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Which of Us are Aryans?
The question of which of us is Aryan is one of the most contentious in India today. In this eye-opening book, scholars and experts critically examine the Aryan issue by analysing history, genetics, early Vedic scriptures, archaeology and linguistics to test and challenge various hypotheses, myths, facts and theories that are currently in vogue.
Romila Thapar tackles the definition of the ‘Aryan’ in her inimitable style by tracing the origins and progression of the ‘Aryans’ from old Iranian texts such as the Zend-Avesta, archaeological excavations and colonial interpretations made by Max Müeller. She also touches upon the following fields of enquiry: historiography, archaeology, linguistics, comparative mythology, social anthropology and, more recently, genetics.
Michael Witzel investigates the origins of the early ‘Aryans’ within and outside India.
Jaya Menon examines data from excavations of Harappan culture.
Kai Friese lucidly explains the Rakhigarhi research which has been talked about a lot in the recent past.
Razib Khan provides insights arising from research into genetics.
Romila Thapar tackles the definition of the ‘Aryan’ in her inimitable style by tracing the origins and progression of the ‘Aryans’ from old Iranian texts such as the Zend-Avesta, archaeological excavations and colonial interpretations made by Max Müeller. She also touches upon the following fields of enquiry: historiography, archaeology, linguistics, comparative mythology, social anthropology and, more recently, genetics.
Michael Witzel investigates the origins of the early ‘Aryans’ within and outside India.
Jaya Menon examines data from excavations of Harappan culture.
Kai Friese lucidly explains the Rakhigarhi research which has been talked about a lot in the recent past.
Razib Khan provides insights arising from research into genetics.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published February 20, 2019
15 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Romila Thapar
93 books360 followersRomila Thapar is an Indian historian and Professor Emeritus at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
A graduate from Panjab University, Dr. Thapar completed her PhD in the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.
Her historical work portrays the origins of Hinduism as an evolving interplay between social forces. Her recent work on Somnath examines the evolution of the historiographies about the legendary Gujarat temple.
Thapar has been a visiting professor at Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the College de France in Paris. She was elected General President of the Indian History Congress in 1983 and a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy in 1999.
A graduate from Panjab University, Dr. Thapar completed her PhD in the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.
Her historical work portrays the origins of Hinduism as an evolving interplay between social forces. Her recent work on Somnath examines the evolution of the historiographies about the legendary Gujarat temple.
Thapar has been a visiting professor at Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the College de France in Paris. She was elected General President of the Indian History Congress in 1983 and a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy in 1999.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 9, 2019
A collection if 5 essays the book deals with much debated and discussed theories of origin of culture in India - did Rig Ved composers and proponent of Sanskrit we're indiginous to Indian peninsula or did they come from Eastern pastural land.
The book is an advance read to say the least and is certainly not mean for someone who is not well aware of current discussions and nuances of Aryan Invasion or Sarasvati Indus civilization.
The first and the last essays were too technical for a common reader and I had to re- read many parts to make sense of what is being talked about.
Romila touches on the (much needed) political aspect of history and what it means and meant for different political pressure groups. This I have found lacking in many of the materials on this subject. Authors either ignore or try to impose their own political views in this ever sensitive topic. Romila's work is definetely brave in this regard.
All in all this should not be a begining point for someone interested in the subject and those who have read and are following recent genetic discoveries, book will be a good refresher of all the facets of the study - linguistic, archeological, literature, myths and genetics. The book fails to bring in new perspective but is rather a recapatulation of already debates and discussions
The book is an advance read to say the least and is certainly not mean for someone who is not well aware of current discussions and nuances of Aryan Invasion or Sarasvati Indus civilization.
The first and the last essays were too technical for a common reader and I had to re- read many parts to make sense of what is being talked about.
Romila touches on the (much needed) political aspect of history and what it means and meant for different political pressure groups. This I have found lacking in many of the materials on this subject. Authors either ignore or try to impose their own political views in this ever sensitive topic. Romila's work is definetely brave in this regard.
