Before we debunk this theory, lets first understand who propagated this theory in the first place and what the argument is all about. The Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT) was introduced by a German scholar named Max Muller in 1853 CE. He claimed that a group of nomads called ‘Aryans’ came from an unknown land (possibly central Asia) and invaded and conquered northern India around 1,500 BCE. They destroyed the ancient Dravidian civilization that existed in the Indus Valley and forced their culture (Vedas) and language (Sanskrit) on them. This theory undermines the unity and originality of India and its Vedic heritage. Therefore, we need to examine the evidence from our scriptures archaeology, genetic studies, and history to refute this theory.
Let’s go One by One.
Rebutting AIT’s dating of Rig Veda
Rig Veda which is India’s ancient foundational, philosophical and cultural sacred text contains several references to Saraswati river. It has often been described as magnificent and greatest of all the rivers of Bharat and sometimes as Mother of all the rivers and sometimes as “Naditama” meaning the widest of all rivers. Rig Veda mentions the holy River Saraswati at least 60 times, while River Ganga is mentioned only once or twice. The Vedic literature is full of hymns and shloka’s praising river Saraswati and almost begging her to not abandon Bharat and its citizens suggesting a steady decline in the water levels of this river and finally resulting in its complete disappearance.
Extensive research by means of modern satellite imagery by LANDSAT Satellite of the US in 1990 as well as imagery done by Indian remote sensing satellite was able to locate the dry bed of a mighty river that once flowed between Yamuna and Ganga in the East and Sutlej and Sindhu in the west coursing through Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat and draining into Arabian Sea in the gulf of Kutch. It also established that this river changed her course several times, going completely dry between 2200 and 1900 BCE due to a global draught-like conditions world wide turning the area into dessert. This draught along with desiccation of the Saraswati caused the fall of civilization which resulted in abandonment of towns and migration of people towards the Ganga valley. It is thus clear that Harappan or Sindu-Saraswati Civilization did not end in 1500 BCE but much earlier in 2200 and 1900 BCE. These findings completely destroy the argument of the AIT that Rig Veda was composed after the so called Aryan invasion or migration somewhere around 1,500 BCE.
All scientific studies point out that Rigveda was composed closer to 5,000 BCE or even before that when the river was in its prime because of such precise descriptions in the Vedas about Sarawati’s glorious existence.
Debunking AIT basis Dating of Dwarka Ruins-
Earlier, the AIT advocated that the Mahabharata epic was a fictional work of a highly talented poet or if not fictional, then the war at best happened only around 1,000 BCE. In Mahabharata’s Musala Parva (this Parva describes the destruction of the Yadavas), Lord Krishna pre warns the residents of Dwaraka to vacate the city as the sea would soon submerge it.
Between 1984-88, Dr S.R Rao and his team of the Indian Marine Archaeology Unit unearthed the ruins of the submerged city of Dwarka off the Gujarat coast. They found artefacts dated prior to 3,000 BCE. The discovery of the submerged city Dwarka is a very significant evidence in debunking the Aryan invasion theory as well as its suggested date of 1,500 BCE. Its discovery and similarity with the Harappan civilization, not only establishes the authenticity of Mahabharata war but also clinches the traditional antiquity of Mahabharata and also again proves that Veda’s pre dated even the Mahabharata.
Debunking AIT through Genetics study-
Harvard School of Public Health and India’s Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology conducted a revolutionary study in September 2009 that investigated the ancestral history of Indians. The study went into analysis of 500,000 genetic markers across the genomes of 132 individuals from 25 diverse groups from 13 states. All the selected individuals were from six-language families and different castes and tribal groups. The result of this analysis was that it was impossible to distinguish between castes and tribes since their genetics proved they were not systematically different. The study concluded that there is a genetic relationship between all Indians and more importantly, the difference between north and south Indians is at most a myth.
The M17 gene is heavily predominant in India and also in other adjacent regions however as you go westward towards Europe it becomes increasingly rare. Another fact is that M17 Gene is more diverse than its European carriers suggesting that the Indians are an older group than Europeans. In Genealogy parlance, the more diverse Gene the older it is, which also goes on to indicate a movement from East to West rather than West to East which AIT propagates.
Biologically, both north and south Indians all are of the same type. Only when closer to the equator the skin gets darker due to the higher influence of heat. The study demonstrates that most Bharatiyas are genetically alike, thus debunking one of the core principles of the AIT, namely the Aryan-Dravidian divide.
Archaeological Evidences debunking AIT Theory
Archaeologists have discovered more than 2500 settlements, such as Ropar in Punjab, Lothal and Dholavira in Gujarat. These stretch from Baluchistan down to Tapti valley, covering nearly a million and half square kilometers. These are mostly concentrated along the now dried up River Saraswati.
By studying the fossils and DNA of Marine Life under the sea, scientists discovered how changes in the climate caused a downfall of the Harappan Civilization. The Vedic people left their settlements because of the river Saraswati’s disastrous disappearance and not because of any invasion. The advanced Vedic dwellers of the S-SC Civilization (Sindhu Saraswati Civilization) basin migrated to East and south of India as well as towards Europe.
Other Factors Helping Prove AIT’s Myth-
If the Aryans were outsiders, why didn’t they name places in India after places they allegedly came from, once they ‘conquered’ India? Why did they sing praises and bestowed the status of goddesses and gods to peninsular India’s numerous rivers and mountains? Some un answered questions remain as to Why did Aryans, who came from outside regard India as sacred and not their original homeland? Muslims have Mecca as their holy place just as Catholics have Rome or Jerusalem.
For the Hindus, their pilgrim centers range from Kailash in the North, to Rameshwaram in the South; and from Hingalaj (Sindh) in the West to Parushuram kund (Arunachal Pradesh) in the East.
The Holy land of Hindu’s is defined by the seven sacred rivers that the Vedas extol. Kanchipuram, Dwarka and Ujjain are the three of the seven holy cities located in south, west and central respectively. The seven holy rivers glorified in the Vedic scriptures chart out the map of the holy land of their very Origin.
Conclusion-
The Aryan Invasion Theory was nothing but a tool for the Britishers to defend their narrative of invading and then conquering India and thus justifying this action to the original inhabitants and followers of Sanatana Dharma. There is now a mountain of evidence that shows that the Aryan Invasion Theory or its migration version is nothing but a myth. It is a deeply flawed and dangerous relic of a racially motivated colonial enterprise and we as young Indians should educate others so that they do not fall for this fake narrative.
Jai Hind!
