Call for Papers: Seminar on "Aryan Invasion Theory"

[Guest guest]

Call for Papers

And

Participation in a Seminar

on

 

Socio-political Implications of Aryan Invasion Theory

(Moderated By: Dr. Srinivasan Kalyanaraman)

 

This is a Call for Papers on the Socio-Political

Implications of the Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT). A seminar followed

by a workshop on this subject will be held as part of the Human

Empowerment Conference in Houston during Sept 16-18, 2005. The

submissions and the ensuing debate at the conference among the

thinkers present is expected to culminate into a position paper on

this topic. The position paper alongwith the proceedings of this

seminar will be made available widely, and it is hoped that it would

have a bearing on popular but erroneous notions that are derivative

of AIT.

 

Background

 

Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT) has been a major pre-

occupation in intellectual debates for nearly 200 years. AIT was

proposed and elaborated upon by many indologists both in India and

abroad as a framework for understanding the history of ancient India.

AIT was started as a theory for comparative study of languages

because of common language terms among languages of India, Greece and

many European countries. As archaeological discoveries pointed to the

indigenous emergence of Indian civilization about 5000 years ago, and

continuity of the culture in India, (with little archaeological

evidence for the movement of any 'Aryan' people into India), AIT

proponents have suggested modified theories such as Aryan Migration

Theory, Aryan Trickle-in Acculturation Theory.

 

AIT (and its variants) has not been a mere historical

theorization. Apart from monopolizing academic discourses, it has had

profound social and political implications in India, fomenting:

 

* a divisive 'dravidian' movement in Tamilnadu

 

* so-called Aryan-dravidian divide referring to the 'aryan

north' and the 'dravidian south'

 

* caste conflicts within Indian society assuming a ranking among

'castes'

 

* stereotyping of 'tribes' as original settlers justifying

colonial regimes to 'civilise' tribal communities

 

Pre-occupation with AIT has also prevented a systematic

study of an unbiased and true history of science and technology in

ancient India and the contributions made by Bharatam Janam (a term

used in Rigveda to connote the 'people of the nation of Bharata') to

the crystallization of India's national identity and essential unity

of the nation.

 

Objectives

 

* survey the contributions made by archaeologists, historians,

scholars of a number of disciplines in support of and against the AIT

 

* analyse the socio-cultural-political implications of AIT (and

its modified forms) in terms of

 

* distortions created in the study of ancient Indian history

 

* distortions of the contributions made by jaati and janajaati

(NOT castes which is derived from a Portuguese word meaning 'race')

to Indian thought, culture, ethos and traditions

 

* distortions in the political discourse of the nation on issues

related to 'castes' and 'tribes'

 

* present alternative perspectives for studying Indian

civilization in terms of

 

* Sanatana dharma (dhamma) as a framework for studying the

evolution of Indian thought

 

* Contributions of Indian thought, science and technology to

world culture and heritage

 

* Research methodologies based on Indian traditions of tri-

varga of s'ruti-tantrayukti-anubhuti instead of blind reliance on

Hegelian dialectical method.

 

* Deliberate upon and propose an action plan for

 

* Further areas of research

 

* Steps to undo the negative impacts of AIT on Indian polity and

socio-cultural development

 

* Steps to correct the distortions and present a true

perspective of Indian civilization in school text-books

 

Scholars are requested to submit papers in digital form

(MS Word) to facilitate publication in seminar proceedings. The

seminar will be followed by a workshop where an annual action plan

will be developed in three distinct general areas: (i) Ideology -

further research that needs to be undertaken in this subject area,

(ii) Awareness - how to package the intellectual output and propagate

among the masses, and (iii) Action - what collective action to take

to undo the damage done to the society by AIT and its socio-political

derivatives.

 

The Seminar will be moderated by Dr. Srinivasan Kalyanaraman

( http://www.hindunet.org/saraswati ).

 

******

 

How to participate:

 

Submissions can be sent to :

 

Anand Rajaram

Seminar Coordinator

E-mail: ait-seminar

 

Deadline for submission of abstracts: Last week of July 2005

Deadline for submission of completed paper: First week of September

2005

 

Prospective participants are cordially invited to be present at the

conference during Sept. 16th-18th, 2005, in Houston, Texas, USA.

Details of the Third Annual Human Empowerment Conference can be

obtained from the Seminar Coordinator. All prospective participants

living in the U.S. and Canada are highly encouraged to attend the

seminar and workshop in person. Participants from India and elsewhere

can participate via teleconferencing. Appropriate facilities for

remote participation will be provided by the conference organizers.

 

 

Further information about the conference is available from:

 

Third Annual Human Empowerment Conference 2005

Organizing Committee

 

Shri Dilip Mehta

Tel. 281-491-7299

 

Shri Vijay Kumar

Tel. 615-646-1875

 

Dr. Raj Dave

Tel. 847-274-0459

 

E-mail: ait-seminar

 

 

*****