In his influential 1856 work, A Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian Family of Languages, Bishop Robert Caldwell popularized the term "Dravidian" (derived from the Sanskrit Draviḍa) to define a distinct linguistic and, by extension, ethnic/racial group in South India.
He had popularised this narrative to propagate Christianity in South India.
While focusing on linguistics, Caldwell used the term "Dravidian" to describe a "race" that was socially and culturally distinct from the Aryan communities, arguing that the Dravidians were indigenous to the South and had been largely influenced or subjected by northern, Aryan Brahmanical culture.
His work is considered the catalyst for the "Dravidian" identity, which was later adopted in the 20th century to create a social and political narrative of an anti-Brahmin, non-Brahmin movement.
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In the Shloka no.75 of Soundaryalahari, a phrase draviḍaśiśur was used. It was generally translated as the child of Dravida land.
One of the meanings of the sanskrit word Draviḍa (द्रविड) is group of grammarians.
Hence, the original meaning of draviḍadeśa (द्रविडदेश) might be the land of grammarians.
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