India

By: Emma L. Bodell

Introduction

India is located in Asia. I chose to do research on India because, we were studing it in school, and it is a very intresting topic. Some Special things about my website is that it tells about: Society, Language, History, Geography, and Religion. It covers almost everything you need to know.

Society

The most basic division of the Indian society is of Aryans and Dravidians. According to this division, nearly 72% of Indians are Aryans and 28% are Dravidians In general North Indians are Aryans and South Indians are Dravidians, but this division isn't correct because of many reasons. The Aryans disregarded the local cultures. The fair skinned Aryans who occupied parts of India established the caste system, which allowed only them to be the priests (Brahman), aristocracy (Kshatria) and the businessmen (Vaisia) of the society. Below them in hierarchy were the Sudras who consisted of two communities. One community was of the locals who were subdued by the Aryans and the other were the descendants of Aryans with locals.

Languages

The languages spoken in five states of south India are considered Dravidian languages, and most of the languages spoken in the north are considered Aryan languages. The general script of the Aryan languages is different from the general script of Dravidian languages. The Indians also distinguish themselves by a general north Indian accent and general south Indian accent.

History

According to general Indian legend, the Aryans arrived in north India from Iran and southern Russia around 1500 BC. They began conquering and taking control over regions in north India and at the same time pushed the local people southwards or towards the jungles and mountains in north India. According to this historical fact the general division of Indian society is made. There are many people that completely doubt that there was ever any Aryan invasion in India. This skepticism is based on the dating of the Aryan invasion of India and the fact that Hinduism and the caste system are believed to have been established as the result of the meetings between the intruding Aryans and original residents of India, the Dravidians. The caste system is believed to have been established by the Aryans. Normally the date given to Aryan invasion is around 1500 BC. But according to Hinduism experts some of the events in Hinduism occurred much earlier. Some of the events like the great war in the Mahabharta epic is believed to have occurred (based on astronomical research) 7000 years ago.

Geography

The North Indians are the descendants of Aryans and the south Indians are Dravidians. Many Indians immigrated from one part of India to other parts of India and not all local people of north India were pushed southwards by the Aryans. Some stayed and served the Aryans and others moved to live in the forests and the jungles of north India. Before the arrival of the Aryans there were also other communities in India like Sino-Mongoloids and Austroloids. There were also other foreign immigrations and invaders who arrived in India, from time to time.

The Flea Market

Religion

In Hindu religious stories, there are many wars between the good Aryans and the dark skinned demons and devils. The different gods also have dark skinned slaves. There are stories of demon women trying to seduce good Aryan men in deceptive ways. There were also marriages between Aryan heroes and demon women. Many believe that these incidences really occurred in which, the gods and the positive heroes were people of Aryan origin, and the demons, the devils, and the dark skinned slaves were in fact the original residents of India whom the Aryans coined as monsters, devil, demons and slaves.

According to this Hindu experts, the word Aryan is a misinterpretation of the original Sanskrit word, Arya. Arya means pure or good in Sanskrit. In the holy Vedas the good people were called Arya. The holy Vedas is the entire body of sac. Some of the European scholars of Indian culture in the 19th century were Germans. These German scholars, who found that the swastika was also a holy symbol among the Hindus distorted, the word Arya to Aryan.

Bibliography

  1. Daniel, Aharon. India History. 1999-2000. June 2, 2004

Click here and here to see my marked up draft.