All in all this should not be a begining point for someone interested in the subject and those who have read and are following recent genetic discoveries, book will be a good refresher of all the facets of the study - linguistic, archeological, literature, myths and genetics. The book fails to bring in new perspective but is rather a recapatulation of already debates and discussions
August 11, 2020
‘Which Of Us Are Aryans?’
Have you wondered about this since you last read about it in your school textbooks?
I most definitely have!
This was my first non-fiction read of 2020 and I couldn’t have picked a better one.
This book is a collaborative effort of 5 authors, Romila Thapar, Michael Witzel, Jaya Menon, Kai Friese and Razib Khan, who hail from various disciplines such as Historiography, Linguistics, Journalism and Genetics.
They have tried to figure out the concept of ‘Aryan’ and it’s effects on the History, Anthropology and the Politics of India and beyond.
Facts are meticulously laid out with respect to the likely origins and meaning of ‘Aryan’, interpretations and misinterpretations, and the subsequent effects of ‘The Aryan Theory’ on the social and political fabric of the Indian subcontinent.
Substantial light has been shed on approaches taken to decode the ‘Aryan Question’ by collecting and interpreting data from archaeology, linguistics, population genetics, Vedic texts, religion, astronomy, hydrology and even mythology.
This book is like a case study, where data from various sciences has been presented and analysed in depth.
The last time I read about the ‘Aryan Theory’, ‘Indus Valley Civilisation’ and the ‘Rigveda’ was in school.
Now, I was fascinated to read about Iranian, Central Asian and European links to this theory.
The uncanny similarities between the ‘Rigveda’ and the ancient Iranian text ‘Avesta’ leave me surprised!
The mention of the excavations at Rakhigarhi, Haryana and the scope it has provided in unravelling this theory, has increased my interest in this topic and I hope to follow up on it in the years to come.
My key Takeaway from this Book is that India is a geographically and culturally diverse country, it would be foolish to establish a single point origin and manipulate it for political and religious gains.
“Cultures of any consequence do not evolve in isolation”- Romila Thapar
Pick this book up if you have been fascinated by ‘The Aryan’ concept and it’s consequences in shaping the Indian Subcontinent!
Have you wondered about this since you last read about it in your school textbooks?
I most definitely have!
This was my first non-fiction read of 2020 and I couldn’t have picked a better one.
This book is a collaborative effort of 5 authors, Romila Thapar, Michael Witzel, Jaya Menon, Kai Friese and Razib Khan, who hail from various disciplines such as Historiography, Linguistics, Journalism and Genetics.
They have tried to figure out the concept of ‘Aryan’ and it’s effects on the History, Anthropology and the Politics of India and beyond.
Facts are meticulously laid out with respect to the likely origins and meaning of ‘Aryan’, interpretations and misinterpretations, and the subsequent effects of ‘The Aryan Theory’ on the social and political fabric of the Indian subcontinent.
Substantial light has been shed on approaches taken to decode the ‘Aryan Question’ by collecting and interpreting data from archaeology, linguistics, population genetics, Vedic texts, religion, astronomy, hydrology and even mythology.
This book is like a case study, where data from various sciences has been presented and analysed in depth.
The last time I read about the ‘Aryan Theory’, ‘Indus Valley Civilisation’ and the ‘Rigveda’ was in school.
Now, I was fascinated to read about Iranian, Central Asian and European links to this theory.
The uncanny similarities between the ‘Rigveda’ and the ancient Iranian text ‘Avesta’ leave me surprised!
The mention of the excavations at Rakhigarhi, Haryana and the scope it has provided in unravelling this theory, has increased my interest in this topic and I hope to follow up on it in the years to come.
My key Takeaway from this Book is that India is a geographically and culturally diverse country, it would be foolish to establish a single point origin and manipulate it for political and religious gains.
“Cultures of any consequence do not evolve in isolation”- Romila Thapar
Pick this book up if you have been fascinated by ‘The Aryan’ concept and it’s consequences in shaping the Indian Subcontinent!
