Roman Catholics of India’s western coast genetically close to Gaud Saraswat Brahmins: Study
May 24, 2025
  • Read Ecopy
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • International
  • Opinion
  • Op Sindoor
  • More
    • Analysis
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Special Report
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • G20
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Vocal4Local
    • Web Stories
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
MAGAZINE
  • ‌
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • North America
    • South America
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • International
  • Opinion
  • Op Sindoor
  • More
    • Analysis
    • Sports
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Culture
    • Special Report
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • G20
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • Vocal4Local
    • Web Stories
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Law
    • Health
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
Organiser
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • International Edition
  • RSS in News
  • Magazine
  • Read Ecopy
Organiser Weekly is Hiring!
Home Bharat

Roman Catholics of India’s western coast genetically close to Gaud Saraswat Brahmins: Study

by WEB DESK
Aug 28, 2021, 12:00 am IST
in Bharat
FacebookTwitterWhatsAppTelegramEmail

The researchers have concluded that the Roman Catholics of Goa, Kumta, and Mangalore regions are the remnants of very early lineages of a Brahmin community of India, majorly with Indo-European-specific genetic composition.

 

New Delhi: The west coast of India harbours a rich diversity of various ethnolinguistic human population groups. The Roman Catholic is one such distinct group whose origin is much debated. Some historians and anthropologists relate them to the ancient group of Gaud Saraswat. Others believe they are members of the Jewish Lost Tribes during first-century migration to India.

A recent study conducted by CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), and DST-Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, in collaboration with Mangalore University, Canadian Institute for Jewish Research, and Institute of Advanced Materials, Sweden, has come out with some new insights on the debate.

Researchers analysed the DNA of 110 individuals from the Roman Catholic community of Goa, Kumta, and Mangalore. They compared the genetic information of the Roman Catholic group with previously published DNA data from India and West Eurasia. They correlated the information with archaeological, linguistic and historical records. The exercise has helped fill in many of the key details about the demographic changes and history of the Roman Catholic population of South West of India since the Iron Age (until around 2,500 years ago) and how they relate to the contemporary Indian population.

The researchers have concluded that the Roman Catholics of Goa, Kumta, and Mangalore regions are the remnants of very early lineages of a Brahmin community of India, majorly with Indo-European-specific genetic composition. This study also found the consequences of the Portuguese inquisition in Goa on the population history of Roman Catholics and some indication of the Jewish component. The findings have been published as a research paper in the scientific journal “Human Genetics”.

“Our genetic study revealed that majority of the Roman Catholics are genetically close to an early lineage of Gaud Saraswat community”, said Dr. Kumarasamy Thangaraj, Chief Scientist, CSIR-CCMB, & Director, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, and senior author of the study.

He further added, “More than 40 percent of their paternally inherited Y chromosomes can be grouped under R1a haplogroup. Such a genetic signal is prevalent among populations of north India, the Middle East and Europe, and unique to this population in Konkan region.”

Dr Niraj Rai, Senior Scientist, DST-BSIP, Lucknow, the co-corresponding author of the paper, said, “This study strongly suggests profound cultural transformations in ancient South West of India. This has mostly happened due to continuous migration and mixing events since last 2500 years”.

“The origins of many population groups in India like the Jews and Parsis are not well- understood. These are gradually unfolding with advances in modern and ancient population genetics. Roman Catholics are one of them with much-debated history of origin based on inferences of anthropologists and historians,” said Lomous Kumar, first author of the paper.

“This multi-disciplinary study using history, anthropology, and genetics information has helped us understand the population history of Roman Catholics from one of the most diverse and multi-cultural regions of our country”, said Dr Vinay K Nandikoori, Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad.

Courtesy: India Science Wire

ShareTweetSendShareSend
Subscribe Organiser YouTube Channel
Previous News

Dheeran Chinnamalai: A Warrior who laid down his life for sovereignty of kongu soil

Next News

Puli Thevar- The First Indian King To Defeat The British

Related News

Tamil Nadu: Madras HC stays 10 new laws on Vice-Chancellor appointment

From diplomacy to devotion: All-party team briefed on Operation Sindoor, visits BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi

S Gurumurthy, addressing a selected gathering at Raj Bhavan, Kerala on the topic “Operation Sindoor: Paradigm Shift from Candle Light to BrahMos”

Pakistan is terroristan, and “hate Bharat” is its motto, says S. Gurumurthy

National Herald Case: ED names Telangana CM Revanth Reddy in chargesheet, but not as accused

The Expansion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghanistan: Implications for India

Indian Armed forces wrote final manifesto of Maoist Basavaraju; Vinod Kumar Jha of ABVP gets justice

Load More

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

Tamil Nadu: Madras HC stays 10 new laws on Vice-Chancellor appointment

From diplomacy to devotion: All-party team briefed on Operation Sindoor, visits BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi

S Gurumurthy, addressing a selected gathering at Raj Bhavan, Kerala on the topic “Operation Sindoor: Paradigm Shift from Candle Light to BrahMos”

Pakistan is terroristan, and “hate Bharat” is its motto, says S. Gurumurthy

National Herald Case: ED names Telangana CM Revanth Reddy in chargesheet, but not as accused

The Expansion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghanistan: Implications for India

Indian Armed forces wrote final manifesto of Maoist Basavaraju; Vinod Kumar Jha of ABVP gets justice

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar (File Photo)

Cessation of firing and military action negotiated directly between India, Pakistan: EAM Jaishankar

India-Pakistan Relations in 2025: Terrorism, military strategy and diplomatic realignment

Bullets in the Jungle, Tears in the City: The urban naxal response after Maoist encounter

Union Home Minister Amit Shah

PM Modi’s strong political will, accurate intel info, Armed forces lethality: Amit Shah hails Operation Sindoor

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping

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

  • Home
  • Search Organiser
  • Bharat
    • Assam
    • Bihar
    • Chhattisgarh
    • Jharkhand
    • Maharashtra
    • View All States
  • World
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • North America
    • South America
    • Europe
    • Australia
    • Global Commons
  • Editorial
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • Entertainment
  • More ..
    • Sci & Tech
    • Vocal4Local
    • Special Report
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Politics
    • Law
    • Economy
    • Obituary
    • Podcast
  • Subscribe Magazine
  • Read Ecopy
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Policies & Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Refund and Cancellation
    • Terms of Use

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