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Right-wing US historian insists 'Aryans were indigenous to India'
Throwing
his weight behind the ‘Aryan Project’ by Delhi University’s Sanskrit
department, noted American scholar David Frawley said there is a need
for an extensive new Vedic study, and insisted that Aryans were
indigenous to India.
“There
is a need for extensive new Vedic study and research in India,
including considering the mantric and yogic dimensions of Vedic
knowledge,” Frawley said on Monday while giving a presentation of his
findings on ‘Aryan Theory in The Light of Textual Evidences’.
Vedic
literary evidence — the largest, best preserved and most complete from
the early ancient world — reflects a compilation over a long period of
time by several kingdoms and dynasties, he said.
Controversial: American scholar David
Frawley is a leading challenger of the 'Aryan Invasion Theory' in the
study of Vedic history
“Such a vast literature cannot exist without a civilization to produce and sustain it over the centuries.”
“No
literary evidence of Aryan invasion or migration. So called textual
references to Aryan invasion/migration require changing meaning of words
and taking them out of context.
"For
example, Arya was a term of respect and not about ethnicity. Dark
skinned Dasyus are only forces of Avidya or darkness, not a racial
metaphor,” Frawley added.
The western born teacher in the Vedic tradition is popular for his books in which he has rejected the ‘Aryan Invasion Theory’.
The
Sanskrit department, which has started the project to prove that Aryans
were indigenous to the country, will hold at least seven lectures.
It also plans to invite national and international scholars to speak on the issue.
The
‘Aryan Invasion Theory’ is a hotly contested one in the academic world.
Noted historians like Romila Thapar and D. N. Jha support the theory,
while right-wing historians claim that Aryans were indigenous to the
country.
“This
debate has been there for long but we never had the Sanskrit department
doing anything about it. Where were they all these years? Why all of a
sudden they have come out. This shows they have a backing now. No
historian takes Frawley seriously. His right-wing credentials are well
known,” Jha remarked.
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Mail Today
US author on board for 'Aryan project': Hindu scholar to give lecture at Delhi University
Professor David Frawley will deliver a lecture to counter the “Marxist and western” concept that Aryans were invaders
Delhi University’s Sanskrit Department has its task cut out: to prove that the Aryans were not aliens but indigenous people.
Keeping
that aim in mind, the department is all set to begin its controversial
project, which was announced in September, and on Monday an American
author will deliver a lecture to counter the “Marxist and western”
concept that Aryans were invaders.
On
Monday, American author David Frawley will be the first to express his
views on the multi-series ‘Aryan Project’. Frawley, founder of the
American Institute of Vedic Studies, will speak on ‘Aryan Theory in The
Light of Textual Evidences’ at the university. In his books, Frawley has
rejected the ‘Aryan Invasion Theory’.
Contentious issue
The
‘Aryan Invasion Theory’ is a contentious issue. Noted historians like
Romila Thapar and D.N. Jha support the theory which claims that Aryans
came from outside India as invaders. However, the rightwing historians
reject the invasion theory, claiming Aryans were indigenous Indians who
established the Saraswati Valley civilisation.
“Frawley
is one of the many speakers who have worked for several years on this
topic. In his books, ‘The Myth of the Aryan Invasion of India’ and ‘In
Search of the Cradle of Civilization’, Frawley criticises the
19th-century racial interpretation of Indian prehistory, such as the
theory of the conflict between invading Caucasoid Aryans and
Dravidians,” head of Sanskrit Department Ramesh Bhardwaj told MAIL
TODAY.
Bhardwaj
said the department will conduct at least seven lectures. “We are using
seven tools, including textual evidence, archaeological evidences,
linguistics, comparative religion, comparative folk literature and
genetic mapping. We will organise seminars, workshops and talks on each
of these tools. Experts from the country and abroad will come and
present their works. We will compile all the evidences,” he said.
He
said the department has no funds and they will soon approach the Indian
Council for Historical Research (ICHR) for conducting further research.
“We have some funds but that is not enough. We will write to the
university and to the ICHR for more funds,” he said.
In September, the Sanskrit Department had announced that it will undertake research to prove that Aryans were not migrants.
The controversial project is the brainchild of Delhi University’s Sanskrit Department (Picture for representation)
The
Sanskrit Department had also announced that it will undertake a
thorough study of History textbooks of various state and national boards
to prepare a detailed on report on representation of ‘Vedic age and
Aryan culture’ in History books and suggest a revision. The report will
be submitted to the HRD ministry asking them to take corrective
measures.
“Aryan
culture and Vedic age is not being truly reflected in textbooks of
almost all the boards, including CBSE and state boards. Only western and
Marxist views are being reflected at present. We will study and make a
report on what should be reflected in books. Like, the ‘Aryan Migration
Theory’ is debatable. So why not give students the version of Indian
historians too? We will use textual evidences and the researches done in
the last 100 years,” Bhardwaj had said.
Bhardwaj said he is aware that the move might gain political colours, but insisted that it should be looked as pure academics.
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