July 27, 2022
Interesting book....Really liked the way they portrayed the genetics of Indians and here we go, I'm now rethinking MY ANCESTRY
Thanx book.
That helped.
Anyway, Good read (PuN)!
Must read for those who like complex history.
Dont read if you wanna spend sleepless nights thinking whether there's something wrong in our genes :-)
Thanx book.
That helped.
Anyway, Good read (PuN)!
Must read for those who like complex history.
Dont read if you wanna spend sleepless nights thinking whether there's something wrong in our genes :-)
September 18, 2021
Romila Thapar's passages stand out for her language and style of writing which I tend to love. Her take on the whole Aryan debate is so much more nuanced than the Hindutva strawman attacks on her make it out to be.
I have to say I would have liked some more insights in Witzel's essay. Was disappointed by the essay
Being a follower of Razib Khan's work - I didnt find anything new in his essay (though it was a fine essay nonetheless).
Jaya Menon's layout of the archaeology was also a good addition.
The journalist take is something that i couldve done without, it tends to make the book more polemical and political than it needs to be IMO
I have to say I would have liked some more insights in Witzel's essay. Was disappointed by the essay
Being a follower of Razib Khan's work - I didnt find anything new in his essay (though it was a fine essay nonetheless).
Jaya Menon's layout of the archaeology was also a good addition.
The journalist take is something that i couldve done without, it tends to make the book more polemical and political than it needs to be IMO
July 15, 2020
"Which of Us Are Aryans?" is an anthology co-authored by some of the finest academicians in the field of history, archaeology, linguistics and genetics to consider the widely debated question of the origins of Aryans in the context of Indian History. It is an attempt to sift through the public perception created out of politically motivated dialogue to bring out the historical data and evidence about the origins of Aryans and how does Indian ancient history fit itself in the context of Aryan culture.
It is an eye-opening book based on research in multi-disciplinary fields to show that the age-old Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT) lacks evidence. Romila Thapar makes a convincing case for differentiating "Aryans" from a race or linguistic group, to actually mean "Arya" a term used to refer to people of a higher status within a group. The origin of Aryan as a race is a distortion in history. The ulterior motives of the 18th Century colonial European scholars advanced the theory of a white-skinned Aryan race invading the Indian sub-continent. These theories then gave to rise to nationalistic interpretations of 19th Century to link Aryan identity with a Hindu identity and an indigenous culture, severed from any invasion or conquest. But these theories show an incorrect picture and Romila Thapar's essay gives an interpretation more historically correct leaning towards "migration" and cross-culture contact between ancient Indian Sub-continent, Iranian borderlands and Central Asia.
An extremely interesting analysis is from the angle of genetic research by Kai Friese and Razib Khan, going into the depths of ancient DNA recovered till now from Indus Valley Civilization and Harappan sites to map out a population migration and ancestry. This research is being done to answer the question not of the origins but of the spread of different cultures to know if at all there is "The Aryan gene" amongst the Indian population. This line of thought becomes even more pertinent in recent times, since these questions have again cropped up in the excavations at Rakhigarhi, Haryana.
A succinct and balanced book about the history and interpretation of the Aryan Question.
It is an eye-opening book based on research in multi-disciplinary fields to show that the age-old Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT) lacks evidence. Romila Thapar makes a convincing case for differentiating "Aryans" from a race or linguistic group, to actually mean "Arya" a term used to refer to people of a higher status within a group. The origin of Aryan as a race is a distortion in history. The ulterior motives of the 18th Century colonial European scholars advanced the theory of a white-skinned Aryan race invading the Indian sub-continent. These theories then gave to rise to nationalistic interpretations of 19th Century to link Aryan identity with a Hindu identity and an indigenous culture, severed from any invasion or conquest. But these theories show an incorrect picture and Romila Thapar's essay gives an interpretation more historically correct leaning towards "migration" and cross-culture contact between ancient Indian Sub-continent, Iranian borderlands and Central Asia.
