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Aborigines may have Indian roots

Aborigines may have Indian roots

Author: Abraham Thomas/New Delhi
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: November 27, 2002

Blame it on land, water or food, but all this had prompted Indian tribals million years ago to migrate to Australia. Now, tracing this route is an Indian scientist, Dr Pathmanathan Raghavan, who claims that a few among these Indians can be found even today among the numerous aboriginal tribes of Australia.

Dr Raghavan, a senior research associate and scientist with Australian Research Council, Canberra, has reasons to prove his theory. Through his project titled "Exploration of Indian Heritage Links with Australia", Dr Raghavan records his findings that establish close links between Indian tribals and Australian aborigines.

It is interesting to note how these people made their way to the land that is present-day Australia. Said Dr Raghavan, "sea route was the easily accessible route as the sea-level then was about 900 metres less than what it is now". "Hence, if a raft or a small boat could be constructed, it enabled them to sail swiftly to the other coast," he added.

Most of these migrating groups never followed a direct route to Australia. The nearest landmass to the Indian subcontinent then was the Java Coast where most of these groups had settled. An interesting aspect about these groups, Mr Raghavan notes is that they were always on the look-out for new land and this may have prompted them to travel as far as Australia.

But how were they able to discover this landmass which was separated by millions of miles on the other side of the sea? Answers Dr Raghavan, "wildfires in the distant forests may have guided the then tribals to this land." Another possible reason, he cites, is the route of the migratory birds. "These birds which flew from the Java Coast in one season were seen to return to the same land in another season. All this could have made these nomadic tribes aware of the presence of land at the other end of the sea." He cites two particular reasons to confirm his findings. One is based on common skeletal and anatomical features, while his second contention relates to rituals commonly practised by the tribals of India and aborigines of Australia.

The skeletal analysis of skull and long bones according to Dr Raghavan, provides many clues to link the two communities. This he supports with the Mitochondrial DNA variation report by Allen G Raid and Mark Stoneking that appeared in the American Journal of Human Genetics (1999). The report, which is a study done on the fossil bones and skulls of Australoids (Australian aborigines) classifies them on the basis of similarities it shared with Caucasoid and Mongoloid race found in South East Asia, Central Asia and Africa. Thus from India one finds Punjabis, South Indians, Oriyas and Bengalis mentioned in this list.

Another evidence of similarity, as revealed by Dr Raghavan is provided by an American scientist, Dr Laurie Coburn, who comes out with an interesting finding about dog fossils. Among the aborigines of the Australian mainland, can be found the presence of "Dingo" (Australian aboriginal dog) which has proved a vital evidence for Dr Raghavan's study.

Dingos, he said look exactly similar to the street dogs found in India. This is further confirmed by Dr Coburn in her report which studied the similarities between Dingo's skull and other South-East Asian dog skulls. The report concluded that Dingo skulls closely resembled the dog skulls found exclusively in India.

Dr Raghavan states, "when the Indians migrated they carried these dogs to their new habitat where they multiplied". Since the dogs could never swim, these people got restricted in the Australian mainland. This is why not a single Dingo can be spotted in Papua New Guinea and Tasmania which are separated from the mainland by sea.

Similarities can also be spotted in certain traditional practices followed by the tribes. Said Dr Raghavan, many aborigines had their front two incisors knocked out. This practice, he added is also found among the tribals of the Nilgiri belt.

"They engage in sorcery, witchcraft and black magic, which till today many aboriginal clans follow." An interesting thing, Dr Raghavan noted, was the recital of ragas and performance of rain-dance by these clans that is common to many Indian tribals.
 


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