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The Sarasvati Civilization
Who were the Harappans? How are they related to present-day Indians? Was there ever an “Aryan Invasion”? The Sarasvati Civilization: A New Paradigm in Ancient Indian History brings together evidence from satellite imagery, geology, hydrodynamics, archaeology, epigraphy, textual hermeneutics and DNA research to place together ancient Indian history in the light of new discoveries and facts which were simply not available to colonial historians of the 19th century and have been overlooked thereafter.
At the heart of the ancient Indian Civilization was the mighty Sarasvati river which was in full flow 5000-6000 years ago. 60–80 % of the so-called Indus Valley Civilisation sites which have been discovered are not on the banks of the Indus but on the course of the Sarasvati. The drying-out of the river is the most significant factor in the history and migrations of the ancient Indians. With new evidence, the time has come for a significant paradigm shift in Indology. This book breaks new ground to lay the foundation for an authentic Indian history.
At the heart of the ancient Indian Civilization was the mighty Sarasvati river which was in full flow 5000-6000 years ago. 60–80 % of the so-called Indus Valley Civilisation sites which have been discovered are not on the banks of the Indus but on the course of the Sarasvati. The drying-out of the river is the most significant factor in the history and migrations of the ancient Indians. With new evidence, the time has come for a significant paradigm shift in Indology. This book breaks new ground to lay the foundation for an authentic Indian history.
240 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
October 29, 2020
In 2019, 3 scientists from India published their research paper on the Saraswati civilization in the Nature Journal, on the existence of a perennial river in the Harappan heartland, which was later stirred by Indology researchers. Prior to that in 2000 and 2001, scientists of ISRO regional remote sensing service center published satellite image of moisture content of Saraswati river. Later, scientists of ISRO, Jodhpur had given detailed information about the discovery of basin of Saraswati river through remote sensing.
But before that, Outlook published a scientific research on this subject in a 2001 article titled The river of hoax, calling the Saraswati river as so-called river and mythical. But the research paper of ISRO scientists had given a tight slapped to all the researchers of Western and media with facts and evidences. But due to the lack of understanding of the heavy language of the scientists in the general public of India, the people who showed India from West View were successful in their propaganda till today, which misrepresented the Saraswati civilization.
The best thing in this book is that Bakshi ji has done a research on the Saraswati river and civilization. It was fun reading it. This book start with detail account on Sarasvati river and its civilization. Then it goes through Satellite imaginary evidence, Geological evidence, Archeological evidence, Scriptural evidence, Linguistic evidence, Carbon dating and DNA mapping. And yes book also talks about Chariot of Baghpat which was unearths last year, it was the ‘first-ever’ physical evidence of Chariot. Toy chariots in bronze and terra cotta had been discovered much earlier but this is the first time a full blown war chariot has been discovered. Basically it covers all the topics. This book have some photos too. It was very informative and educating.
Those who have no clue on Sarasvati Civilization can start from this book.
Now i have my eyes on The Lost River: On The Trail of the Sarasvati by Michel Danino.
But before that, Outlook published a scientific research on this subject in a 2001 article titled The river of hoax, calling the Saraswati river as so-called river and mythical. But the research paper of ISRO scientists had given a tight slapped to all the researchers of Western and media with facts and evidences. But due to the lack of understanding of the heavy language of the scientists in the general public of India, the people who showed India from West View were successful in their propaganda till today, which misrepresented the Saraswati civilization.
The best thing in this book is that Bakshi ji has done a research on the Saraswati river and civilization. It was fun reading it. This book start with detail account on Sarasvati river and its civilization. Then it goes through Satellite imaginary evidence, Geological evidence, Archeological evidence, Scriptural evidence, Linguistic evidence, Carbon dating and DNA mapping. And yes book also talks about Chariot of Baghpat which was unearths last year, it was the ‘first-ever’ physical evidence of Chariot. Toy chariots in bronze and terra cotta had been discovered much earlier but this is the first time a full blown war chariot has been discovered. Basically it covers all the topics. This book have some photos too. It was very informative and educating.
Those who have no clue on Sarasvati Civilization can start from this book.
Now i have my eyes on The Lost River: On The Trail of the Sarasvati by Michel Danino.
January 27, 2021
Imagine a women who wears bangles, sindoor and gold jewelry. She practices yoga, cooks rice and the worship Pashupatinath. No, I am not describing your mother or sister. It is the description of a resident of the so-called Indus Valley civilization (Even though more than half the sites are on the banks of Sarasvati rather than Indus, but facts don't matter). But, didn't we all read that the Harappan civilization was wiped out by a Sanskrit speaking people coming from the west (Though this genocide didn't leave behind skeletons or weapons', but again, facts don't matter)? The poor tribal/Dravidian/Dalit (basically they can change their caste as per agenda of the day) lacked chariots (though the a 4000 year old Chariot have been found in Baghpat, but remember, facts don't matter). The very possibility that the present Indian civilization could be a continuation of the Sarasvati-Sindhu civilization is thrown under the carpet in the Marxist dominated educational establishments of the country. But why a book on a river? Maj Gen Bakshi offers the reason:
The book is a great multidisciplinary approach to firmly establish the presence of a now dead Sarasvati. The only down side to the book is that its a bit repetitive and various scientific terms dealing with geology have been given without any explanation. At last the author points out the need for a multidisciplinary Copenhagen style conference to settle the question of AIT/IAMT once for all.
