Perspectives on the Origin of Indian Civilization

Book Detail

• Author: Girish Nath Jha
• Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of Pages: 236
• Release Date: 01-12-2012
• EAN: 9788124606407
• Package Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Language: English

Product Description

The origins of Indian civilization remain a subject of deep inquiry and debate. While the earliest Indian inscriptions date back to the third century BCE, archaeological, paleo-anthropological evidence, and oral traditions suggest the continuity of Indian civilization from a much earlier period. However, the precise origins of Indian civilization before that time remain an open question.

There are three main schools of thought on this subject. The Indo-European theory suggests that Sanskrit and Indian civilization were introduced into India from the West. The continuity theory argues that Sanskrit and Indian civilization originated locally. A third perspective holds that existing scholarship is insufficient to trace the origins of the Sanskrit language and civilization to pre-historic times and that further research is required to compare European and Indian languages fairly.

Published literature often presents only one of these viewpoints. This volume seeks to bridge this gap by offering a possible resolution to this long-standing debate. It is based on a symposium held at the University of Massachusetts–Dartmouth in July 2011, where scholars from each of these perspectives engaged in discussion. The seminar revealed that these different viewpoints are much closer to one another than traditionally believed.

This book is an essential resource for scholars and researchers looking for a balanced and comprehensive perspective on the origins of Indian languages and civilization.

About the Author

Dr. Girish Nath Jha is a distinguished scholar specializing in linguistics, Sanskrit studies, and computational linguistics. He has contributed significantly to research on Indian languages and their historical development. His work combines traditional linguistic analysis with modern computational methods, providing fresh insights into the origins and evolution of Indian civilization.