Part II. No Aryans: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

 #NoAryans 

 

1.     Does Archeological record or genetic record support Aryan invasion/migration?

 

The archaeological record does not support it. The crux of the Aryan theory is that an outside group of people spuriously named as Aryans (no race of this name is ever known in India) came from the Central Asian Steppes and took over India to change it beyond recognition. “They came, they conquered, they changed,” is how it is presented in books. This robs India of civilizational continuity and superimposes a racial divide that did not exist prior to the arrival of the British.

For this theory to work three points of evidence are necessary.

A.   Weapons and destruction on the path of their supposed arrival: It is said that Aryan destroyed Indus valley cities and then proceeded to India. Indus valley cities merely declined due to ravages of the environment. No largescale destruction or weapons are found at any excavations of Indus valley cities.

B.    An equally complicated and sophisticated civilization to that of the Indus Valley Civilization on the Steppes is not found. For an outsider civilization to send a substantial amount of its population out to conquer there should be sufficient development and stability within its own civilization. No such strong civilization that could rival or conquer Indus Valley Civilization was in the Steppes, the supposed home of mythical Aryans.

C.    No genetic evidence of the arrival of largescale human groups is found in India datable to the supposed Aryan period (2000-1500BCE). The male and female genetic heritage of almost all Indians is derived from Founder genetic heritage (80,000 Years Ago) which evolved in India. Please check the answer for Question 3 for more information. 

 

2.     What about Greeks and others who came from time to time to India and made India their home?

 

That may be so. These are historically attested small migration and they haven’t destroyed the existing civilization or imposed themselves to bring changes to the living culture of India. What we are considering here is the supposed Aryan arrival (2000-1500 BCE), occupation, and replacement, which did not happen.

There might have been small migrations of populations that came to India and finally became part of the cultural mosaic of India. The issue we are discussing here is about the invasion/migration of hoards of horse-riding outsiders, who conquered, destroyed, and altered India from the original culture and civilization. The problem is that this theory posits the indigenous culture of India, Hinduism, and original texts the Vedas as brought into India by these outside invaders/migrants. As discussed above in the answer to question 1 there was no evidence for such invasion/migration in genetic or archaeological records.

 

India always welcomed people that lived peacefully and contributed to the cultural ethos of India. In addition, they did not migrate to such large groups to affect change in demography or culture. In fact, the Greeks being polytheists appreciated and received the Indian culture well. Greeks are the first people to record authentic tales of India and Indians. Some of the Greeks assimilated and absorbed the culture of India. In fact, one of the earliest Bhagavata inscriptions is issued by Bhagavata Antialkidas, Greek ambassador, as noted in the Vidisa/Bidisa inscriptions. Early Indians and Greeks also lived and traded together in the Mediterranean. The archeological record shows long-standing relations of mutual respect and admiration between India with Greece and Rome. It is probable that some of the westerners may have lived in India and similarly, some Indians may have lived in their territories.

 

3.     My friend told me there is genetic evidence for the arrival of Aryans.

 

No. Whatever your friend might have told you this view is only a vestige of the older theory of Aryan invasion/migration, which is not supported by any historical evidence but imposed on Indian history during the British rule using vague linguistic theories. Now that this theory is proved baseless some lingering ideas are being circulated. It is your job to learn about the lack of evidence for that British-imposed-colonial theory and enlighten him/her.

 

This theory of a single race going around the world occupying, destroying, and completely replacing the native cultures is derived from theories of racial superiority. This has led to the Holocaust. In fact, the racist theory of Aryans is so fluid that any racist can adapt and use it in any way suitable for him to bring about utter destruction as it happened in the case of the Holocaust. That proves how dangerous this theory of Aryan migration/invasion is even though any evidence for it is completely lacking.

For more information on genetic information, which disproved Aryan migration and invasion please read my previous blog post and research publication provided in the link below:

https://manthratalk.blogspot.com/2020/08/noaryans-frequently-asked-questions-and.html

4.     There is a tribe called Aryans, what do you say about that.

 

We don’t really know who these tribes are, but it is a tourist phenomenon in recent years. It is a lucrative tourist attraction to label a tribe Aryan. These are found in nations spread between Central Asia to Indian Subcontinent. However, the issue being discussed here is about the supposed arrival of Aryan hoards that replaced the indigenous people and their culture on a large scale. I don’t think any of these tribes were responsible for any such destruction. Their tribal culture and folklore don’t indicate that.

 

5.     They told me there is a difference between Southern and Northern Indian genetic heritage.

 

Whoever is telling you this theory is assuming your naivete and continuing the colonial legacy. Colonial administration through historians assumed their subjects as silent passive receptors. This is a continuation of that colonialist outlook. They are assuming that you are not going to check for facts or evidence and silently accept what they are telling. This had been the case of Indian history for the past century. Change the status quo and find more information to counter anyone telling you these spurious theories.

 

6.     Could we consider Indus Valley/Vedic civilization as part of Indian civilization or is it considered outside civilization?

 

Yes. Indus valley civilization is part of Indian civilization. Indus Valley cannot be considered outside since for Ancient India the Subcontinent of India is considered as the civilizational zone. Indus valley is also the geographical region where the Vedic texts through their revelations locate the sacred geography of Hindus and other Dharmics (Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs). Symbols and practices associated with Indus Valley Civilization are noticed across India.

Continuity of Indus symbols, practices still persist in Indian culture, so what was assumed about their destruction is completely wrong. The decline of Indus valley civilization only indicated a cultural shift rather than sudden destruction.

Cultural Shifts are a natural part of history and do not decrease the continuity of a civilization. The long-standing Indian civilization is evolved from a mixture of practices and symbols derived from numerous such Cultural Shifts across the Subcontinent. Different geographical regions proved favorable for the evolution of Indian culture at different periods of time. The resulting Indian civilization is the long-standing multi-faceted, multi-linguistic, and pluralistic civilization, an amazing continuation from millennia ago.