The crux of the [AIT and IAMT ] debate therefore centers around the a priori existence of the Vedic Sarasvati river. With the existence of the Sarasvati established the entire construct of the geographically contiguous Harrapan and Rig Vedic Civilizations falls neatly into place.
The book is a great multidisciplinary approach to firmly establish the presence of a now dead Sarasvati. The only down side to the book is that its a bit repetitive and various scientific terms dealing with geology have been given without any explanation. At last the author points out the need for a multidisciplinary Copenhagen style conference to settle the question of AIT/IAMT once for all.
August 11, 2019
Great book on Sarasvati Civilization. Easy to read and easy to understand.
I have already read The Lost River: On The Trail of the Sarasvati by Michel Danino and Still No Trace of an Aryan Invasion: A Collection on Indo-European Origins by Koenraad Elst. Both were an amazing books. I am even planning to read Genetics and the Aryan debate: "Early Indians" Tony Joseph's Latest Assault by Shrikant G. Talageri.
I have already read The Lost River: On The Trail of the Sarasvati by Michel Danino and Still No Trace of an Aryan Invasion: A Collection on Indo-European Origins by Koenraad Elst. Both were an amazing books. I am even planning to read Genetics and the Aryan debate: "Early Indians" Tony Joseph's Latest Assault by Shrikant G. Talageri.
August 20, 2021
Ambeetame Nadeetame Devitame Saraswati
Aprashashta Iva Smasi Prashastimba Naskrudhih
- Rigveda: 2.41.16
Originally written under the title Saraswati Civilization penned by Sri G D Bhakshi has been one of the most influential books in the Indic genre wherein the author talks about the ancient river called Saraswati whose very existence is often viewed as nothing but a mythical mention by the Indian left. We do have come across those instances where the so called eminent historians please themselves as well as their lords with their profuse writeups discarding all the scientific evidence that emerged in a century or so back. This books serves a great rebuttal to such argumentation as well as is an amazing introductory to the explorative mind that seeks to understand the history and civilisational roots of the present India.
It's obvious we were taught in schools that Mesopotamian civilisation is the cradle of all the other Civilizations across the world and that it is the Mesopotamians who, more or less, gave a way to the intellectual enlightenment to the humankind. However, the history has a different narrative wherein it was the civilisation at the banks of now disappeared Saraswati river which was the most ancient one, older than the Mesopotamian as well as Egyptian. The archeological study has given a huge amount of evidence to show how ancient and great this civilisation was. They also make us question the Aryan Invasion and Migration Theory that's often served us although it has been proven wrong a number of times.
What was the river Saraswati like? She was greatly mentioned in the Holy Vedas whose existence tended to and nurtured those who were depended upon her. The instances where she was slowly drying up is also recorded in Mahabharata after the Kurukshetra war. Who were these people who regarded the river Saraswati such that they revered her as a goddess? Were they the natives of Bharat? Or Aryans? G D Bhakshi all through his book questions one thing which makes one ponder: It was evident that the river Saraswati began to dry up slowly and the Harappas began dispersing seeking a new home, in such situations wouldn't it be quite laughable if a different clan from the central Asia decided to invade the same land with no waters? River bodies is where human civilizations birth. But the fact that the AIT mythologists date the time of the Aryans invasion (then reframed a migration due to little to no evidence of any war scenes) more or less near the time of river drying up and the native civilisation dispersing is quite absurd. The book gives a tiny jolt of shock when it says it wasn't some outsiders who entered India but it was the Indians who went beyond India even to the European continent. The concept of Indo-European languages, the writer also discusses, gives a base to it as well.
The Dholavira and the ancient Ayodhya city structure shared the same calculations (Amazing Ayodhya) which is mentioned in this book too. The author ponders if this Civilization on the banks of Saraswati is the ancestors of the vedic civilization. Not only does the author references the mention of River Saraswati in the Vedas he also talks of the drying of river Saraswati and the reasons behind it. While he answers questions and debunks loads of lies he also sows newer questions in the reader's mind. River Saraswati, now is proven to be a lost river not just a mere myth as the so called intellectuals claim. The writer also talks in the line of hope that she, with enough dedication and measures, can be brought back to life. The state governments, I heard, have been working upon it, which has to be greatly appreciated and supported.
The river Saraswati is believed to join the river Yamuna and others in one of the holiest Hindu place, even today. River Saraswati was more or less the mother to the humans who were sheltered there. This book offers a beautiful passport into the lives of those people with all the scientific explanations. They didn't just treat her some water body but goddess herself, praising her in their literature over and over. Even when they had to abandon the land they carried her name with them and added her essence to the new water bodies they discovered.
Saraswati Civilization book takes you to the banks of river Saraswati. It gives you geological, archeological, genealogy and other scientific evidences throughout the chapters. It is a must read for anyone who wants to know about this mysterious river, a must read for anyone whose mind is solidified with the belief that river Saraswati is just a myth but nothing more. The book talks of various things and I believe this should be a must read.
I'm glad I read this book in my mother tongue, it added extra beauty and delicacy to the book. I'm forever grateful to the translator Dr. C. G. Raghavendra for giving us this gem in Kannada.
Aprashashta Iva Smasi Prashastimba Naskrudhih
- Rigveda: 2.41.16
Originally written under the title Saraswati Civilization penned by Sri G D Bhakshi has been one of the most influential books in the Indic genre wherein the author talks about the ancient river called Saraswati whose very existence is often viewed as nothing but a mythical mention by the Indian left. We do have come across those instances where the so called eminent historians please themselves as well as their lords with their profuse writeups discarding all the scientific evidence that emerged in a century or so back. This books serves a great rebuttal to such argumentation as well as is an amazing introductory to the explorative mind that seeks to understand the history and civilisational roots of the present India.
