Were they outsiders who invade the locals or they were themselves the locals?
I read that during British era, history was distorted to prove that Indian Civilisation is not ancient and the philosophy, science and other knowledge in India came from West through Aryan Invasion. If Aryan were outsiders, wherefrom they came?
Re: Who were Aryans?
Maybe they were central Asians as they had light skins, besides they have always been rampaging the area. Hitler thought that the aryans were Germans and he had embarked on bringing all of them together. :)
Re: Who were Aryans?
Were Aryans really smart ? (pardon my ignorance in historical matters :@: )
Re: Who were Aryans?
LP - no worries. I got the basement.
Re: Who were Aryans?
The Aryan Invasion Theory of early 1900s has been dented quite severely in the last two decades. The Out Of India Theory isnt full proof either.. so IMO its a stalemate based on archaeological and linguistic evidence. But it seems that in the last two decades every new archaeological evidence supports the Out Of India more than the Invasion theory.
I also read some articles from historians that even if they came from outside the current boundaries of the subcontinent, it was probably more of an assimilation and migration than "invasion".
Re: Who were Aryans?
well invasions have been taking place in the subcontinent (from central asians) even if not the europeans.
Re: Who were Aryans?
It ha been said the Dravidians who occupied modern day Pam and north India were driven south by Aryans. Otherctheory iscfolks from central Asia aassimilated and formed the "Aryan" civilization. The vanaras described in Ramayana may be the natives.
They say the Vedas and Upanishads were written by Aryans. But sharabee the kaurand babloos probably know the answer (and queerst and Kaka when they show up)
Re: Who were Aryans?
Yes as per the controversial theory of invasion they were smart and intelligent people who wrote Vedas and influenced the fields of philosophy, science, languages in India 
Re: Who were Aryans?
The Aryan Invasion Theory of early 1900s has been dented quite severely in the last two decades. The Out Of India Theory isnt full proof either.. so IMO its a stalemate based on archaeological and linguistic evidence. But it seems that in the last two decades every new archaeological evidence supports the Out Of India more than the Invasion theory.
I also read some articles from historians that even if they came from outside the current boundaries of the subcontinent, it was probably more of an assimilation and migration than "invasion".
But Sharaabee whats the basis of conclusion of people like Romila Thapar?
Re: Who were Aryans?
'Aryans', is atually a Sanskrit word 'Arya' which means 'Noble' and was used as vocative generally meant 'Gentleman'. They were common ancestors of people that spread across Northern India upto Europe a very long time ago. The word gained negative connotations when Hitler revived it and used the reversed ancient Indian swastika symbol as his army's sign. That is why most people think of Aryans as white people with blue or green eyes. In India, the term is seen completely differently. Except for some parts of south, most of India sees itself as Aryans for their biggest identity (marker) was Hinduism. Some other says the 'Aryans' were actually Indo-Iranian and many others says they were actually from "India". The sign of 'Swastika' were actually Hindu sign which was stolen or taken by Hitler and was used as a sign of 'Nazi'. Some refers to 'Aryans' as 'Zoroastrian'.
Source(s): Various websites
Re: Who were Aryans?
It ha been said the Dravidians who occupied modern day Pam and north India were driven south by Aryans. Otherctheory iscfolks from central Asia aassimilated and formed the "Aryan" civilization. The vanaras described in Ramayana may be the natives.
They say the Vedas and Upanishads were written by Aryans. But sharabee the kaurand babloos probably know the answer (and queerst and Kaka when they show up)
Yes Southie Uncle one of the theories suggests that Vedas were written or reshaped by Aryans.
French historian Danielou, for instance, maintains that the original Vedas « were an oral Dravidian tradition, which was reshaped by the Aryans and later put down in Sanskrit ».
According to Danielou, the Mahabarata is the story of how the low caste Dravidians = the Pandavas, revolted against the high caste Aryans =the
Kauravas, who had enslaved them during their conquest - and won, helped by the dark-skinned Krishna, a Dravidian of course. **Danielou finds lineage between the Vedic religion and the Persian religion (Zarathustra), as well as the Greek Gods; the problem is that he seems to imply that the Vedic religion may have sprung from the Zoroastrian creed! **He also puts down all Vedic symbols as purely physical signs: for instance Agni is the fire that should always burn in the house's altar. Finally, he sees in the Rig-Veda "only a remarkable document on the mode of life, society and history of the Aryans".
(Histoire de l'Inde, page 62)
Re: Who were Aryans?
I am Aryaan.
Re: Who were Aryans?
I am Aryaan.
As per which theory? Inside out or outside in?
Re: Who were Aryans?
well invasions have been taking place in the subcontinent (from central asians) even if not the europeans.
invasions from in the last 1000 yrs have nothing to do with a possible aryan invasion / migration 2-3-4000 yrs ago
Re: Who were Aryans?
Yes Southie Uncle one of the theories suggests that Vedas were written or reshaped by Aryans.
French historian Danielou, for instance, maintains that the original Vedas « were an oral Dravidian tradition, which was reshaped by the Aryans and later put down in Sanskrit ».
According to Danielou, the Mahabarata is the story of how the low caste Dravidians = the Pandavas, revolted against the high caste Aryans =the Kauravas, who had enslaved them during their conquest - and won, helped by the dark-skinned Krishna, a Dravidian of course. **Danielou finds lineage between the Vedic religion and the Persian religion (Zarathustra), as well as the Greek Gods; the problem is that he seems to imply that the Vedic religion may have sprung from the Zoroastrian creed! **He also puts down all Vedic symbols as purely physical signs: for instance Agni is the fire that should always burn in the house's altar. Finally, he sees in the Rig-Veda "only a remarkable document on the mode of life, society and history of the Aryans".
(Histoire de l'Inde, page 62)
How can Kauravs and Pandavs be of different castes? They were distant cousins or something. Also it was more about the battle of whos gonna rule. I dont remember the Kauravs enslaving Pandavs.
Re: Who were Aryans?
But Sharaabee whats the basis of conclusion of people like Romila Thapar?
I didnt even know who that is. A quick google search didnt tell me what her stance is on the issue.
My comments were based on various readings and documentaries - some of them proposed/supported/published by western sources as well. As I mentioned, I have not found any side 100% convincing.
Re: Who were Aryans?
Romila Thapar was a Professor of history at Delhi university and her articles were part of history in graduation syllabus, which later removed considering her support for controversial outside in Aryan theory. She says latest developments and research show that Aryans used to eat meat which proves they were outsiders and different than locals who were vegetarian 
Romila Thapar: The Myth of the Aryan Race « In conversation with…
Re: Who were Aryans?
How can Kauravs and Pandavs be of different castes? They were distant cousins or something. Also it was more about the battle of whos gonna rule. I dont remember the Kauravs enslaving Pandavs.
Gandhara cvilization which existed in Northern Pakistan was part of Central asia, and many people including Sakas, Huns, Greeks, Scythians, Mongols etc have been rampaging the areas over the centuries.
Re: Who were Aryans?
But wasn't Gandhara Civilisation existed in areas like Taxila and Peshawer, which are nearer to Afghanistan (Central Asia), where as Pandavs and Kauravs fought war in Kurkshetra near Delhi.
Re: Who were Aryans?
I am not aware of Pandvas, no idea about Indian history.