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@xxxxxxxxxxx
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@xxxxxxxxxxx
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