It's obvious we were taught in schools that Mesopotamian civilisation is the cradle of all the other Civilizations across the world and that it is the Mesopotamians who, more or less, gave a way to the intellectual enlightenment to the humankind. However, the history has a different narrative wherein it was the civilisation at the banks of now disappeared Saraswati river which was the most ancient one, older than the Mesopotamian as well as Egyptian. The archeological study has given a huge amount of evidence to show how ancient and great this civilisation was. They also make us question the Aryan Invasion and Migration Theory that's often served us although it has been proven wrong a number of times.
What was the river Saraswati like? She was greatly mentioned in the Holy Vedas whose existence tended to and nurtured those who were depended upon her. The instances where she was slowly drying up is also recorded in Mahabharata after the Kurukshetra war. Who were these people who regarded the river Saraswati such that they revered her as a goddess? Were they the natives of Bharat? Or Aryans? G D Bhakshi all through his book questions one thing which makes one ponder: It was evident that the river Saraswati began to dry up slowly and the Harappas began dispersing seeking a new home, in such situations wouldn't it be quite laughable if a different clan from the central Asia decided to invade the same land with no waters? River bodies is where human civilizations birth. But the fact that the AIT mythologists date the time of the Aryans invasion (then reframed a migration due to little to no evidence of any war scenes) more or less near the time of river drying up and the native civilisation dispersing is quite absurd. The book gives a tiny jolt of shock when it says it wasn't some outsiders who entered India but it was the Indians who went beyond India even to the European continent. The concept of Indo-European languages, the writer also discusses, gives a base to it as well.
The Dholavira and the ancient Ayodhya city structure shared the same calculations (Amazing Ayodhya) which is mentioned in this book too. The author ponders if this Civilization on the banks of Saraswati is the ancestors of the vedic civilization. Not only does the author references the mention of River Saraswati in the Vedas he also talks of the drying of river Saraswati and the reasons behind it. While he answers questions and debunks loads of lies he also sows newer questions in the reader's mind. River Saraswati, now is proven to be a lost river not just a mere myth as the so called intellectuals claim. The writer also talks in the line of hope that she, with enough dedication and measures, can be brought back to life. The state governments, I heard, have been working upon it, which has to be greatly appreciated and supported.
The river Saraswati is believed to join the river Yamuna and others in one of the holiest Hindu place, even today. River Saraswati was more or less the mother to the humans who were sheltered there. This book offers a beautiful passport into the lives of those people with all the scientific explanations. They didn't just treat her some water body but goddess herself, praising her in their literature over and over. Even when they had to abandon the land they carried her name with them and added her essence to the new water bodies they discovered.
Saraswati Civilization book takes you to the banks of river Saraswati. It gives you geological, archeological, genealogy and other scientific evidences throughout the chapters. It is a must read for anyone who wants to know about this mysterious river, a must read for anyone whose mind is solidified with the belief that river Saraswati is just a myth but nothing more. The book talks of various things and I believe this should be a must read.
I'm glad I read this book in my mother tongue, it added extra beauty and delicacy to the book. I'm forever grateful to the translator Dr. C. G. Raghavendra for giving us this gem in Kannada.
December 22, 2020
Who are we and where do we come from?
In the market of chaos with a thousand questions, answers and counter questions on our origins, Maj. Gen. G D Bakshi attempts to answer the crux of everything - the existence of river Saraswati and a civilization around it.
In his quest of debunking the colonial scripts and forcible narratives, the author cites multidisciplinary evidences which straight away establishes the timeline, the course of the Saraswati, the ecological issues leading to its extinction and the end of a civilization. Starting from archeology, satellite imagery, geology, the scripture to the extent of using the Rig Veda in a very intelligent way as a historical document the author answers them all.
The mountain of evidences is too huge and every piling up but seems India herself is not at all bothered to put it down on paper once and for all. A civilization as old as the Saraswati can’t be analyzed by only 1 disciple and needs all hands on board.
Unless the younger generations are taught and brought up with all details, we would be lost - like The Saraswati.
In the market of chaos with a thousand questions, answers and counter questions on our origins, Maj. Gen. G D Bakshi attempts to answer the crux of everything - the existence of river Saraswati and a civilization around it.
In his quest of debunking the colonial scripts and forcible narratives, the author cites multidisciplinary evidences which straight away establishes the timeline, the course of the Saraswati, the ecological issues leading to its extinction and the end of a civilization. Starting from archeology, satellite imagery, geology, the scripture to the extent of using the Rig Veda in a very intelligent way as a historical document the author answers them all.
The mountain of evidences is too huge and every piling up but seems India herself is not at all bothered to put it down on paper once and for all. A civilization as old as the Saraswati can’t be analyzed by only 1 disciple and needs all hands on board.
Unless the younger generations are taught and brought up with all details, we would be lost - like The Saraswati.
December 17, 2019
Good read. Passionately written but also backed with good data.
August 6, 2020
Maj Gen GD Bakshi's one the finest work. We Bharatiya are in dire need of "Stockholm level convention" to fix certain historical narrative forced upon us by agenda driven historian. Century old AIT and cultural fallacy propagated by Marxist historian need to be stopped and need to set positive narrative to serve people of india.
