Madrasi

Not to be confused with Madrasa.

Madrasi (Prakrit : Madarasi), also spelled as Madrassi, was a term used as a demonym for people from southern India, usually used by those from northern India. More precisely, during the British Raj, it was an exonym to refer to the people of Madras Presidency, including the people of present-day Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and parts of Karnataka and northern parts of Kerala, while the term Deccani was used to refer the people from Hyderabad State (present-day Telangana) and Kingdom of Mysore.

Independent India

After Indian Independence and reorganisation of states, the term Madrasi was continued to be used to refer to the people of the new Madras State, which predominantly included Tamil speakers. After Madras State was renamed as Tamil Nadu, the term gradually evolved to specifically refer to the people of Madras city, the capital of the state. After the city was officially renamed as Chennai in 1996, the term gradually went out of use in the 21st century.

Contemporary usage

In modern day, the term "Madrasi" is widely considered an inaccurate and often pejorative ethnic slur and stereotype. It homogenizes the diverse cultures, languages, and identities of over 250 million people in southern India. The use of the term is often seen as a form of generalization that ignores the distinct identities.  

See also

• Tamils
• Telugu vaaru