The Myth of the Aryan Invasion of India

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the post-colonial culture of India, rampant with the demonstration of historical superiority of the British culture, includes the representation of the ancient history of the Indian region as dominated by a fictitious Aryan race that overthrew the Indus Valley people. The author points out that this myth is a clear demonstration of the attempt to bolster the idea of superiority, and therefore, permit the dominance over the Indian population during the colonial occupation. The paper relates that the myth itself can be recounted through "legitimate" literature of the early and mid 20th century, the Sanhita ("collection") of the "Rig-Veda", a purely lyrical assortment of songs, which the Hindus brought with them from their ancient homes on the banks of the Indus.

From the Paper:

"The results of such a rethinking and rewriting of history are, as of yet, unknown; but the cultural identity of the Indian people will clearly be redefined by the new view of the events of the disappearance of the Indus Valley people. One of the most prominent British historians of the colonial and early post colonial period demonstrates the idea that there is little evidence of a real Aryan conquest. "Of the effects of the Aryan settlements in India itself in the earliest period, we have no real evidence beyond certain scattered allusions in Vedic literature, and some faint local traditions." "

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