Was the dark age of Tamilnadu(Kalahbras/kalapirar) as dark as it is portrayed? Other side of Kalabhras/kalapirar

 While calling Kalabhras as barbarians and outsiders would be a right term but their reign was not as dark as it’s portrayed by the mainstream historians/poets at least for the subaltern school of history.

Who were the Kalabhars?

Text from early Cholas mentions about King Achyuta Vikranta of the Kalabharakula, who ruled the Chola country from Kaveripumpattinam. He followed Buddhism. The Karnataka inscription refers to Kali Deva and Velvikudi grant refers to Kali Arasan (meaning wicked king of Kalabras)

Kalabhras were very intolerant towards the caste hierarchy. The Kalabhras were both Jains and Buddhists in their religious practices. Early Kalabras were Buddhist and later Kalabras were Jains who made the Kanchi center of Buddhism and Madurai center of Jainism. Buddhist viharas and Jain monasteries were built in large numbers.

The influence of religions like Jainism and Buddhism increased under their reign. The spread of Jainism and Buddhism, into Tamil Nadu, was more spelled, after the invasion of Kalabras from Karnataka which has its origin and long history there.

Why is the rule of the Kalabhras called the dark age?

The most common perceptions - During the age of Kalabhras, the Kalabhras did not support the growth of the Tamil language, Tamil literature, art, and traditions, etc. And we do not have many proofs to know about their ruling time history completely and we know very little about them(these perceptions were reflected in the other answers to this question). But

• Historians portray Kalabras rule as a dark period in the history of Thamizhagam this could be since Jain culture was a challenge to the Brahmin culture during the Kalabra era.
• Buddhism also grew in the Kalabhras era from Kanchi, thereby suppressing the Brahmins and the spread of Brahminism. Besides, Brahmins were reduced in their positions and possessions.
• Grants were not continued as before. During Chera, Chola, and Pandya reign, in the age of Brahmanism, where kings used to grant vast lands to the Brahmins of the temples namely Bramadeya, Devadeya, etc.
• The Brahmins became rich and often mistreated the people belonging to the lower caste. This was the main reason for the Kalabhras to revolt and attack the Brahmans, dethrone the king, and establish their own rule. When they came into power they executed Brahmins on a large scale and banned the custom of granting lands to the Brahmins, collection of taxes from villages to run the temple affair.
• During their administration, there was no much development in society, but few steps of development were seen under them in a few fields of society, including Literature and Administration methods.
• Prakrit, a northern language was widely used in Tamil Nadu and benefitted in general.

Counter arguments to people who claim that the Kalabhras didn’t support the growth of the Tamil literature:

• Literature growth is also attributed to them as the immortal great works in Tamil were written in the Kalabhras era. Most of the ‘Pathinenkeezhkanakku’ books were written in this period.
• Jaina Sangam founded by Kalabras encouraged the growth of Tamil literature. The Immortal great works of Kalabras age include: Kural, Silapadhigaram, and Manimegalai.
• Trade and Commerce, Maritime activities were also thriving during Kalabhras reign. Port City was filled with activities and development.

The Kalabhras were called ‘Evil people’ by the citizens of Chola, Pandyan kingdoms because of their barbaric attitude towards Brahmins and nobles of the Royal family whom they respected the most.