An extremely interesting analysis is from the angle of genetic research by Kai Friese and Razib Khan, going into the depths of ancient DNA recovered till now from Indus Valley Civilization and Harappan sites to map out a population migration and ancestry. This research is being done to answer the question not of the origins but of the spread of different cultures to know if at all there is "The Aryan gene" amongst the Indian population. This line of thought becomes even more pertinent in recent times, since these questions have again cropped up in the excavations at Rakhigarhi, Haryana.
A succinct and balanced book about the history and interpretation of the Aryan Question.
April 27, 2019
Which of us are Aryans? deals with the much debated question of our origins. This book offers several insights on the Aryan issue and examines the different theories that have been propounded. From the Vedic times to the very recent findings coming from the field of genetics, the book views the issue from several perspectives and thereby seeks to clear the mist surrounding the issue.
There are 5 chapters each dealing with the issue from a different aspect. Edited by Romila Thapar, the book opens with a foreword and ends with an afterword by her. The purpose of this book, as Romila Thapar writes in the foreword, is not to provide any “one-bite answer … but rather to lay out the field as it were, explain where we are at and indicate by implication the directions in which the analyses could proceed.”
The issue is dealt with by analysis of the historical and linguistic findings, archaeological data, genetic research and of course the Vedas. While each perspective offers different insights, what I found even more interesting was the contradictory results that did not support the earlier findings. Thapar also talks about the different meanings that the word Aryan has held in the past, which further complicates the whole matter.
The book certainly tests and challenges the various hypotheses, myths, facts and theories that are currently in vogue. The study presented here is quite rich and insightful, not only probing deep into the issues of the past but also expanding the very horizons of the problem by bringing in latest findings (some of which are yet to be published).
I must mention, however, that the book demands a lot of attention and is certainly not meant for beginners. I read certain parts three or four times to make sense of and follow what was being said. Despite that I could hardly make anything out of the very first chapter by Michael Witzel. There is so much of terminology that the layman is not aware of. Had the whole book been written by him, I wouldn’t have proceeded.
Besides that the book made for an interesting read. I would recommend this to only those who are genuinely interested in the topic and are also acquainted with the prose of Thapar.
My Rating: **** (3.5/5)
- Originally published on https://booksnmyself.wordpress.com
There are 5 chapters each dealing with the issue from a different aspect. Edited by Romila Thapar, the book opens with a foreword and ends with an afterword by her. The purpose of this book, as Romila Thapar writes in the foreword, is not to provide any “one-bite answer … but rather to lay out the field as it were, explain where we are at and indicate by implication the directions in which the analyses could proceed.”
The issue is dealt with by analysis of the historical and linguistic findings, archaeological data, genetic research and of course the Vedas. While each perspective offers different insights, what I found even more interesting was the contradictory results that did not support the earlier findings. Thapar also talks about the different meanings that the word Aryan has held in the past, which further complicates the whole matter.
The book certainly tests and challenges the various hypotheses, myths, facts and theories that are currently in vogue. The study presented here is quite rich and insightful, not only probing deep into the issues of the past but also expanding the very horizons of the problem by bringing in latest findings (some of which are yet to be published).
I must mention, however, that the book demands a lot of attention and is certainly not meant for beginners. I read certain parts three or four times to make sense of and follow what was being said. Despite that I could hardly make anything out of the very first chapter by Michael Witzel. There is so much of terminology that the layman is not aware of. Had the whole book been written by him, I wouldn’t have proceeded.
Besides that the book made for an interesting read. I would recommend this to only those who are genuinely interested in the topic and are also acquainted with the prose of Thapar.
My Rating: **** (3.5/5)
- Originally published on https://booksnmyself.wordpress.com
September 20, 2022
A great selection of essays on the question of population migrations that led to the current day cultural, genetic and linguistic make-up of the subcontinent.
