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.
