संवाद # 20: Archaeologist & Prof. Vasant Shinde on how Rakhigarhi disproves Aryan Invasion theory

Prof. Vasant Shinde is internationally renowned archaeologist and former Vice-Chancellor of the Deccan College, Pune. Prof. Shinde has been a pioneer in archaeological research for almost 40 years, specialising in the Protohistory of South Asia as well as Field Archaeology.

He has directed a vast number of excavations around the country, from Harappan sites in Gujarat and Haryana to Chalcolithic sites in Madhya Pradesh and the Deccan, to Protohistoric and Early historic Sites in Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Presently, he has been directing a very prestigious research project at the largest Harappan site of Rakhigarhi in Haryana.

Several crucial elements of South Asian archaeology, from hitherto unknown protohistoric cultural phases to models of urbanisation in Mewar, Rajasthan, owe their discovery to him. He has initiated several levels of International Collaboration with Institutes around the world, bringing Indian archaeology to a truly global level. He has established the Society of South Asian Archaeology (SOSAA) with a view to promoting young archaeologists and further global collaboration.

0:00 Intro
0:38 Why Rakhigarhi is special
9:45 Harappan Cities Vs Villages
13:36 What was Rakhigarhi’s population at its peak?
14:49 How expanse of Rakhigarhi was determined?
16:22 Did all sites have same culture?
18:54 Cultural continuity till today
28:02 Rakhigarhi findings
31:40 How crucial DNA was extracted
36:13 Impact of findings on history
41:22 Case against Aryan Invasion/Migration Theory
43:54 How advanced were Harappans compared to others
46:08 Mentioned in Vedas, Found in Harappa
53:15 Why no excavation for 5 years in Rakhigarhi
55:46 Not even 1% work has been done at Rakhigarhi
57:53 More DNA find expected at Rakhigarhi
1:00:33 Rakhigarhi Mahotsav & heritage walks