There is now a debate among the scholars of history on whether Aryans came to India from outside or whether they were Indian natives, and Aryan Invasion Theory is false
ANISH DHOPESHWARKAR
In 2005, a huge controversy erupted in high schools in California, regarding their history curriculum where accusers claimed that Indian history was presented in a distorted form - with respect to caste system, Aryan migration theory, status of women etc. The case was settled in the next few years after negotiations and the board made the necessary changes. But the burning question still remains- Were Aryans invaders or natives who were termed as invaders?
Invasion Theory
Around 92 scientists conducted a research by collecting DNA samples of 600 ancient individuals and matched them with modern South Asian individuals, to check the “sources” of the people currently residing in South Asia. They came up with the following possible conclusions:
Natives of South Asia, hunter-gathering tribes like those found on Andaman Archipelago.
Iranian Agriculturists- who came to India, and started the cultivation of wheat and barley
Pastorals of area north of Afghanistan- Pastoral tribes dominating area north of Afghanistan (modern day Central Asia- Eastern Europe)
According to them Indus valley civilisation was dominated by the native tribes and the Iranian Agriculturists.
Around 2000 BCE a tribe of pastorals who domesticated horses (Aryans) migrated down to Indus valley civilisation. The natives of Indus valley civilisation who mixed with the ‘new settlers’ and remained in the northern part of the country, became ancestral north Indian. Kingdoms like Magadha, Kosala etc were founded by them.
Those who refused to mix up with these ‘new settlers’ and migrated down to the south came to be known as Ancestral South Indians.
Criticism of Invasion Theory
Some Indian historians claimed that this theory of Aryan invasion was British interpretation of Rig Veda to set the narrative that native Indians were always enslaved and ruled upon by invaders coming from the west, in order to establish their dominance.
One of the major critiques of the invasion theory was Dr Davil Frowley who said “in the Vedas, Puranas, Mahabharata there is mention of the river Saraswati and the existence of a civilisation on its banks. Around 4000 years ago, this river dried up and the people migrated to the banks of Indus river, where the Indus valley civilisation began.”
According to him, the sites which were excavated by the Geographical Survey of India, with a blend of Geography and Archaeology, in the areas which are presumed to be the location of Saraswati valley civilisation, are five times bigger than the towns of Indus valley civilisation.
Dr Frowley outright rejected the Aryan invasion theory calling it a “propaganda of West to undermine India”.
What now?
Some discussion and debates among intellectuals never end, unless some new factual data is discovered which tilts in favour of debate in one direction. As of now, in most of the curriculums followed in schools, both versions of history are taught and the decision to take sides in this debate is left upon the students. This, hoping the students might take up research to bring some new data under light. But until then, the “invaders” are the ones who enjoy the upper hand!