Topics:
1. Scientific finding of NASA and ISRO satellite - bed of ancient river and present day evidence of water table, lakes and moisture imagery
2. DNA studies and present day matching with ancient sole ancestor of all Bharatiya.
3. vedic evidences
4. sculpture and terracotta
5. how colonial koolies avoided all the evidences and propagated Aryan Invasion Theory(AIT) and its subsequent version to colonize the mind of present generation ..
Topics:
1. Scientific finding of NASA and ISRO satellite - bed of ancient river and present day evidence of water table, lakes and moisture imagery
2. DNA studies and present day matching with ancient sole ancestor of all Bharatiya.
3. vedic evidences
4. sculpture and terracotta
5. how colonial koolies avoided all the evidences and propagated Aryan Invasion Theory(AIT) and its subsequent version to colonize the mind of present generation ..
May 10, 2021
Maxmuller started rolling the ball. Now Ivy League universities like Harvard and Columbia are playing with the ball. "Today the empire has shifted to the other side of the Atlantic".
Eminent researchers like Dr. G.D.Bakshi, Dr. Stephen Knapp, Dr. Talageri, Dr. Anil Suri are now writing valuable papers and books which refute myth like AIT and IAMT theories.
This book presents arguments from fields of Archaeology, Geology, Geography, Linguistcs and Genetics which now creating a level-playing-field.
The battleground is now ready. Whether the ivy league is ready for a Copenhegen style convention to bury AIT/IAMT issue forever.
Eminent researchers like Dr. G.D.Bakshi, Dr. Stephen Knapp, Dr. Talageri, Dr. Anil Suri are now writing valuable papers and books which refute myth like AIT and IAMT theories.
This book presents arguments from fields of Archaeology, Geology, Geography, Linguistcs and Genetics which now creating a level-playing-field.
The battleground is now ready. Whether the ivy league is ready for a Copenhegen style convention to bury AIT/IAMT issue forever.
August 4, 2020
Must read
Anybody interested in knowing about actual history of India and how old our civilisation is should read this book. There are ample evidences which disapprove the Aryan invasion and migration theory which were put forward only to serve the colonial interests and prove white supremacy. A well researched book but those who are interested in knowing the exact dates for say Mahabharata and Ramayana events then they should read the books by Nilesh Nilkanth Oak.
Deducted one star as I felt there was too many repetitions of the same facts. But thanks a lot to the author for his pain staking research in bringing to light all the key facts. Thanks for your service to the nation Sir.
Anybody interested in knowing about actual history of India and how old our civilisation is should read this book. There are ample evidences which disapprove the Aryan invasion and migration theory which were put forward only to serve the colonial interests and prove white supremacy. A well researched book but those who are interested in knowing the exact dates for say Mahabharata and Ramayana events then they should read the books by Nilesh Nilkanth Oak.
Deducted one star as I felt there was too many repetitions of the same facts. But thanks a lot to the author for his pain staking research in bringing to light all the key facts. Thanks for your service to the nation Sir.
August 9, 2020
1st in school, we are fed this theory of Aryan Invasion, and the same is reinforced thru’out. One of the few masterpieces written by nationalists, for Indians. This is a must read for all Indians who want to know the truth of their origin, we, our ancestors too, originated in India and we continue the celebrations, practices, carry the same knowledge, genetic, physical n spiritual. Let’s be proud of our heritage.
Thnq General Saab, respects!
Thnq General Saab, respects!
December 24, 2020
I genuinely appreciate the tremendous amount of effort that the author has taken in order to research and compile the enormous data on Sarasvati civilisation.
The book is about a lost river that once sustained a civilisation spread over a vast area of about two million sqare kilometres.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this marvelous book. I would definitely recommend this incredible book to anyone who is interested in crystallizing the historical truth about the Sarasvati civilisation.
The book is about a lost river that once sustained a civilisation spread over a vast area of about two million sqare kilometres.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this marvelous book. I would definitely recommend this incredible book to anyone who is interested in crystallizing the historical truth about the Sarasvati civilisation.
July 2, 2022
Traces Indian civilization's links back to Indus Valley civilization and how it actually is linked to existence and later disappearance of the Saraswati River. This is a good primer on the subject if you're just starting and want a concise summary.
July 15, 2020
A lovely book on Sarasvati Civilization. Thanks to Major General Bakshi for triggering interest in this subject.
December 29, 2020
A very seminal book on the emerging new and mind blowing information we are unearthing on the Sarasvati river and how it was the cradle of Indian and most likely the 'intellectual human' civilization.
August 4, 2020
Anybody interested in knowing about actual history of India and how old our civilisation is should read this book. There are ample evidences which disapprove the Aryan invasion and migration theory which were put forward only to serve the colonial interests and prove white supremacy. A well researched book but those who are interested in knowing the exact dates for say Mahabharata and Ramayana events then they should read the books by Nilesh Nilkanth Oak.
Deducted one star as I felt there was too many repetitions of the same facts. But thanks a lot to the author for his pain staking research in bringing to light all the key facts. Thanks for your service to the nation Sir.
Deducted one star as I felt there was too many repetitions of the same facts. But thanks a lot to the author for his pain staking research in bringing to light all the key facts. Thanks for your service to the nation Sir.
