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Re: Racism and ancient history
Dr. Doug (vivacuba@ix.netcom.com(Dr.)
30 Dec 1996 17:00:43 GMT
In <5a4bsh$dpg_001@dialin.csus.edu> pmanansala@csus.edu (Paul Kekai
Manansala) writes:
>
>In article <5a1bn1$kr0@news.sdd.hp.com>,
> geroldf@sdd.hp.com (Gerold Firl) wrote:
>>In article <59i3bu$nm@dfw-ixnews10.ix.netcom.com>,
vivacuba@ix.netcom.com(Doug Kihn) writes:
>>
>
>>
>>|> There are plenty of instances of ancient
>>|> sources honoring people of different color. It's even difficult
at
>>|> times for us modern "race conscious" historians to figure out what
>>|> color some people were, it was that unimportant.
>>
>>One example which has been mentioned in passing should probably be
>>highlighted further: the aryan conquest of india. The vedas
>>specifically note the contrast between the light-skinned gods and
>>dark-skinned demons in the mythological struggle for control of the
>>subcontinent, and allusions to the formation of the caste system,
with
>>a light-to-dark color gradient from brahmin to untouchable, shows the
>>racial origin of the worlds oldest apartheid system.
>>
>
>
>Things really are not that clear-cut. The major gods of Hinduism such
>as Shiva, Parvati, Krishna, Rama and Vishnu are described as of dark
>complexion (syam-mukha). In fact, the names of gods like Mahakala
(Shiva),
>Kali (Parvati), Krishna and Rama literally mean "dark" or "black."
>
>The idea of a racial gradient between brahmin to untouchable
>was suggested by Risley, but subsequently refuted by Indian
>anthropologists. There is no clear evidence of a relationship between
>caste and race. Brahmins and other upper castes might have ligher
>complexions because they stay indoors a lot. Martial castes like the
>Rajputs would be darker, but still high caste. The main color gradient
>is geographical not caste-related. Brahmins tend to be of the same
race
>as other people of their region. In fact, a recent genetic study
showed
>Iyer brahmins were farther away from North Indian brahmins than many
lower
>castes in the same population.
>
>Paul Kekai Manansala
Well, this certainly muddies the picture of ancient racism in India, or
racism being a basis of the caste system. I guess I need to learn more
about Indian history!
Dr. Doug
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