User:NittyG/Draft: Indo-Aryan Migrations: Development of theory
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See also: Indigenous Aryans and Out of India Theory
The Indo-aryan migration theory holds the position that the Aryans (Sanskrit: āryā, आर्य) that were the authors and protagonists of the Rigveda migrated to the Indian subcontinent, thus bringing Sanskrit as the predecessor of the Indo-Aryan languages that are the predominant languages of North India, along with Vedic culture and its associated cultural and social constructs such as caste,[1] the domesticated horse, and technology such as chariots[2] and weaponry. Proponents of Indo-Aryan origin outside of India generally consider migrations into South Asia from Central Asia, most likely the civilization of the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC), to have started around 1500 BC, as a slow diffusion during the Late Harappan period.
The Indo-aryan migration theories began with the study of the Rig Veda in the mid 1800s by Max Muller as a theory of a large scale invasion of a racially and technologically superior people. The theory also indicentally led to the the theory of a pure Aryan race originating "Aryan" or Indo-European languages, which had a profound influence on identity in the Western World.[3] Gradually, the theory evolved from an Aryan invasion to being a slow diffusion of small numbers of nomadic people that had a disproportionate societal impact on a large urban population. The theory has primarily drawn evidence from linguistic and literary sources, and contemporary evidence is also drawn from genetic[4] and archaeological sources. Throughout the evolution of the theory, many have rejected the claim of Indo-aryan origin outside of India entirely, continuing the traditional indigenous historical narrative that the Aryans were indigenous to the Indian Subcontinent. Some furthermore claim that all Indo-European languages originated in India. Proponents of an origin of Indo-Aryan languages outside India and those who are proponents of an indigenous origin claim to have debunked the other.
The debate about the origin of Indo-Aryan peoples is highly controversial, relating to the indigenous origin of peoples and culture, thus inflaming political agitation and sentiments. The Dravidian Movement bases much of its identity on the idea of the indigenous origin of Dravidians as opposed to transgressing Indo-Aryans.[5] Many furthermore link Indo-Aryan migrations to the origin of caste discrimination and thus the theory is a basis of sentiments around the origin of caste discrimination, as many believe that Indo-Aryans formed the upper castes. And on the other end, many people express grievances against the idea that Vedic Hinduism was born out of such transgressions and not indigenous to the people and place they identify with.[6] The debate furthermore inflames issues around racism and the idea of race, as the origin of the theory was intertwined with the desire of many in the Western world to find the origin of a pure Aryan race, the division of castes by racial basis, and the idea of an Indo-Aryan and Dravidian relating to language families rather than race.[7][8]