February 29, 2024
अद्भुत पुस्तक सरस्वती सभ्यता पर. किसी को भी भारत के वास्तविक इतिहास के बारे में जानने में रुचि है और हमारी सभ्यता कितनी पुरानी है इस पुस्तक को पढ़ना चाहिए। पर्याप्त सबूत हैं जो आर्यन आक्रमण और प्रवासन सिद्धांत को अस्वीकार करते हैं जो केवल औपनिवेशिक हितों की सेवा करने और सफेद वर्चस्व साबित करने के लिए आगे रखे गए थे।
Read
June 29, 2020Great and informative read
The book throws a new light on the sarasvati rivers existence and how old it is. It shows that this civilization is older than Indus Valley and Egyptian civilizations.
The book throws a new light on the sarasvati rivers existence and how old it is. It shows that this civilization is older than Indus Valley and Egyptian civilizations.
August 10, 2020
Superb book. Very well researched. All Indians who like to understand our past must get this book and read it. AIT is already in dustbin in the first few pages!
October 5, 2019
An eye opener book about our true ancestors. Salute to G. D. Bakshi Sir.
March 14, 2020
Great book on The Sarasvati Civilization. Lot of information is there. Easy read.
June 26, 2020
Ppl interested in History should read this book. Beautifully written with facts and archeological evidence . Indeed a very good book to read.
November 8, 2020
The Sarasvati civilization, A Pradigm shift in Ancient Indian History by Dr. (MG) GD Bakshi (SM, VSM) is a book covering varied scientefic evidences coroborrating the scriptural and living traditional evidences of a grand river flowing from Himalayas to Kutch. Author has written many books in the past including hinghly acclaimed one on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. This is his venture from modern history into ancient History.
From Geology, Sattelite imagery, Archaeology, culturral practices and their continuity, Scriptural evidences like Veda, Itihasa etc that have themselves be dated by Archaeo-Astronomy, Linguistic evidence and even lates Genetic evidences.
Book also counters AMT arguement and dispels doubts raised by partial citing of genetics, by showing how genetics proves Agriculture in India is native. How so called aryan haplogroups are ative to Indian subcontinent and present pan India. Moreover there are not 2 or 3 but many nore haplogroups. It studies both mt and pt haplogroups. It also has a chapter on Soma.
Book debunks AMT by Genetic, Archaelogical (charriots etc), linguistic (further coroborated by works of S Talageri) and calls for a multidisciplinary approach with not just western monopoly to Indology free from bias. Recently in Delhi Swadeshi Indology was also held on this topic where numerous scholars presented their papers.
Each chapter can be further elaborated by upcoming scholars to a separate book in itself. Book has extensive 100s of citations in bibliography list further expanding upon works of Valdiya, M Danino, V Sinde, BB Lal etc.
Books has also been launched in hindi and is available online too on garudabooks.com (publishers website). In online book launch it was conveyed that sections expanding upon Indian Iranian exchanges in Ancient times during sarasvati river flowed and also when it dried up have been added.
From Geology, Sattelite imagery, Archaeology, culturral practices and their continuity, Scriptural evidences like Veda, Itihasa etc that have themselves be dated by Archaeo-Astronomy, Linguistic evidence and even lates Genetic evidences.
Book also counters AMT arguement and dispels doubts raised by partial citing of genetics, by showing how genetics proves Agriculture in India is native. How so called aryan haplogroups are ative to Indian subcontinent and present pan India. Moreover there are not 2 or 3 but many nore haplogroups. It studies both mt and pt haplogroups. It also has a chapter on Soma.
Book debunks AMT by Genetic, Archaelogical (charriots etc), linguistic (further coroborated by works of S Talageri) and calls for a multidisciplinary approach with not just western monopoly to Indology free from bias. Recently in Delhi Swadeshi Indology was also held on this topic where numerous scholars presented their papers.
Each chapter can be further elaborated by upcoming scholars to a separate book in itself. Book has extensive 100s of citations in bibliography list further expanding upon works of Valdiya, M Danino, V Sinde, BB Lal etc.
Books has also been launched in hindi and is available online too on garudabooks.com (publishers website). In online book launch it was conveyed that sections expanding upon Indian Iranian exchanges in Ancient times during sarasvati river flowed and also when it dried up have been added.
December 3, 2020
Concise, to the point and thought provoking- these three points will immediately come to mind once you are done reading it.
March 29, 2021
"The book is very comprehensive....and it is perfect for a layman and expert alike....."
"We live in an age when most millennials suffer from an identity crisis and the Indic society is in greater need of consolidation and leadership than ever before. Research and dialogues on the Saraswati River, I believe, will prove fruitful to address these issues in our quest for civilizational identity- a quest to find our history."
Please find my full review of this book here-
https://www.indictoday.com/reviews/re...
"We live in an age when most millennials suffer from an identity crisis and the Indic society is in greater need of consolidation and leadership than ever before. Research and dialogues on the Saraswati River, I believe, will prove fruitful to address these issues in our quest for civilizational identity- a quest to find our history."
Please find my full review of this book here-
https://www.indictoday.com/reviews/re...
July 11, 2022
The author has presented some very compelling hypotheses both factual and logical. They definitely cry out loud for further research sans a conditional bias on the etymology of our civilization. Specifically to what happened to the river Saraswati. Notable mention is the author's fervor and passion for recommending undertaking future steps. So this was not just an arm chair narrative.
Coming to the book writing part, whatever of above the author has hypothesized could have been easily fit into less than 100 pages. The remainder is plain repetition and I mean serious repetition, unnecessary romanticism of our past , futile patriotism and left wing bashing. For a right wing slant reader like me, it was fun, but to the reading community at large this might come across as an attempt at brain washing through literary coercion more than concrete research and data. I feel that if the above unwanted stuff was deducted and more researched data was presented, this book would attract more erudite attention.
