The Aryan Invasion theory- Something I am being taught in school right from 5th grade. Unlike most of my classmates who read subjective fields like history and sociology, get influenced by the school of thought which the text book imposes, complying with the personal biases of majority of their professors, prefer not doing additional research or thinking out of the text instead, write in paper whatever is indoctrinated in them, I generally look for a more compatible and objective way of finding historical truth and strongly abide by the reality – although in paper, I need to show them what they “want” to see.
This fallacy of the Indian educational system forced me to explore the truth out of the conformity since within the Institution, never have I ever experienced an environment of free academic debate.
This article consists of 5 main parts-
A. Explanation of the Aryan invasion theory
B. Reasons for its proposal
C. Refutation of the Theory – 8 arguments against the AIT
D. Counter theory based on interpretation of Indo – Greek (Hindu – Pagan) similarities in culture and linguistics
E. Ending notes and future of the AIT
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A] What is the Aryan Invasion Theory –
It states that “Aryan” were a race of tall, fair and blue – eyed people who migrated to the Indian subcontinent from Eastern Europe and Central Asia between 1500 – 2000 BCE, waged war against the original inhabitants of India – the Dasyus or Dravidians of the Indus Valley civilization who were comparatively darker and shorter and forced them to adapt their own Vedic Culture and norms while pushing the Dasyus Southwards.
While the Aryans did this, they designated the caste of “Shudra” to the native Indians while they maintained their ethnic purity of Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas.
B] Why the Aryan Invasion Theory – Reasons by the British.
The proposal of the Theory was an attempt to explain the entry and development of the Hindu Culture which exists today in India along with the Caste system which has a big role to play in society.
It also fairly explains why many people in India have a taller and fairer complexion as compared to others. The Theory also proposes a possibility for the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization or the Harappa civilization at the hands of the Aryan Invaders. This Theory was first proposed by the British Historians when India was a British colony.
C] Refutation of the Aryan Invasion Theory–
1) “Vedic invaders” refutation–
Aryan Invasion Theory states that Aryans, a race entered India from Europe “with the Vedic Culture”.
This point is refuted by the argument – the oldest of the Vedas – Rig Veda mentions all climatic and geographic conditions, plant and animal species and soil conditions that belong to Central and North West parts of the Indian subcontinent.
It would have definitely been impossible for people living in Central Asia and Europe to be aware of these.
2) The Saraswati River argument-
The Rig Veda also makes a special mention of the Saraswati River (Rig veda 7:36:6 and others) which has been proved to be an existing River between 9000 and 5000 years back by a paper published in Nature’s Science Magazine in November, 2019. This period highly contradicts the period when Aryans were said to have come.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-53489-4
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-05745-8
3) Corruption of terminologies by the British-
The term “Aryan” is a Western one used by the British. The Sanskrit term is “Arya” and Arya doesn’t equate to being a “Race” as the English historians mention. Arya simply means a Noble Person while Dasyu too doesn’t refer to a group of people but rather is synonymous for a “thief” or an “evil person” in Sanskrit Language.
4) Authenticity of Ancient Indian History-
The texts Ramayan and Mahabharata which with adequate amount of evidence have been proved to have been narrated since 7000 and 5000 years respectively do mention the term “Aryavrata” (Land of the Nobles) for the Indian Subcontinent or “Bharatvarsh” (Named after King Bharat) at that time. These two epics too have been proved to match the astronomical positioning of the stars with that of what is mentioned in the texts as time of the events.
https://detechter.com/evidences-that-support-mahabharata-actually-happened/
https://www.boloji.com/articles/1052/dating-mahabharata–two-eclipses-in-thirteen-days
5) The so called Aryans and Harappas-
The existence of the submerged city of Dwarka which according to archaeological studies proves to date back 9000 years (7000 BCE) points towards the high probability of the Harrapa and Vedic civilizations to be one and the same, living in co-existence.
The reasons for decline of the Indus Valley civilization holds true merely on the following reasons which are enough to perish any ancient civilization –
i) Changing river patterns leading to loss of water and ineffective drainage system.
ii) Pattern of earthquakes
iii) Proof for diseases in the civilization like leprosy, plague, small pox, etc.
iv) Drastic change in climatic conditions
6) Archaeological dissimilarities-
There appears to be absolutely no similarly between ancient Indian architecture and ancient European or Central Asian architecture which again disapproves the Theory. A civilized, cultural “race” would definitely have left some traces of its development in its place of origin and the same would have been seen in the new place where they would migrate. But this trace is absent completely.
