Return
of the Aryans
By:
Bhagwan S.Gidwani
Publisher: Penguin Books India; Pages:994; ISBN 0-14-024053 –5
(Reviewed by: Prof. Jagjit Mirchand)
Introduction
Several eminent personalities
including Swami Vivekanand, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore
and Shri Aurobindo firmly believed that Aryans were homegrown, born and brought
up in India. Many chose to dismiss
those views simply as irrational, inspirational or ultra-nationalistic. Yet, the
archeological finds being uncovered presently, year after year, supported by
continuing historical & scholarly research seem to prove that Swami
Vivekanand, Rabindranath Tagore and Shri
Aurobindo, and many learned
personalities were correct to raise pointed questions against the Aryan Invasion
Theory.
The British, in presenting the
Aryan Invasion Theory offered no proof. They did not need to. Hundreds of Indian
historians rushed forward to earn their doctorates, promotions, patronage and
government-aided jobs and positions for supporting the British theory of Aryan
Invasion of India. Their Proof? Largely quoting those very hundreds of articles and books
–and asking - how could so many learned books and serious articles by
countless British and Indian historians be wrong!
Some did murmur that the
British-created Myth was aimed at proving to the Indians that they have always
been ruled by foreigners, being incapable of ruling themselves and that it was
always the foreign invader, like the Aryans (and in later times, other
foreigners and finally, the British), who brought progress and enlightenment –
and therefore never must Indians aspire for self-rule unless the intention is to
bring back darkness, decadence and ruin on themselves.
‘RETURN
OF THE ARYANS’ presented in novel form, provides a fascinating story
and updates much of the research from scholarly and historical sources,
archeological records, oral traditions and memory songs to present facts and
evidence to show the Aryan Invasion Theory is flawed. Moreover, it presents the
drama of the birth and beginning of Hinduism
with elegance and beauty.
MAIN THEMES IN THE BOOK:
Bhagwan S. Gidwani’s
best-seller, "Return of the Aryans" presents drama of birth and
beginnings of the
roots of Hinduism (Sanatana-Dharma) prior to 8,000 BCE.
The book’s other main themes are:
1.
Aryans originated from India. They were born, grew up, and died as
citizens of Bharat-Varsha, anchored in timeless
foundation of Sanatana-Dharma.
2.
Theory of Aryan invasion of India from
West is false.
3.
Equally false is theory of
North-South Divide. Ganga,
Madhya, Sindhu and
Dravidian regions were equal partners of Bharat-Varsha (India).
4.
A generation that remains unaware of its roots and heritage is truly
orphaned.
TERRITORY OF BHARAT VARSHA IN 5,000 BCE:
‘Return of the Aryans’
explains that Bharat-Varsha territory
in 5,000 BCE was
greater than combined
territory of India, Pakistan & Bangladesh, as additionally, it included
Avagana (Afghanistan), parts of Iran upto Lake-Namaskar; Tibet; Brahma-Lands
(Burma); Sadhu-Newar-Lands (Nepal); Bhoota (Bhutan); and Vraon-Land (Sri Lanka).
These lands joined Bharat-Varsha not by conquest but by free consent.
Yet wars came and
Bharat-Varsha people proved themselves
great & gallant warriors. To
conquered peoples, they extended rights
and freedoms of Sanatana-Dharma. Theirs
was firm belief in humane ideals of Sanatana-Dharma and concept of human rights.
ANCIENT IDEALS OF SANATANA
DHARMA:
Gidwani approaches
Hinduism with deeply-felt respect. He
writes about ideals that
took shape in those early times, to become foundation of Sanatana-Dharma - and
among those ideals were: recognition of spiritual nature of man wherever
he is from; acceptance of every culture as
expression of eternal values; and man's obligation to
protect environment, and all creatures, tame and wild.
Thus the book speaks of beauty
and universality of Hinduism; its respect for all faiths to assert
“Whatever god you choose, He is that God, and Dharma (Righteousness) is
His Will”
STORY OF ARYANS – Their
origin and travel to far-distant Lands:
The
book presents a fascinating story of
the birth & beginning of the
roots of Hinduism from 8,000 BCE.
Equally dramatic is its account of Aryans
originating in India, their
exploits and adventures in distant lands, including Iran, Egypt, Mesopotamia,
Turkey, Russian-lands, Finland, Italy, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Lithuania,
Baltic-States and Germany; and finally their triumphal return to
home-town and heritage of India.
ORIGIN OF OM, VEDAS, SWASTIKA,
SOMA WINE, CIVILIZATION:
The work
covers dramatic stories behind origins
of Om, Tat Tvam Asi (That-Art- Thou) Namaste, Gayatri-Mantra, Swastika and Soma
Wines . It tells how Sanskrit and
Tamil developed - how they influenced world-languages; it has tales of battles
and blood-shed, rise of Benaras, Hardwar and many cities; discovery and
disappearance of Saraswati River and founding of Ganga,
Dravidian, Sindhu civilizations; Besides,
Gidwani sheds light on pre-history Hindu Parliament; development of ships &
harbors; gold-mining; chariots; Yoga; mathematics; astronomy; medicine; surgery;
music, dance, architecture; and material advancement of ancient India.
The book explains how
Vedas were composed in 4000 BCE by poets of Bharat-Varsha, along
India’s rivers.
'Return of the Aryans'
is certainly a great book, powerfully presented, with deep insights into
pre-ancient history. The
story, though in novel-form, is not
mere fiction. It is based on enormous research and carries
stamp of scholarship and plausibility.
It should
make excellent TV Serial,
based as it is on theme of
national integration, national self-respect and national identity,
. Certainly, the book fulfills
long-felt need to keep alive awareness of
foundation and eternal values of India's
culture. Also it presents art, yoga, abstract thought, philosophical and
spiritual leanings of pre-history India. Besides, it has suspense and drama,
moving at red-hot speed, with thrilling tales of Aryan adventures, courage, rashness,
heroic thrusts and triumphs, in various far-away countries of Asia & Europe.
TV Serial therefore
will have world-wide appeal.
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