Overall a must read for all Indians , left , right centre alike...
Coming to the book writing part, whatever of above the author has hypothesized could have been easily fit into less than 100 pages. The remainder is plain repetition and I mean serious repetition, unnecessary romanticism of our past , futile patriotism and left wing bashing. For a right wing slant reader like me, it was fun, but to the reading community at large this might come across as an attempt at brain washing through literary coercion more than concrete research and data. I feel that if the above unwanted stuff was deducted and more researched data was presented, this book would attract more erudite attention.
Overall a must read for all Indians , left , right centre alike...
May 9, 2021
Fanatastic Book 🙏 Once again GD Bakshi has proved that he will be frontline warrior..it does not matter where is the war and with whom. Whosoever will try to malign our culture he will give them hard slap by writing this type of masterpiece.👍
Full of Facts and proofs and reminding us about our great ancient culture. It has been 70 years of independence and still we are slaved mentally .Still we are influenced with colonized writers .they have already done enough damage to our history and culture. Thanks to GD Bakshi who is there to save us from these dangerous writers.
A wonderful full book well researched.
GD Bakshi has done his part now it is our turn to spread this as much as we can🇮🇳
Jai Hind 🇮🇳
Full of Facts and proofs and reminding us about our great ancient culture. It has been 70 years of independence and still we are slaved mentally .Still we are influenced with colonized writers .they have already done enough damage to our history and culture. Thanks to GD Bakshi who is there to save us from these dangerous writers.
A wonderful full book well researched.
GD Bakshi has done his part now it is our turn to spread this as much as we can🇮🇳
Jai Hind 🇮🇳
Currently reading
January 20, 2021it is a mind blowing book .it gives us a glimpse of how leftist-marxist and british coalition distorted our sense of history.
June 2, 2021
There are lot of books on the lost river Sarasvathi, but this one gives a feel that this narrative is ours, our Ithihas, our heritage. The book goes through various disciplines from Satellite imagery to DNA mapping including Rig Veda and Linguistic Evidences to answer questions like where was Sarasvathi river located and when it was flowing, who were the people residing on the banks of this mythological river.
February 7, 2021
Major General (Dr) G.D. Bakshi. The Sarasvati Civilization: A Paradigm Shift in Ancient Indian History. Garuda Prakashan, Gurugram, 2019. ISBN: 978-1-942426-14-1. Pages: 240.
On the question of river Sarasvati’s role in the creation and decline of the Harappan civilization, the Indian academia is divided into two warring camps and Major General (Dr) G.D.Bakshi in his book, the Sarasvati Civilization, has taken a stand against all those – in his own words, left and liberal scholars, who either support the Aryan migration theory or reject the identification of the Rigvedic river Sarasvati with the now dry Ghaggar-Hakra river. Having provided a detailed survey of recent archaeological and genetic studies, the author reiterates the identification of the Rigvedic river Sarasvati with the now dry Ghaggar-Hakra river and attributes the identity of the Vedic Aryans to the founders of the Harappan cities. Contrary to the standard historical narrative that places the Vedic Age of the Indo-Aryans (circa 1500-1000 BCE) after the Harappan civilization (i.e., the urban phase, circa 2600-1900 BCE), this book proposes to revise the existing historical framework by identifying the Aryan race as the original inhabitant of the Indian subcontinent.
In the 1970s, the Landsat satellite images of the North-western India revealed the presence of an ancient river that drained a large geographical landmass and gave birth along with the Indus river to the Harappan civilization. As the paleo-channels of the Ghaggar-Hakra river (now dried up) were identified, these were immediately assigned the identity of the Rigvedic river Sarasvati. This discovery made the Ghaggar-Hakra river system an integral part of the Harappan civilization and the extinction of this same river due to tectonic movements in about 1900 BCE/2000 BCE was suggested to be the single most important factor responsible for the decline of the Harappan civilization. The identification of the Ghaggar-Hakra with the Rigvedic river Sarasvati pushed the scholars to revise the dating of the Rigveda, which is widely dated to circa 1500-1000 BCE. In the Rigveda, the river Sarasvati is described as a mighty river and the same river, as it is evident from archaeological and geological evidences, had become extinct in about 1900/2000 BCE. It leads to two possibilities: first, the Rigveda was composed at a time, when the river Sarasvati/Ghaggar-Hakra was alive and it makes the Rigveda contemporary of the Harappan civilization. Second, the identification of river Sarasvati with the Ghaggar-Hakra is wrong. Contrary to the left-liberal historians, Major General (Dr) G.D. Bakshi rejects the second possibility and endorses the first one in his book. In his book, the identification of the Rigvedic Aryans with the Harappans is forcefully argued. Its not a new argument that is being made in this book; rather, several other scholars including B. B. Lal, Danino Michel, and David Frawley to name a few, have proposed the similar views previously. What is new in this book is the discussion on the genetic research that has in recent years reignited the academic and popular interest in the eugenics.
