Chennai, March 3 — In a thought-provoking address at the inaugural session of a two-day conference on "Indus Civilization: Its Culture and People - Archaeological Insights," Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Monday critiqued the Dravidian ideology and its influence on the perception of Aryan and Dravidian identities over the last 60-70 years.
Ravi claimed that the term "Aryan" was never used as a race in Indian literature, emphasizing that neither the ancient Sangam nor Vedic texts ever referred to "Aryans" in racial terms. He also pointed out that Tamil literature, a cornerstone of South Indian cultural history, did not make any mention of Aryans as a distinct race.
"The Dravidian ideology has, over the past several decades, constructed a narrative that creates divisions between Aryans and Dravidians," Ravi asserted. He described this narrative as a recent development in the broader historical context of India's civilization.
The Governor proceeded to discuss the profound influence of the ancient Indian wisdom, especially the teachings found in the Vedas, on the cultural and national identity of Bharat (India). He highlighted the enduring values of unity in creation and universal brotherhood, which, according to him, continue to inspire both the personal and collective outlooks of the people of India.
Ravi urged the audience to "rescue" India's civilization from what he termed as the "long intellectual and political violence" inflicted upon it. This, he argued, had been carried out through distortions and misinterpretations by various vested interests, including European colonial powers and proponents of Marxist and Dravidian ideologies. He specifically criticized the propagation of theories such as the Aryan invasion theory, which he believes are false and divisive.
In a passionate appeal, Ravi noted that modern scientific advancements, such as satellite imagery and nuclear physics, have provided concrete evidence that the Saraswati-Sindhu civilization is indeed the Vedic civilization, one that spans the entirety of Bharat. He emphasized the importance of disseminating a historically accurate narrative of this ancient civilization, particularly at a time of national resurgence.
The Governor concluded by urging the people to take an active role in promoting the true history of India's ancient culture and civilization, which he believes is fundamental to India's identity and its global standing.
