Macaulay’s Mission Successful:- Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste
 

 

It deeply saddens me that the modern youth are greatly inspired by the Western view and are disregarding their own Indian philosophies. This Western education turned Narendra Nath into an agnostic, but when he genuinely studied scriptures, he came to be known as Swami Vivekananda. Western thought is not inherently bad, but the way it is implemented on Indians is problematic. Unfortunately, Macaulay's aim of "Indian in blood and color, but English in taste" has been achieved. They have succeeded in making us believe that Ram is a mythological character. They made us believe that we came from Central Asia, Saraswati River never existed, Harappan civilization was not part of Vedic civilization, etc. The modern Indian supported it, but soon they got proof of Saraswati River, Mahabharat, Dwarka, etc. I hope that before criticizing Indian philosophies and Indian culture, Indians will study the scriptures.

 

A significant misconception prevalent today is that India is not our land, perpetuated by the Aryan invasion theory. This theory, taught in many schools and colleges, suggests that the Aryans invaded Mother India, destroying the Indus Valley civilization. Notably, contemporary historians and archaeologists largely reject this theory. It was a strategy employed by the British to make us feel that this land is not truly ours; that we are foreigners. Max Muller, a linguist expert, gave prominence to this theory based solely on linguistic similarities.

 

In his exploration, Muller observed common words among Sanskrit, Latin, Persian, and Greek languages. Scholars inferred that people speaking similar words might have common ancestors, speculating that some could have come from another country to India. However, this linguistic evidence is not robust. Mahabharat, for instance, mentions Yudhishthir sending his four brothers in four directions for a certain yajna, and various other accounts depict people from India heading westward. This indicates a linguistic synthesis.

Rigveda provides a detailed description of the geography and society of that time, yet there is no mention of any migration from Central Asia to India. The Vedic Rishis, in theory, should have documented such a significant event if it occurred. Similarly, the Puranas, known for narrating various stories, do not contain any accounts of migration from Central Asia to India. The absence of such narratives raises questions about the validity of the Aryan invasion theory.

 

If the Aryan invasion theory were accurate, one would expect the Aryans to document their victory over the great Indus Valley and share their experiences during the journey from Central Asia to India. However, no such stories exist. The lack of historical accounts detailing this supposed migration challenges the credibility of the theory, emphasizing the importance of critically evaluating historical narratives and considering alternative perspectives.

Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samaj and a great proponent of the Vedas, declared that the Aryan invasion theory is absolutely false. Swami Vivekananda, as the first Indian leader, forcefully challenged the theory of Aryan invasion in India. With his extensive knowledge of world history, he questioned the basis of the theory propounded by Western scholars like Max Muller and others.

 

The Aryan invasion theory had become a significant ideological weapon in the hands of the British, employed to create divisions between the north and south, as well as between the upper and lower castes in India. This tactic exemplifies the classic "divide and rule" strategy that the British employed during their colonial rule in India.

The Indus Valley civilization was just an extension of the Vedic civilization, evident from artifacts like the Shiva Pashupati seal. Some may question that the Rigveda society was rural, while the Indus Valley was urban. However, having many cities in India doesn't mean there are no villages.

 

The Rigveda wasn't recently written; it was passed down orally from guru to disciple. Eventually, Vedavyas wrote and divided the Vedas into four parts. Initially, society was rural, evolving into cities during the Mahabharat era. Thus, the Indus Valley civilization is considered an extension of the Vedic civilization.

 

Now, one might wonder why the Indus Valley people left. The simple answer is the drying Saraswati River. Rigveda mentions it as a great river, and many Indus Valley sites are near its course. In the Mahabharat era, it's noted that the Saraswati started drying, and eventually, it completely dried up, leading the Aryans in the Indus Valley to leave.

 

Rigvedic society existed before the Harappan civilization, with knowledge passed orally from Guru to Shishya. Rigved was written later but it was passed orally from ages.

Traditionally we find from the Manu Samhita 2.17. That Vedic culture was founded by the sage Manu between the banks of Saraswati and Drishadvati rivers.

 

 

There's a significant difference between the genes of the Aryans and the people of Central Asia. Oxford Genetics expert Stephen Oppenheimer emphasizes this, particularly focusing on the M 17 marker. Oppenheimer is clear that South Asia is the probable ultimate origin of M 17. He insists on this, pointing out the highest diversity in the M 17 line found in Pakistan, India, and Eastern Iran, while the Caucasus region exhibits low rates.

 

It's noteworthy that M 17 is not only more diverse in South Asia compared to Central Asia, but its diversity is also evident in isolated tribal groups in the southern regions. This observation challenges any theory proposing M 17 as a marker of a male-driven invasion into India.