The emphasis on the Hindu identity of the Harappans in this book is quite plausible and continuity of the Harappan beliefs and cultural practices in subsequent times is well argued. However, the identification of the ancient Indians (of the Harappan and/or the Vedic Age) with the Aryan race shows a colonial hangover that has not yet subsided among Indian academia. The obsession of both the left-liberals as well as the right-leaning scholars with the Aryan race is quite remarkable. The theory of superior-white skin Aryan race was constructed by the imperialist powers of the Europe to legitimize their exploitation of the Asians, Africans and the native Americans. In the context of India, the colonial authorities introduced a major social fracture by creating the Aryan-versus-Dravidian divide. Not only they assumed the Aryan identity, the colonial masters allowed some of their subjects to share this Aryan racial identity by transforming the caste system into a racial segregation system in return of a tacit support to their exploitation of the Indian masses as well as resources. In this way, rulers and a section of the ruled had styled themselves as the descendants of the ancient Aryans and rest of the Indian population was turned into non-Aryan inferior castes/races in the colonial India. Like a spider’s web, the colonial paradigm consists of several inter-connected threads in the form of theories and concepts; this book challenges only one part of the colonial paradigm, i.e., the Aryan invasion theory, but continues to endorse the Aryan race identity for the Indians. Since the author does not attempt to challenge the other aspects of the colonial paradigm, the questions related to caste-race equation and the non-Aryan race groups remain unanswered. Above all, this book uses the same concepts and language of discourse that the colonial rulers have had cultivated to trap the imagination of their subject population in the 19th and the early 20th century.
Another conceptual problem emerges from the identification of the Rigveda as the ‘first holy book’ and the ‘Aryan race’ as its author; it displays a desire on the part of the author to cast Hinduism in the mould of the Abrahmanic religions (i.e., the Christianity and the Islam). The author seems to have accepted one religion, one holy book, and one primary community framework of the Abrahmanic religions as an ideal standard and accordingly, he has assigned one holy book (the Rigveda) and one primary community (the Aryan race) to Hinduism (p. 226). Even though Major General (Dr) G.D. Bakshi himself underlines the limitation of genetic evidences, yet he uses the same evidences to argue the ‘out of India migration’ of the Aryans. Somehow the author has accepted the colonial view that all people belonging to same race are bound to follow same religion, culture and language. This view leads to the question: Is Hinduism genetically determined? The author seems to believe so. Scholars, who are deducing names (Aryan for instance) and religio-cultural identities (Hindu-Hinduism for instance) from DNA of ancient dead-bodies are unknowingly advocating the old colonial belief in the racial division of human beings into superior as well as inferior races. Such eugenic beliefs in the name of science have led to Jewish genocide and enslavement of native Asian/African/American people in past, and still in many parts of the western world the belief in white-man’s racial superiority is causing racial conflicts. Here in India, the obsession with the Aryan race is keeping academic and politicians at loggerheads. Contrary to the Abrahmanic religions, Hinduism is neither bound to one book nor to any one primary community; rather, Hinduism’s ability to celebrate and worship the unity in diversity (‘oneness in spite of all differences’) allows its adherents to surpass racial, regional, linguistic and ethnic differences. The attempt to reduce the Hindu identity to a single DNA code (Gene Haplogroup R1a1a) is uncalled for and it tends to make Hinduism an exclusivist faith.
In the end, the strength of Major General (Dr) G.D. Bakshi lies in the detailed analysis of available evidences to substantiate the Indus-Sarasvati valleys – particularly, Sarasvati compared to Indus, as the cradle of Indian civilization; but the attempt to trace the Hindu identity back to a DNA code (Gene Haplogroup R1a1a) in this book weakens this otherwise a well-articulated narrative on the Sarasvati civilization.
On the question of river Sarasvati’s role in the creation and decline of the Harappan civilization, the Indian academia is divided into two warring camps and Major General (Dr) G.D.Bakshi in his book, the Sarasvati Civilization, has taken a stand against all those – in his own words, left and liberal scholars, who either support the Aryan migration theory or reject the identification of the Rigvedic river Sarasvati with the now dry Ghaggar-Hakra river. Having provided a detailed survey of recent archaeological and genetic studies, the author reiterates the identification of the Rigvedic river Sarasvati with the now dry Ghaggar-Hakra river and attributes the identity of the Vedic Aryans to the founders of the Harappan cities. Contrary to the standard historical narrative that places the Vedic Age of the Indo-Aryans (circa 1500-1000 BCE) after the Harappan civilization (i.e., the urban phase, circa 2600-1900 BCE), this book proposes to revise the existing historical framework by identifying the Aryan race as the original inhabitant of the Indian subcontinent.
In the 1970s, the Landsat satellite images of the North-western India revealed the presence of an ancient river that drained a large geographical landmass and gave birth along with the Indus river to the Harappan civilization. As the paleo-channels of the Ghaggar-Hakra river (now dried up) were identified, these were immediately assigned the identity of the Rigvedic river Sarasvati. This discovery made the Ghaggar-Hakra river system an integral part of the Harappan civilization and the extinction of this same river due to tectonic movements in about 1900 BCE/2000 BCE was suggested to be the single most important factor responsible for the decline of the Harappan civilization. The identification of the Ghaggar-Hakra with the Rigvedic river Sarasvati pushed the scholars to revise the dating of the Rigveda, which is widely dated to circa 1500-1000 BCE. In the Rigveda, the river Sarasvati is described as a mighty river and the same river, as it is evident from archaeological and geological evidences, had become extinct in about 1900/2000 BCE. It leads to two possibilities: first, the Rigveda was composed at a time, when the river Sarasvati/Ghaggar-Hakra was alive and it makes the Rigveda contemporary of the Harappan civilization. Second, the identification of river Sarasvati with the Ghaggar-Hakra is wrong. Contrary to the left-liberal historians, Major General (Dr) G.D. Bakshi rejects the second possibility and endorses the first one in his book. In his book, the identification of the Rigvedic Aryans with the Harappans is forcefully argued. Its not a new argument that is being made in this book; rather, several other scholars including B. B. Lal, Danino Michel, and David Frawley to name a few, have proposed the similar views previously. What is new in this book is the discussion on the genetic research that has in recent years reignited the academic and popular interest in the eugenics.
