Results of the analysis of DNA samples of skeletons that were dug out from Rakhigarhi – a site of the Indus Valley civilization in Haryana, have proven the ‘Aryan invasion’ theory wrong. It has clearly shown that no invasion ever took place from the West, and verifies that natives of the Indus valley civilization progressed into the Vedic period. The detailed research has been done by archaeologist Mr. Vasant Shinde – vice-chancellor of Deccan College, Pune, and Mr. Neeraj Rai – incharge of ancient DNA laboratory at Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow.
According to Mr. Shinde, the DNA of a human skeleton in Rakhigarhi clearly demonstrates that it is principally local. Especially the mitochondrial DNA was intact. Though there’s a miniscule foreign strain, indicating that they must’ve come in contact with foreign people, the DNA is absolutely native. Thus it can be inferred, that the successive period, also known as the Vedic period was an era of native people, who had little contact with foreigners. The kind of graves found, resemble the nature of funerals of the Rig Vedic period.
Vessels, bricks, and skeletons being those of ‘healthy’ people suggest the existence of an advanced and progressive civilization which graduated into the Vedic period. Amazingly, some of the customs of burying the dead, as evident from the symbols in the mound of graves of Rakhigarhi, are practised even today, after thousands of years, in a few societies. It’s worth mentioning here, that though Hindus largely cremate their dead, people of some castes, regions, small babies, sages and monks, etc. are buried. Vedas also mention ‘Dagdha’ (burn) and ‘Adagdha’ (bury) rituals.
Mr. Rai claims, that native people and their civilization gradually and willingly progressed, went into new areas and settled at new places. They were not invaded from Central Asia. Condition of the skeletons, the burial etc. point out towards lack of palaeopathological diseases which means that people were healthy and had access to good healthcare. Shapes of dentures indicates strong teeth, and even the bones and the skull are strong. There were no signs of any bruises or wounds, which indicate that they never faced any violent invasion, or participated in a war.
Findings of the Rig Vedic period reaffirm Mr. Rai’s claim, that the Indus valley civilization greater continued to progress and develop into a civilization with increased knowledge. According to Mr. Rai, the analysis of DNA from Rakhigarhi shows no Central Asian traits in the genetic structure of the Indus valley people. Only few and insignificant strains matching those of the DNA of Iranian people have been found which only indicate towards a likely meeting, not any invasion.
Earlier the Britishers, followed by politicians and political parties who advocate for divisive casteism and regionalism, especially those from Tamil Nadu, propagated this now proven falsehood of Aryan invasion theory. According to this theory, they claimed that invaders came from Central Asia along with advanced weapons and knowledge, and attacked the native people, thus establishing an advanced civilisation, and forcing the native people called ‘Moolnivasis’ or ‘Dravidians’ to run towards the south of India. It’s now very clear, that this theory is completely wrong.
For those who aren’t familiar with Rakhigarhi, it’s a huge excavation site of the Indus valley civilization, approximately 6,000 years old, in an area of over 300 hectares in Haryana’s Hissar. According to Mr. Rai, 148 different skeletons from Rakhigarhi were analyzed for any possible residue of DNA molecules at Hyderabad’s Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB). Samples of DNA were obtained from two of the skeletons, which were also sent to laboratories in South Korea’s Seoul and Harvard to validate the findings of the research.