 

I would like to pose some questions to the supporters of the Aryan invasion theory. Firstly, where is the pre-Vedic language that existed if the people of India were not part of the Vedic culture? If the Vedic culture was brought by invaders, what existed in India before its arrival?

 

Furthermore, if the Vedic Aryans supposedly invaded the Indus region after 1500 BCE, how is it that Vedic texts, specifically the Pedas, glorify the greatness of the Saraswati River, known to have dried up no later than 1800 BCE? How did the Vedic Aryans possess detailed knowledge about the Saraswati River, raising questions about the accuracy of the invasion theory timeline?

 

So, Max Muller played a pivotal role in presenting the theory discussed earlier. Let's delve deeper into Max Muller's influence on Indian culture, as this blog focuses on the impact of Western influence on India. Max Muller translated many Vedic scriptures into English, but his translations have inconsistencies. It's crucial to note that the Vedas are written in Vedic Sanskrit, and there is a significant difference between Vedic Sanskrit and standard Sanskrit. Therefore, studying translations by acharyas, who have a deep understanding of the nuances, becomes essential. A disheartening aspect is that even Dr. B.R. Ambedkar studied Vedic scriptures by Max Muller. According to a letter Max Muller wrote to his wife, it has been revealed that he was specifically employed to translate the Vedas in a way that would erode Hindus' faith in them. He served the interests of McCauley and the Christian Church. During the British era, Christian missionaries were actively working to convert people, and Max Muller's translations played a role in this effort. Notable figures like Swami Dayanand countered this narrative by providing true insights into the wisdom of the Vedas, encouraging people to return to Hinduism. Due to Max Muller's writings, many developed a dislike for Indian culture and scriptures without realizing that they were reading inaccurate translations. Max Muller himself aimed to impose Christianity on Indians, and his appointment by the British to misinterpret the Vedas and Upanishads raises questions about his motivations. He was very qualified in Sanskrit though he couldn't pass the 1860 election of the Boden professorship of Sanskrit. He did not have practical first hand knowledge of Indian culture and customs.

Now let’s talk about Macaulay. Macaulay apparently declared, “and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief, such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such caliber, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and therefore I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self esteem, their native culture, and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.”

The education system, shaped by Max Muller, has influenced our history books to convey that we are not an integral part of this land. There is a stark contrast in how our scriptures are treated compared to other historical figures and places. While Jesus and Muhammad are presented as historical, Krishna and Ram are labeled as mythological characters. Mecca and Madina are considered historical, but Dwarka is not. We were even taught that the Saraswati River never existed, despite the contemporary proof we now have.

 

Enormous evidence from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, our Itihaas granths, supports the historical validity of our scriptures. Unfortunately, due to the impact of Max Muller's English translations and the education system, many Indians are rejecting this rich cultural heritage. The intentional aim to make us English in mind has found success.

 

However, the efforts of great Indian nationalists have spurred a realization of our true cultural and spiritual wealth. Indians are beginning to read their scriptures, and there is hope that they will become more rational and free themselves from the constraints of the British education system. This journey towards rediscovering our roots is essential for a holistic understanding of our history and identity.

I am not suggesting that we don't need Western education; we certainly do. However, alongside Western education, there is a pressing need for an Indian education that delves into our rich philosophies. Unfortunately, many Indians are not well-versed in Vedanta, and this lack of knowledge makes them more susceptible to superstitions in society.

 

Britishers have affected the minds of Indians in such a way that the Indians do not like their festivals, they don’t like their customs, they don’t like their traditional clothes. They don’t like their language. They don’t like the Indian classical music. I am not saying that you should not adopt the Western things, you should adopt good from the Western things, but at the same time you should keep alive your Indian culture. Do not forget in in becoming cool to disrespect and forget your Indian culture. Those who disrespect the Indian culture have actually not studied the Indian philosophies and the Indian scriptures. They have just been taught the false Indian history by their history books.

 

While Western education primarily focuses on the material well-being of individuals, it often overlooks the spiritual aspect. We frequently hear about students succumbing to the pressures of exams, leading to tragic outcomes. Contrastingly, can you provide evidence of a student well-versed in Vedanta committing suicide? Or a devout follower of God ending their life? The Vedic philosophy was structured to promote equality and happiness in living, emphasizing the importance of spiritual education alongside material education.

 

By spiritual education, I don't refer to religious teachings. Instead, I mean an education that centres around fundamental questions such as "Who am I?"—an exploration of self-awareness. As we navigate the journey of discovery, understanding one's true self remains a central goal of Vedic philosophy, contributing to a life of fulfilment and contentment. There is one way to end all mental health problems and that is spirituality.