The emphasis on the Hindu identity of the Harappans in this book is quite plausible and continuity of the Harappan beliefs and cultural practices in subsequent times is well argued. However, the identification of the ancient Indians (of the Harappan and/or the Vedic Age) with the Aryan race shows a colonial hangover that has not yet subsided among Indian academia. The obsession of both the left-liberals as well as the right-leaning scholars with the Aryan race is quite remarkable. The theory of superior-white skin Aryan race was constructed by the imperialist powers of the Europe to legitimize their exploitation of the Asians, Africans and the native Americans. In the context of India, the colonial authorities introduced a major social fracture by creating the Aryan-versus-Dravidian divide. Not only they assumed the Aryan identity, the colonial masters allowed some of their subjects to share this Aryan racial identity by transforming the caste system into a racial segregation system in return of a tacit support to their exploitation of the Indian masses as well as resources. In this way, rulers and a section of the ruled had styled themselves as the descendants of the ancient Aryans and rest of the Indian population was turned into non-Aryan inferior castes/races in the colonial India. Like a spider’s web, the colonial paradigm consists of several inter-connected threads in the form of theories and concepts; this book challenges only one part of the colonial paradigm, i.e., the Aryan invasion theory, but continues to endorse the Aryan race identity for the Indians. Since the author does not attempt to challenge the other aspects of the colonial paradigm, the questions related to caste-race equation and the non-Aryan race groups remain unanswered. Above all, this book uses the same concepts and language of discourse that the colonial rulers have had cultivated to trap the imagination of their subject population in the 19th and the early 20th century.
Another conceptual problem emerges from the identification of the Rigveda as the ‘first holy book’ and the ‘Aryan race’ as its author; it displays a desire on the part of the author to cast Hinduism in the mould of the Abrahmanic religions (i.e., the Christianity and the Islam). The author seems to have accepted one religion, one holy book, and one primary community framework of the Abrahmanic religions as an ideal standard and accordingly, he has assigned one holy book (the Rigveda) and one primary community (the Aryan race) to Hinduism (p. 226). Even though Major General (Dr) G.D. Bakshi himself underlines the limitation of genetic evidences, yet he uses the same evidences to argue the ‘out of India migration’ of the Aryans. Somehow the author has accepted the colonial view that all people belonging to same race are bound to follow same religion, culture and language. This view leads to the question: Is Hinduism genetically determined? The author seems to believe so. Scholars, who are deducing names (Aryan for instance) and religio-cultural identities (Hindu-Hinduism for instance) from DNA of ancient dead-bodies are unknowingly advocating the old colonial belief in the racial division of human beings into superior as well as inferior races. Such eugenic beliefs in the name of science have led to Jewish genocide and enslavement of native Asian/African/American people in past, and still in many parts of the western world the belief in white-man’s racial superiority is causing racial conflicts. Here in India, the obsession with the Aryan race is keeping academic and politicians at loggerheads. Contrary to the Abrahmanic religions, Hinduism is neither bound to one book nor to any one primary community; rather, Hinduism’s ability to celebrate and worship the unity in diversity (‘oneness in spite of all differences’) allows its adherents to surpass racial, regional, linguistic and ethnic differences. The attempt to reduce the Hindu identity to a single DNA code (Gene Haplogroup R1a1a) is uncalled for and it tends to make Hinduism an exclusivist faith.
In the end, the strength of Major General (Dr) G.D. Bakshi lies in the detailed analysis of available evidences to substantiate the Indus-Sarasvati valleys – particularly, Sarasvati compared to Indus, as the cradle of Indian civilization; but the attempt to trace the Hindu identity back to a DNA code (Gene Haplogroup R1a1a) in this book weakens this otherwise a well-articulated narrative on the Sarasvati civilization.
August 24, 2021
Any book on Saraswati Civilization must begin with having Danino's seminal work as the foundation. This one does so. It also repeats almost everything mentioned in that book. To that it adds discussions on soma, genetic studies, and lots of political rhetoric, especially the bashing of Tony Joseph, Romila Thapar et.al. Those political bad-mouthing combined with the author's tendency to repeat oneself, reduced the academic credibility of the book. It almost seemed as if the author's main aim is to attack the leftist intelligentsia dictating Indian history. That's unfortunate, since the accumulation of dsta on Saraswati and her legacy had been painstakingly accumulated here. That process deserved a more erudite and apolitical stance.
Nevertheless, if you are afraid of Danino's study, then this one is customised for you. It's written in a simple, lucid language. The author comes alive in the words. Above all, it seeks to bury the AIT and its avatars permanently. Irrespective of you agreeing with the author or not, the discourse is interesting and emotional.
Recommended.
Nevertheless, if you are afraid of Danino's study, then this one is customised for you. It's written in a simple, lucid language. The author comes alive in the words. Above all, it seeks to bury the AIT and its avatars permanently. Irrespective of you agreeing with the author or not, the discourse is interesting and emotional.
Recommended.
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