HVK Archives: Indologists discount Aryan influx theory
Indologists discount Aryan influx theory - The Economic Times
Nitish S Rele
()
16 October 1996
Title : Indologists discount Aryan influx theory
Author : Nitish S Rele
Publication : The Economic Times
Date : October 16, 1996
A CONFERENCE of over 300 Indologists here has rejected
the Aryan invasion theory.
The conference on `Revisiting Indus-Saraswati Age and
Ancient India,' attended by scholars all over the world,
was aimed at correcting the 'distorted Hindu history,'
according to Ms Reeta Singh, one of the organisers.
"Recent archaeological discoveries have fully established
that there was a continuous evolution of civilization on
the Indian subcontinent from about 5000 BC, which re-
mained uninterrupted through 1 000 BC. This leaves no
scope whatsoever to support an Aryan invasion theory," a
resolution at the conference said.
It explained that the term Arya in Indian literature has
no racial or linguistic connotations. It was used in Me
noble sense.
The conference dealt mainly with four areas. The main
emphasis was on providing new archaeological data, dis-
covery of an astronomical code and, their relationship to
the theory of Aryan invasion of India. The second area
was related to Vedic concepts such as 'Jnana,' Hindu
dharma and human rights. The third area related to the
scientific and mathematical contributions of ancient
Hindus and the last to the role of women in the Vedic
age.
Ms Singh said that 'the main challenge in front of us is
to get the leadership in the hands of next generation of
American Hindus.'
The delegates urged the governments of India and other
countries to promote archaeological research in the
Indian subcontinent to clarify the many new discoveries
about the ancient history of the region.
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Basdeo Pandey present-
ed the inaugural address at the Conference. Other speak-
ers included Prof B B Lal, former director eneral of
Archaeological Survey of India, Emeritus Prof Robert N
Ande s n of San Jose State University, Prof Shiva G
Bajpai of California State University, Mr David Frawley
of American Institute of Vedic Studies. Vedic scholar
Dharma Jit Jtgyasu, Prof Subhash C Kak of Louisiana state
University and Prof Klaus Klostermaier of University of
Manitoba.
The conference was sponsored by the Greater Atlanta Vedic
Temple Society, Hindu University of America, Atlanta
Hindu Society, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Chapter Atlanta,
Arya Samaj Chicago and several other organisations and
individuals.
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