Among the diverse mix of authorship, several aspects and methodologies in study of ancient history are covered in a manner quite useful to even an uninitiated reader. Not only was it informative in terms of these methodologies, it also summarised the various view-points and hypotheses put forth so far - along with some of the causal vested interests that have existed and continue to exist - in as unbiased a manner as can be attempted in a subject with such wide-reaching coverage geographically, temporary and socio-politically.
I only wish there was more of an original and inferential commentary in the book based on all the available data, but I guess that's more an issue with my wrong expectations from the book based on the title - it doesn't claim to be be anything more than a collection of essays and a brief introduction to the expanse of the question and the material available. In any case, a commentary on the subject is bound to be either vague or rigorously long until more undeniable evidence comes along via. genetics or other new/enhanced modes of inquiry.
All in all, I'm very much tempted to read more of the author's works. As for the current one, I've made plenty of notes on the interesting citations to be read before I come back for a second more receptive read somewhere down the line.
Among the diverse mix of authorship, several aspects and methodologies in study of ancient history are covered in a manner quite useful to even an uninitiated reader. Not only was it informative in terms of these methodologies, it also summarised the various view-points and hypotheses put forth so far - along with some of the causal vested interests that have existed and continue to exist - in as unbiased a manner as can be attempted in a subject with such wide-reaching coverage geographically, temporary and socio-politically.
I only wish there was more of an original and inferential commentary in the book based on all the available data, but I guess that's more an issue with my wrong expectations from the book based on the title - it doesn't claim to be be anything more than a collection of essays and a brief introduction to the expanse of the question and the material available. In any case, a commentary on the subject is bound to be either vague or rigorously long until more undeniable evidence comes along via. genetics or other new/enhanced modes of inquiry.
All in all, I'm very much tempted to read more of the author's works. As for the current one, I've made plenty of notes on the interesting citations to be read before I come back for a second more receptive read somewhere down the line.
January 27, 2021
A very brief series of essays portraying perspectives from different disciplines in understanding the early history of the subcontinent. Although, a bit terse for general audience, it gives you a lot to digest and assimilate, with patience.
May 1, 2023
The book has many different angles to the same question. It looks at the question (obviously , the title of the book) from the archaeological, philological, cultural, and scientific points of view. Also, highlights the difficulties for each perspective and the hidden whereabouts of all. Most importantly, this book has a small hidden angle of politics in it. How the historical facts can be kept hidden for the sole reason of appeasing the regime. Furthermore, how different narratives can be weaved to serve altogether a different purpose. It has been done from the colonial times to the contemporary democratic govt.
June 15, 2020
This question, one of the most contentious in India today, is addressed on the basis of clues based on archaeology, linguistics, mythology and genetics by the authors.
Cumulatively, a set of five essays plus an afterword, I would recommend this book highly to anyone interested knowing about the early history of the subcontinent and how this could be based upon evidence separate from a narrative being drawn up to suit a political ideology.
Cumulatively, a set of five essays plus an afterword, I would recommend this book highly to anyone interested knowing about the early history of the subcontinent and how this could be based upon evidence separate from a narrative being drawn up to suit a political ideology.
November 13, 2022
It would be better to say that these are six essays (including the afterword by Ms. Thapar) by the five noted personalities. Each of the five essays handle the question from five different angles. Though there is still some vagueness in the data, no one can question the doubt the credibility of the scientific findings.
September 25, 2024
Pretty solid primer on the genetic admixtures of the Indian population. Most (if not all of us to a degree) are made up of varying proportions of Indo-Aryan (aka steppe), Ancient Ancestral South Indian (AASI aka Dravidian), and Indus Valley Civilization (proto-Dravidian / Iranian farmer mixture) genes.
Medium-length, finished in a couple of days.
Medium-length, finished in a couple of days.
July 11, 2024
A very confusing write up. I expected clarity of scientific work but found a jumbled up, partially political rant.
Should have read "Early Indians" by Tony Joseph again instead.
One star is for the last chapter by Rzib Khan
Should have read "Early Indians" by Tony Joseph again instead.
One star is for the last chapter by Rzib Khan
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews