Aryo Se Pahele Ki Bharatiya Sanskruti - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided text, "Aryo se Pahele ki Bharatiya Sanskruti" by Gulabchandra Chaudhary, focusing on its content related to pre-Aryan Indian culture:

Overview:

The book "Aryo se Pahele ki Bharatiya Sanskruti" (Indian Culture Before the Aryans) by Gulabchandra Chaudhary delves into the complex history of Indian civilization, emphasizing the significant contributions and presence of indigenous cultures long before the arrival of the Aryans. The author utilizes anthropological, linguistic, and archaeological evidence to reconstruct a picture of pre-Aryan India, challenging the traditional view that Indian civilization began with the Vedic period.

Key Arguments and Findings:

Challenging the Aryan-Centric View: The author begins by acknowledging the impact of the Indus Valley Civilization discovery, which ignited scholarly interest in India's pre-Aryan past. He criticizes earlier historical approaches that assumed Indian civilization originated from Darwinian evolution and the Vedic period. Modern research, however, has revealed a wealth of written and archaeological material that points to a much older and more diverse cultural landscape.
Methodology of Pre-Aryan Research: Chaudhary outlines the three primary methods used to study this ancient period:
- Anthropology: Studying physical characteristics, particularly facial features, to identify different human branches and understand the mixed origins of Indian populations, predating even the Indus Valley Civilization.
- Philology (Linguistics): Analyzing the development of languages, identifying representative words of different cultures, and understanding cultural exchange and admixture. Language provides insights into the ideology and cultural status of past societies.
- Archaeology: Considered a strong foundation for history, archaeology provides tangible evidence where other sources are vague. It has been instrumental in discovering the non-Aryan foundations of Indian culture.
The Aryan Migration Theory: The author supports the view that Aryans migrated to India from outside. Studying Indian history within the context of world history, particularly in relation to the Near East, helps resolve many historical puzzles. He notes that the Vedas mention encounters with two types of enemies upon arrival: the "Bratyas," who were civilized, and the "Dasas" and "Dasyus," who were non-Aryan city dwellers. The Aryans engaged in warfare with these groups, who lived in large fortified cities ("puras"). Merchants among them were called "ganis." The author cites Rigvedic accounts of battles between Aryans and these city dwellers.
Dating the Vedic Period and Aryan Arrival: Chaudhary suggests that the dating of Vedic literature should be considered around the 10th century BCE, based on linguistic comparisons with the Avesta and ancient Persian inscriptions. He contends that the arrival of Aryans in groups (gramas) was not an extraordinarily ancient event when compared to the prehistory and history of Mesopotamia. While some scholars use astronomical calculations for much earlier dates, the author believes linguistic and archaeological evidence provides a more reliable basis.
Indigenous Non-Aryan Cultures: The book dedicates significant attention to the various indigenous cultures that inhabited India before and alongside the Aryans:
- Negritos (Krishnanga): Identified as the earliest known non-Aryan inhabitants. Their descendants are found in the Andaman Islands, and their languages are unrelated to any known linguistic branches. They were once spread from the Arabian Sea to China. Their contribution to later civilization is difficult to ascertain due to their ancientness and assimilation by later groups. Traces are found in Balochistan, South Indian tribal groups, and Naga tribes of Burma.
- Austric (Sragneya): Migrated from the East and their languages, religions, and cultures are found in Indochina and the Pacific islands. Their descendants in India include groups like the Khasi, Kol, Munda, Santhal, and Shabar. They were widespread across North, Central, and South India, benefiting from river valleys. They are credited with the origin of the word "Ganga" from their river names. Their language significantly influenced Aryan poetic composition, sounds, and idioms. They possessed advanced material civilization and agricultural practices (rice cultivation). They introduced items like coconut, banana, betel nut, turmeric, ginger, and brinjal. Their system of counting (Kori/Bisi) and lunar calendars are also attributed to them. They practiced stone burials and believed in an afterlife and transmigration of souls, which may have influenced the Aryan concept of rebirth.
- Dravidians: Arrived from Western India (potentially the Eastern Mediterranean region) much earlier than the Aryans. Their original homeland is linked to the Eastern Mediterranean, with possible connections to "Milli" in Asia Minor, and "Dravida" or "Dvamila" being earlier forms. They developed urban civilization, with remnants found from the Tigris-Euphrates valley to the Indus Valley. They were prosperous traders, cultivated barley, wheat, and cotton, and excelled in spinning and weaving. They domesticated elephants, camels, oxen, and buffaloes, and rode horses, but preferred bullock carts. Archaeological findings suggest the worship of Durga, Shiva, and the Lingam, and even Jain Kayotsarga images have been found. They worshipped their deities with fruits, flowers, and sandalwood, and did not practice animal sacrifice.
  - The Dravidians were organized into states when Aryans were settling in Punjab. They conquered the Austrics and established kingdoms in Magadha, Kamarupa, and southern regions like Kalinga, Kerala, Chola, and Pandya.
  - They developed maritime capabilities early on, establishing colonies in South India, Sri Lanka, and the Indonesian archipelago.
  - Many scholars believe the Dravidians were the creators of the Indus Valley Civilization.
  - The Vedas mention various Dravidian groups, and their direct conflict with Aryans is documented in Vedic and later literature. Aryans used derogatory terms like Dasyu, Anasa, Mridrvak, Ayajvan, Akraman, and Anyavrata for them. The concept of "Varna" (caste) was likely introduced by Aryans to maintain separation.
The Vedic Literature's Bias: Chaudhary points out that Vedic literature represents the cultural history of a specific region (mainly Punjab and surrounding areas) and reflects the views of those who practiced ritualistic sacrifice (Yajnik culture). This culture was intolerant of other traditions, particularly the non-violent Shraman (ascetic) culture prevalent in central and eastern India.
Shraman Culture and its Influence: The book highlights the existence of Shraman culture, characterized by asceticism and non-violence, predating Aryan arrival. Terms like "Arhan," "Shraman," "Yati," "Munaya," "Vatarasanah," "Vratya," and "Mahavatya" are found in Vedic literature. The Vedas also mention figures like Rishabhadeva, Ajitnath, and Arishtanemi, who are considered proto-Shramanic figures. The Atharvaveda describes Vratyas, and some Samaveda texts mention rituals (Vratyastoma) to integrate them into Vedic tradition.
- The Vratyas' culture was based on vows and was strongly opposed to sacrificial culture.
- The author suggests that followers of Shraman culture were likely descendants of Dravidian or earlier groups. Their worship, philosophical beliefs, theories of karma, rebirth, and the concept of soul transmigration were integral to this pre-Aryan Shraman culture.
- This culture was widespread across India and influenced even ancient Tamil literature.
- The author anticipates that excavations in the Ganga valley, similar to the Indus Valley, will shed more light on the Shraman culture patronized by Austric, Dravidian, and other indigenous groups.

Conclusion:

Gulabchandra Chaudhary's work strongly asserts that Indian civilization is not solely an Aryan creation. It emphasizes the profound and foundational contributions of pre-Aryan indigenous cultures, particularly the Austric and Dravidian peoples, to the development of Indian society, religion, philosophy, and material culture. The book advocates for a more inclusive understanding of India's past, recognizing the significant legacy of these earlier inhabitants.