snews05.htm "Parppaanum Parppaneeyamum" - The Brahmin and "Parppaneeyam"
http://www.viduthalai.com/20070112/news06.htm "Parppaan ozhivaana?" - Will the Brahmin Get Eliminated? - EVR's speech
- the reason society hasn't been successful is only because of the brahmin (parppan)
http://www.unmaionline.com/2005071/2005071u1.html - Quote from the article "Brahmins are aliens not only to Tamils but to the human race as well"
http://www.keetru.com/periyarmuzhakkam/nov05/gurusamy.html "Parppanarai VeRuppadhu En" - Why I hate Brahmins
The word and its related words are not used in mainstream Tamil journals or movies. They are also not used in formal speech except by leaders of the Dravidian movement (which includes the current Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi as well as other elected officials.)The words are, however, used frequently in a casual context, usually as swear words to offend Tamil Brahmins.