7) DNA argument refutation post experiment-
Later studies have also found evidence for a common gene – R1A1 haplogroup which is common to some Indians as well as Europeans and is called an “Eurasian Gene” implying a gene found at the stretch of India as well as Europe.
This argument falls weak as a result of a study conducted by a team of Journal of Human Genetics which shows a common pattern of the presence of that gene in the percentage of samples collected across the Indian subcontinent from Pakistan in the West to tribals in the East, Kashmiris in the North to the southern Indian States and not only this, but a proportionate sample from all Castes mentioned in the Hindu Scriptures.
This shows that the proposal of a race with a distinguished DNA invading a place and giving a separate caste to the people of that land fails to prove its authenticity when subjected with scientific DNA testing.
https://www.nature.com/articles/jhg20082
8) Colour difference-
The difference in complexion among the Indians too appears to follow the most common pattern which is the universal truth – as a country in the Northern Hemisphere, the
Southern parts of the subcontinent, bring closer to the equator experience more heat as compared to the northern parts.
Hence, the complexion of Indians gradually gets lighter as one moves from extreme South to extreme North. The complexion of Indians on the West – East axis (from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh) remains more or less the exact same considering an average altitude throughout the scale.
The explanation of complexion difference through the Aryan Invasion Theory seems to hold no substance at all since this difference is thoroughly based on geographic conditions!
D] Alternative Possibility of reverse migration
This research on the contrary reverses the migration as proposed earlier and gives incentive to do studies on whether there was migration from the Indian subcontinent towards other countries with more models such as common linguistics between Sanskrit and Greek along with other Latin derived languages as well as many common elements between Indian Hindu and Greek Pagan Mythology and culture have been found in abundance.
This gives some idea that English is not a direct derivative from Latin but there is some amount of Sanskrit interference either directly from Sanskrit to English or indirectly through Latin.
This evolution of linguistics with this deep similarity is next to impossible considering there was no migration from one side.
Out of many a few shall be listed as evidence and incentives for further speculation on the topic by the readers –
1) Cultural Similarities–
Ramayan, Mahabharat and The Trojan War.
Derivation of Saturday, Sunday and Monday from the same planets by both – Babylonians and Indians.
(Saturday, Shanivaar – named after Saturn or Shani.
Sunday, Ravivaar – named after the Sun or Ravi.
Monday, Saumvaar – named after the Moon or Saum)
The common pagan deities – Indra and Lord Zeus (both the king of all Gods,Responsible for lightning and Thunder and in possession of a similar looking weapon)
Hindus and Greek pagans – Nature Worshippers, idol worshippers and have a God for everything – Sky, Fire, Water, Sun, Planets, etc.
2) Linguistic Similarities–
Common linguistics between Sanskrit and and English with Latin as the mediating language
Sweet and स्वाद
Penta and पंच
Dental and दन्त:
Man and मनु
Cow and गौ
Mother and मैत्री
Anonymous and अनामिका
Door and द्वार
Medium and मध्यम
Me and मम:
Credible reference-
This idea of opposite migration has also been highly elaborated and explained in the book called, “Return of The Aryans” Authored by Shri. Bhagwandas Gidwani.
https://penguin.co.in/book/fiction/return-of-the-aryans/
E] Ending Notes-
1) Success of Agenda-
The Aryan Invasion Theory was a great weapon for the British to defend their narrative of being foreigners and invaders and justifying the same with designating the Hindus of India with the same title.
This Theory successfully divided the already unstable Hindu Society during the British rule on the grounds of caste, colour, ethnicity and North – South geography.
2) Future of the Aryan Invasion Theory-
It is unfortunate that many schools still teach the AIT not as a mere theory but as the truth. However, in recent times there have been historians and archaeologists refuting with debates, discussions and research articles that are published either to defend or refute the AIT.
For the first time in the history of independent India, this topic is being given attention in a number of educational institutions. However, there is no change or addition of reverse arguments or refutation of the AIT that seems to be present in the history text books of today. The HRD ministry under the current Indian Government will hopefully bring a change through their New Educational Policy after 60 years of previous government’s monopoly on the subject of History – agenda based, biased, falsified and truth suppressing History.
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