Talk by Dr. Koenraad Elst at Rashtrothana Parishad: Executive Summary

(24th – 25th February 2024)

A talk by Dr. Koenraad Elst at Chanakya University delved into the Aryan debate, challenging the prevalent Aryan invasion narrative and emphasizing the Out of India theory. Attended by distinguished scholars, research associates, and assistants, the interaction aimed to critically examine historical narratives. Dr. Elst explored the concept of the Aryan homeland, highlighting the shift in opinions around the 1830s favoring the Out of India theory. He scrutinized the roots of primitive perceptions, discussing how mistrust based on dissimilarity stems from evolutionary psychology, leading to biases and prejudices. Dr. Elst argued that reducing profound concepts to a materialistic lens distorted their essence and perpetuated skewed cultural representations. Addressing the historical tendency in the West to equate immigration with invasion, Dr. Elst illustrated the impact of mistranslations on historical narratives. He connected linguistic nuances to the misrepresentation of Sage Vasishta, emphasizing how such errors perpetuate stereotypes. The interactive session included questions from faculty and researchers, with Dr. Elst addressing linguistic ontology limitations in understanding the debate. The event concluded with Prof. Harshith Joseph presenting a Vote of Thanks and honoring Dr. Koenraad Elst with a memento and a book. The talk stimulated critical discourse on the Aryan debate, challenging historical narratives and fostering a nuanced understanding of cultural complexities.