Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

PEOPLE

"There has been much amalgamation of the various ethnic strains through inter-marriage and inter-communication. The Ne- groid is nearly extinct. The Proto-Austroloid are found dispersed in pockets and tribal hide-outs, particularly in southern, western and central India. The Mongoloid inter-mixed the least and, physically, are easily traced in north-east India and in north Bengal and along the foothills of the Himalayas. The Mediterraneans, the founders of the Indus Valley civilisation, moved on as their civilisation died and distributed themselves into the valley of the Ganga. When the Alpine races penetrated into this valley, there was much inter- mixture between distinct ethnic strains. The upper portion of the Ganga is dominated by Mediterraneans while in the lower Alpo- Dinarics predominate. In the South, the Dravidians and pre-Drav- idians predominate, the Deccan being the least influenced by the Nordic wave of immigration." (S.N. Chopra). SELECTED REFERENCES

Assam and a good part of the erstwhile state of Bombay is said to be Alpanoid" (S.N. Chopra). The Dinaric strain can be seen in Bengal, Orissa and Coorg, blending with the Mediterranean. Its characteristics are a slight darker complexion with a high and vault-like occiput. The Armenoid with a tawny white skin and an acquiline nose but with depressed and broad wings are represented by Parsis. The Nordics who moved into India through the mountain passes of the north-west around 1500 B.C. were the original inhabitants of the region between, the Caspian Sea and Russian steppes. They were fair skinned, long-headed with arched foreheads and protrud- ing occiput, a prominent but narrow nose and tall in stature. They introduced the culture which is today described as Aryan and has been the fountainhead for Hinduism, Indian literature, philosophy and art. It must not be forgotten that the term 'Aryan' primarily denotes a linguistic concept. Max Mueller who is mainly respon- sible for the vogue of this term declared: "Aryan, in scientific lan- guage, is utterly inapplicable to race. It means language and nothing but language . It is not an ethnic term."

* S.N. Chopra, India : An Area Study, New Delhi 1977. * The Cultural History of India, Vol I, Calcutta 1970.

Nayar Female

Brahmin Male (UP)

Sama Naga Male

Nambudiri Male (Kerala)

Kadar Female

Chenchu Male