Which of Us are Aryans?

The question of which of us is Aryan is one of the most contentious in India today. In this eye-opening book, scholars and experts critically examine the Aryan issue by analysing history, genetics, early Vedic scriptures, archaeology and linguistics to test and challenge various hypotheses, myths, facts and theories that are currently in vogue. Romila Thapar tackles the definition of the ‘Aryan’ in her inimitable style by tracing the origins and progression of the ‘Aryans’ from old Iranian texts such as the zend-avesta, archaeological excavations and colonial interpretations made by Max müeller. She also touches upon the following fields of enquiry: historiography, archaeology, linguistics, comparative mythology, social anthropology and, more recently, genetics. Michael witzel investigates the origins of the early ‘Aryans’ within and outside India. Jaya Menon examines data from excavations of Harappan culture. Kai friese lucidly explains the rakhigarhi research which has been talked about a lot in the recent past and razib Khan provides insights arising from research into genetics.

• Questioning Paradigms, Constructing Histories
• Who We Are and How We Got Here: Ancient DNA and the new science of the human past
• Majoritarian State: How Hindu Nationalism Is Changing India
• The RSS
• Origins
• COMING OUT AS DALIT
• Modern South India: A History from the 17th Century to Our Times
• Caste as Social Capital