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U.P.P.C.S. Prelims 1996

Indo-Aryan Origins

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Who among the following wrote on the original homeland of the Aryans?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept The debate over the 'Urheimat' (original homeland) of the Indo-Aryans involved various linguistic, astronomical, and archaeological theories during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Explanation Bal Gangadhar Tilak, in his book 'The Arctic Home in the Vedas' (1903), used astronomical references in the Rig Veda to argue that the Aryans originated in the Arctic region before migrating south.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Tilak's work is a seminal text in Indian nationalist historiography regarding Aryan origins.
Logic 2: Max Muller (Central Asia), Swami Dayanand Saraswati (Tibet), and others proposed different regions based on philological and religious interpretations.

Active Recall

Question

What evidence did Tilak use for his Arctic theory?

Answer

He interpreted descriptions of long dawns and nights in the Vedas as references to the unique celestial phenomena of the polar regions.

Core Insight

While the Central Asian theory is currently the most scientifically accepted, Tilak’s work reflects the effort of Indian scholars to engage with global orientalist debates using indigenous texts.

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