Agenda The Aryan myth in perspective History, science and politics
Thursday, May 19, 2022
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Sports
  • Business
  • More
    • RSS in News
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • RSS in News
  • Subscribe
Home General

Agenda The Aryan myth in perspective History, science and politics

Archive Manager by Archive Manager
Dec 7, 2008, 12:00 am IST
in General
Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement chairman Sohail Abro

Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement chairman Sohail Abro

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegramEmail

It is now more than a century since the Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT) made its way into history books and encyclopedias the world over, as the basis for the history of ancient India and the source of the Vedic civilization. Though linguistic in origin, the climate in which it evolved?dominated by British colonialism and German nationalism?ensured that it soon acquired a political and even biological form, giving rise to such notions as the Aryan race and the Aryan nation. Government departments in British India like the Anthropological Survey mixed up physical appearance and character traits and made it a tool of divide and rule.

Because of its European origin and orientation, there were attempts to shift the origin of the Vedic Civilization and its language to sources in lands closer to Europe. This gave rise to an academic discipline called Indo-European Studies, devoted to exploring the origin of Europeans, their language and culture. A major result of this approach has been to make India and its culture including the Vedas to be of non-Indian origin. The Aryan invasion (or migration) has been the lynchpin of this discipline.

While the defeat of Nazi Germany and end of European colonialism put an end to the political needs of these theories, they have survived in Western academia because of the heavy investment that scholars have made in Indo-European studies. Recent findings in science, particularly in population genetics have delivered a mortal blow to the Aryan Invasion Theory. This has led its proponents to resort to propaganda and political lobbying to save it by overturning scientific and historical facts.

This campaigning, like during the recent controversy over the revision of California schools curriculum, is only the latest manifestation of the kind of struggle that is waged whenever new discoveries overthrow old ideas. The most famous of these took place in the time of Galileo. In the end, the supporters of Indo-European studies are no more likely to succeed than Galileo'sopponents, who too had the support of powerful political and religious interests. Ultimately, it is truth not personalities that will prevail though the battle for truth is likely to be prolonged. It is best to take a long-term view and prepare the ground for a new generation of researchers.

Background: a myth that refuses to die

When judged by evidence and logic, the various Aryan theories, especially the Aryan invasion theory (AIT) must be regarded one of the weakest intellectual exercises in recent history?an intellectual failure of the first magnitude. But if longevity and capacity for survival are measures of success, then the Aryan myth?it is hardly a theory?must be counted among the most successful. A product of speculations in comparative linguistics, influenced by German nationalism and British imperialism, it has continued its influence in academia and beyond for well over a century. Even today, when the whole foundation has collapsed, it has not lost its capacity to influence events, of which the recent controversy over proposed changes in what is taught in California schools is only the latest example.

How are we to explain this and what needs to be done to ensure that such a pathological situation does not persist indefinitely into the future? These are weighty questions that have to be addressed at several levels? factual, educational and political. They clearly lie beyond the scope of a single article like the present one. So what is done here is to place it in perspective by looking at the present debate and the turmoil that it has created as a natural human reaction whenever there is a fundamental shift in world-view, as happened in the time of Galileo. We begin by looking at the latest scientific and historical facts pertaining to the Aryan myth.

(To be concluded)

ShareTweetSendShareSend
Previous News

Think It Over Jaina Dharma: An Assessment

Next News

Media Watch Sensationalism and trivialisation as news

Related News

MHA did not freeze bank accounts of Missionaries of Charity (MoC), SBI informed MoC itself sent a request to SBI to freeze its accounts

Act to unify three municipal corporations of Delhi into one entity will come into force from May 22

Failure to understand ‘actual’ Pak designs led to ineffective war against terror

Political distress in Pakistan, a boon for terrorists

Goafest 2022 Celebrating ‘Superpower Within’

Goafest 2022 Celebrating ‘Superpower Within’

China forces Tibetan parents to learn Mandarin

Chinese authorities detain 170 Tibetans for opposing grazing land confiscation orders

Thirty-four ‘from outside J&K’ buy properties in new Union Territory

J-K: Not only humans, Pak sponsored terror didn’t spare even nature

Taliban hijab decision might further strain engagement with the international community: UN

Afghanistan: UN female staff ‘directed’ to wear hijab at the office in Taliban’s newest decree

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

MHA did not freeze bank accounts of Missionaries of Charity (MoC), SBI informed MoC itself sent a request to SBI to freeze its accounts

Act to unify three municipal corporations of Delhi into one entity will come into force from May 22

Failure to understand ‘actual’ Pak designs led to ineffective war against terror

Political distress in Pakistan, a boon for terrorists

Goafest 2022 Celebrating ‘Superpower Within’

Goafest 2022 Celebrating ‘Superpower Within’

China forces Tibetan parents to learn Mandarin

Chinese authorities detain 170 Tibetans for opposing grazing land confiscation orders

Thirty-four ‘from outside J&K’ buy properties in new Union Territory

J-K: Not only humans, Pak sponsored terror didn’t spare even nature

Taliban hijab decision might further strain engagement with the international community: UN

Afghanistan: UN female staff ‘directed’ to wear hijab at the office in Taliban’s newest decree

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses grief over wall collapse tragedy in Gujarat, announces compensation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expresses grief over wall collapse tragedy in Gujarat, announces compensation

Gyanvapi structure row: KVT trust chairman demands handover of Shivling to Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Gyanvapi structure row: KVT trust chairman demands handover of Shivling to Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Gujarat AIMIM leader Danish Qureshi arrested for disrespecting  Hindu Gods

Gujarat AIMIM leader Danish Qureshi arrested for disrespecting Hindu Gods

Union Minister Amit Shah to inaugurate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav conference in Delhi tomorrow

From ‘Swaraj to New India’; Amit Shah to address an international seminar at DU tomorrow

  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Special Report
  • Sci & Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Books
  • Interviews
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Obituary
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies