India – The Second History
For most Western historians (and also Indians), only the Core North India, is Indian history, society and culture. This is the history which British propagated and showed India as a defeated civilisation. Invaded, pillaged and dominated. Inferior and poor. Technologically backward. This is the history that is taught in schools and exists in popular imagery.
Despite its many fallacies, this view is being perpetuated by propaganda interests of the Anglo-Saxon bloc and the (various versions of) Congress party which has been the ruling party for the most of post-colonial India.
Along the Dakshinapatha दक्षिणपथ
There is another part to that history – which today influences and touches half the world. This history is full of wealth, military successes and a spread which taken India deeper than any other civilisation in the world. While the previous history was along the उत्तरपथ uttarapath, this story lies along the दक्षिणपथ dakshinapatha.
Its starts at Kerala, a highway across Nagpur Jhansi, Gwalior, Delhi ,Kashmir and ends in modern Iran. This history and geography is loosely dominated by the Dravidian segment of India.
Colonial historians (from India and the West) dismissed Dravidian history as subordinate and lesser than Aryan on the basis of the Aryan Invasion Theory. Now that the Aryan Invasion /Migration Theory does not have a leg to stand on, the contribution by the Dravidians along the dakshinapatha दक्षिणपथ becomes more important.
Where It All Started
The oldest Indian language, not based on Sanskrit, is Tamil. There is 3000 year old history that Tamil language has, which makes it one the oldest, living language. Related languages are in use even today in Pakistan, where the Brahui tribe speaks a related version of the Tamil language. The Brahuis have marriage preferences which are similar to South Indians (cousins preferred in marriage) – rather than North Indians.
How did Tamil land up in Baluchistan? And thereby hangs a tale.
The Elamites
The people of Elam (yes in Tamil, Eelam means homeland), were the first to civilise the Iranian Peninsula in the 2700 BC period. They were contemporaries of the Egyptians, the Mittanis and the Hittites. The Elamites were a significant people till the 800BC in Persia (modern day Iran).
The Elamites concluded a major treaty with the Akkadian King King Naram-sin (Naram to Narain and Sin is the moon goddess, Chandra; possibly Narayan Chandra). Akkadian language is itself implicated in being in cahoots with Sanskrit and Indus Valley languages – and the creation ans spread of most modern languages except Sino languages.
The Elamites, Mittanis and Hittites ruled an area stretching from Iran to Iraq up to modern Turkey. Numerous kings have Indian names – like Shutruk (Shatrughna), Shushinak (Sheshnag – the eternal serpent on whom Vishnu rests) Siwe /Sive (Shiva-pal seems to be his name - Dravidians have a significant Shaivite following even today).
One of the most prominent rulers of Babylon was Nebuchadnezzar (as spelt in English). Replace ‘b’ with ‘d’ and you are very close the Tamil name of Neduncheziyan (Nedunchedianuru) – a current and modern Tamil name. Interestingly, Neduncheziyan is more famous as the fabled erring Pandyan King in the Tamil classic – Silappadhikaaram. Neduncheziyan mistaken justice, brings him grief and finally death. Neduncheziyan is overshadowed by the other King, Cheran Senguttuvan’s fame in the Tamil classic, written by Jain Saint, Elangovadigal.
The goddess figurine seems to show parallel preferences between Elamite concept of female beauty and today’s Kodambakkam.
Ophir
This was a famous city from which ancient Egypt, Babylon, Sumeria and other Middle East countries imported gold, sandalwood, ivory, gems, (wild animals and birds(peacocks, monkeys). This now seems to be a corruption of the Tamil kingdom of Oviyar. Oviyar were one of the ruling tribes of South India and Sri Lanka. Ophir (as the Greeks called it and the West knows it) was a kingdom in South India and Lanka - a legend in its own time. Ships sailed from Sopara (modern Nallasoppara) and Lothal.
The Satavahanas
Immediately after the decline of Mauryan power in the Deccan, rose the Satavahanas. Based in the Godavari and Krishna river region, their origin is
is disputed between being Andhras or Marathas. Many of Sakas and Yavanas were taken onto Satavahana administration. Indianised Sakas and Yavanas, (Dharmadeva, Agnivarma or Rishabhadatta) from the Central Asia-Iran-Afghan region, were tribes and peoples conquered by Alexander and subsequently available as mercenaries. The spread of Buddhism gained strength during this reign – which we will see became a significant feature of Dravidian spread. The Amravati stupa, was built during this period.
Satakarni I (C. 180-170 B.C) was one of the early Satavahana rulers. He expanded to western Malwa (a Sungas territory) and clashed with the powerful Kalinga ruler Kharavela. He performed performing Aswamedhas thus announcing his suzerainty – desides celebrating a Rajasuya. His queen was a Marathi princess Naganika and a Naneghat inscription describes him as ” Lord of Dakshinapatha, wielder of the unchecked wheel of Sovereignty”.
Hala (C. 19-24 A.D) the seventeenth Satavahana ruler compiled Saptasati in Prakrit, married a Sri Lankan princess, (described in Prakrit work) Lilavati. Gautamiputra Shri Yagna Satakarni (C. 78-102 A.D.), in an inscription at Nasik, took pride in calling himself `Destroyer of Shaka(Scythians), Yavana (Greeks) and Pahalava’ – Pahalava referring to the Pahlavi dynasty of Parthian area of Iran. More than 13000 coins were found from his reign – now famous as the Jogalthembi hoard.
The Chalukyas – 5th Century to 12th Century
Vijnaneshwara who accomplished renown by inscribing Mitakshara- a book on Hindu law in the court of Chalukya Vikramaditya VI. Somesvara III was a magnificent intellectual and king who amassed an encyclopedia of all arts and sciences called Manasollasa.
The Maritime Saga
So, these Indians from South were involved in Middle East administration and were a major maritime power till the 17th century. Indonesia, Philipines, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia were at various times ruled by these Dravidian rulers.
The world’s largest religious complex is the Hindu temple of Angkor Vat – in Cambodia.
Simultaneously, trade introduced Islam and Christianity into India in Kerala, Bengal and Kashmir – before any invasions. The demographic change in Indian religious due to invasions was magnified by colonial historians to create animosity.
More coming up in the next 1 week.
As can be seen, North and South Indians were different language and practices but saw themselves as apart of Bharatvarsha – i.e India. Unlike what European historians would like us to believe. Lot of the material is available as links in this post also.
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>>As can be seen, North and South Indians were different language and practices but saw themselves as apart of Bharatvarsha – i.e India. Unlike what European historians would like us to believe. Lot of the material is available as links in this post also.
Tamil influences are clear and obvious in areas that are far away from south India. However, there are many unanswered questions. Did Tamil originate in south India or a larger part of India spoke Tamil and it survived only in south India? We know Tamil and Sanskrit coexisted – but did Tamil predate Sanskrit? Tamil script’s influences on Devanagari are clear – especially the usage of the anunasika consonants (nasal sounds – especially the “nya”) amongst others.
The north-south divide is highly exaggerated. Max Mueller, who was hired by the EEIC was amongst the ones who propagated the Aryan invasion theory. The influences of Sanskrit on Persian and European languages are obvious enough to put them in a linguistic category. However, excluding the four south-Indian languages from this nebulous “Indo-….” language smacks of politics rather than linguistics. The politics of nineteenth century was also dominated by race, which played a major role in the conclusions reached by the “intellectuals” such as Max Mueller – who wanted to portray the dark skinned south Indians as “inferior.” This narrative was invented to explain an otherwise natural and geographical change in skin color as something more dramatic. This was a period when in addition to skin color, the “anthropologists” were obsessed with “dolichocephals and brachycephals” the narrow faced and the broad faced people. This was a period of ridiculous ideas that correlated “superiority” to the bone structure. While history in other parts of the world have been significantly reassessed with the trashing of these ideas, Indian history remains a slave to these fallacies.
A grave of less than a dozen people found in Mohenjodaro much after Max Mueller was used to justify the Aryan invasion theory… the fate of an entire population was based on the bodies of a few people… Wheeler wrote about the “marauding light skinned Aryans ‘mowing’ the poor dark skinned harappan’s like gras…” many challenges made to this ridiculous story were marginalized in the IHRC even after independence…
While the aryan invasion theory is now officially dead, the proponents of aryan as a “race” are attempting to redefine it as a aryan migration theory…
…while new assessment of India’s history is being “invented” in the US by the likes of the “Weasel”, Indian academics remain “loyal” to the “story” invented by Max Mueller 150 years ago…
Continuing on ancient Dravidian influences, here’s a thesis that I have been mulling over for many years – never having dug deeper into. Perhaps you can and see if thesis fits.
Consider the story of Skanda (or Murgan, or Kartikeya). Shiva’s son who is said to have conquered the world. In the Geeta, Krishna tells Arjuna that “of all generals I am skanda” (10.24 – Senani-naam-aham Skandah)
Many people and linguistic groups have difficulty pronouncing conjoint consonants. You see that in western asia. So “school” becomes “iskool” or “sakool” or “sikool” So Skanda can become – iskanda or sikanda. …now “skanda” wasn’t only “skanda” he was “skandah” with the “uh” … that got converted to “r” and you have “sikandar” or “iskandar” sounds famililar?
Now take iskandar, and add the arabic “the” in front and you get – al-iskandar. Reverse the joint consonants and you have aliksandar…
meanwhile – “skanda” was married to “divya sena” or “devasena” – which literally means “divine army”… if you translate “divya” as the persian/arabic “ruh” “sikandar” was married to “ruh sena” – the ‘h” in west-asian languages is quite rough which in europe could have become “ruxena” or “roxanna”
Many greek kings claimed to be similar to historical figures… so the son of Phillip could have given himself the title “alexander” in honor of Skanda…
The fact that Shiva like figures exist in the vedic cities of the Saraswati-Sindhu civilizations indicates the possibility that “original” Skandah could have existed prior to 3000BC… perhaps India’s political unification should be credited to Skanda or Murugan…
Parag Tope
I would like to exchange email with whomever is the person who writes this blog. Your research is of great interest and follows my own path of thought. I have some information you might find interesting regarding Inidian history. I am sure you have more information interesting to me. I think you are on the right track.
Please email me personally,
Jessie
I am profoundly amazed to have found this blog and want to learn more.. .. ..I have also learned that King Tut (Tuttenkamen) is the ‘basterized’ form of the Tamil king Thuthakudi Raman from Thuthakudi in Tamil Nadu who ruled Egypt.. .. ..could the author of this blog provide more insight on the matter?
tha REAL
Check this out:
Tamil neel/neer(நீல், நீர்) is now nile. Puramedugal(புறமேடுகள்) now Pyramids. ‘Erithirai’(எரிதிரை) now Red sea/eriteria. ‘Aram’(அரம்) now Arabia. Thilmunai(தில்முனை) now pagrain(old name of partain in thilmun). Hundreds of words of tamil origin in Indo european language(a wrong classification made by maxmuller).
http://www.unarvukal.com/index.php?showtopic=9279 (In English)
Mahabaratham happened in South India: That post also include details of the Tamil / Tamiliyar (Dravidar) Kings of Central and Northern Empires of India.
http://www.unarvukal.com/index.php?showtopic=9280 (In English and Tamil)
Eelam is believed to have come from the word Eel > Eezh > Eezham
Eel mean to separate in Tamil. Eelam was separated from the Indian Mainland and that’s how it got the name as pointed by Iramaki.
He also says that Eezham became the root of the word Island. Eelam (Eezham) is the old name for the modern country Sri Lanka.
eeland>eisland>island
http://valavu.blogspot.com/2008/10/2.html (in tamil)
kudos.. this is a great blog. we are lucky to have been born into a great nation of such diversity and fascinating history. Can you write about the history of South India in more detail, about the Chola dynasty in particular, the chola empire that extended from south and central india to south-east asia, including present day thailand, malaysia, indonesia, sumatra and java. There is striking resemblance and similarity in the architecture of the Angkor wat temple complex in Cambodia and the chola temples in Tamil nadu, like the ones in Tanjore (big temple) and Gangaikondacholapuram. The history is fascinating.
[...] historians (from India and the West) dismissed Dravidian history as subordinate and lesser than Aryan on the basis of the Aryan Invasion Theory. Now that the Aryan [...]