proof

genetic

theory

Central Asia

the rest

Gyaneshwar Chaubey

University of Tartu

Saroj Bala

Institute of Scientific Research

Delhi University

indigenous

Vasant Shinde

vice chancellor

Deccan College Deemed University

Dr B P Urade

Savitribai Phule Pune University

DR SAROJ BALA RESEARCHER

I-SERVE

A recent genetic study has displaced thethat India was invaded and conquered by light-skinned Indo-European tribes fromduring 1500 BC, overthrowing the native, dark-skinned Dravidians. The study also suggests that there has been genetic continuity in India for over 10,000 years.“The research has genetically cleared up the Aryan invasion theory propounded by linguists and historians. There has been no major migration in and out of India, but there has been a lot of it within India. Genes in India, compared toof the world, are similar,” saidof the Estonian Biocentre,. Other researchers include Drfrom theon Vedas (ISERVE) Delhi chapter, professor V R Rao fromand Anurag Kadiyan from IIT Delhi.The team extracted detailed information about Indian tribal populations from the Ramayana and tested their concordance and discordance (parallelism) with genetic data. Three main tribes — Gond, Kol and Bhil — were selected since they are mentioned in the Ramayana.“Besides this, our other conclusions also suggest that all castes and tribes of India share a common genetic thread. The ones mentioned in Ramayana showed an ancient population structure withevolvement of DNA for the past 10,000 years,” added Dr Bala.The team has also concluded that all Indians from the northern or southern part of the country, irrespec-tive of caste and tribal affiliations, share a common genetic ancestry.While many believe that the Aryans came through Punjab and brought agriculture and allied activities, some experts claim these activities already existed and were carried out by the natives.“India did have trade relations with other countries. There were also cross-cultural weddings, but there is no proof of any Aryan invasion. We have research which suggests that the Aryan invasion may be a myth altogether. We search for the smallest details in archaeology; had something as major as an invasion taken place, there would have been proof somewhere,” said DrofThe fact was seconded by, assistant professor of anthropology at. “You could conduct this research anywhere in the country and the findings will be the same. Aryan invasion is merely a political theory and does not hold at the genetic level at all. With exceptions such as hybridisation, Indians are one race when it comes to genetics,” he said.█ Indian castes, tribes share genetic thread. The ones mentioned in Ramayana showed an ancient population structure with indigenous evolvement of DNA