Review By G. T. Shahani
President, Research & Reference Center (Historical Division)
Bhagwan S. Gidwanis latest book March of the Aryans is unparalleled in scope, reach and span. It tells the fascinating story of the Birth and Beginnings of the roots of Hinduism prior to 8,000 BC, with a thrilling account of how, in 5,000 BC, the Aryans originated from India, and from nowhere else and why they moved out of their home-land; their trials and triumphs overseas; and finally their return to India.
Effectively, Gidwani demolishes the theory of Aryan invasion of India. He traces the Hindu ancestry of Aryans from 8,000 BC, and shows that Aryans were born, grew up, and died as citizens of Bharat Varsha, anchored in the timeless foundation of Hindu faith. With equal clarity, he also demolishes the theory of North/South Divide, and shows how the people of Ganga, Madhya, Sindhu-Saraswati, Bangla and other regions were together with the Dravidian regions, in a spirit of equality and mutual respect, as a part of Bharat Varsha (India).
To tell the Aryan story, the book unfolds the drama of Indian civilization back to its roots prior to 8,000 BC; and presents glimpses of art, culture, music, abstract thought, philosophical leanings, and spiritual values of pre-history India.
It has also enthralling tales of Aryan adventures, courage, rashness, heroic thrusts, tears, triumphs and failures, in various countries, such as Iran, Sumeria, Egypt, Russian lands, Lithuania, Turkey, Finland, China, Korea, Singapore, Cambodia, Sweden, Italy, Greece and Germany.
The work covers a vast panorama to reveal dramatic stories behind the origins of Om, Namaste, Swastika, Gayatri Mantra, and Soma Wines. It tells how Tamil and Sanskrit developed, and how they influenced world-languages; also it has tales of discovery and disappearance of Saraswati River, and founding of Ganga, Dravidian, & Sindhu-Saraswati civilizations; the battles and blood-shed that led to fall and rise of many cities. Besides, Gidwani sheds light on pre-history establishment of Hindu Parliament; legal & constitutional systems; development of ships & harbours; gold-mining; chariots; Yoga; mathematics; astronomy; medicine; surgery; music, dance, drama, art & architecture; and material advancement of the pre-ancient India.
The book speaks of ideals that took shape in those early times, to become the foundation of Sanatana Dharma and among those ideals were: recognition of spiritual nature of man wherever he is from; acceptance of every culture as an expression of eternal values; and mans obligation to respect and protect environment, and all creatures, tame and wild.
Gidwanis March of the Aryans unfolds the drama of how the country in those times (5,000 BCE) came to be known as Bharat Varsha. Also, Gidwani shows that its territory was far more extensive than the present-day combined territory of India, Pakistan & Bangladesh, as additionally, it included:
- Avagana (Afghanistan), after Sadhu Gandhara established his Ashram at a place which in his honor was called Gandhara (now known as Qandhar), and later at Hari Rath (now known as Herat) and Sindhan.
- From Afghanistan, Bharat Varsha extended to parts of Iran, beyond Lake Namaskar (now known as Namaksar), where many Hindu hermits resided;
- In North, Bharat Varsha territory went across the soaring peaks of Himalayas to Tibet to reach Lake Mansarovar, Mount Kailash, to the source of mighty Sindhu and Brahmaputra rivers, and beyond;
- Bharat Varsha included also Land of Brahma (Burma) and beyond;
- Also Bharat Varsha included Kashmir; Lands of Sadhu Newar (Nepal); Bhoota (Bhutan); and Land of Vraon (Sri Lanka).
It was not by conquest or war that that these lands came together as Bharat Varsha. It was, as the story in ‘March of the Aryans’ will show, the graciousness, chivalry and diplomacy combined with fair mindedness that led to the meeting of hearts resulting in formation of this extensive Union.
Yet wars came and the people of India proved themselves as great & gallant warriors. And to the lands and peoples of their conquest, they extended, fully and fairly, the rights, dignity and freedoms of Sanatana Dharma.
Earliest Ideals of Hinduism:
Gidwanis March of the Aryans deals with Hinduism with deeply-felt respect and pride. Yet there is full attachment to Indias age-old respect for all religions including pagan faiths. The book speaks of ideals that took shape in those early times, to become the foundation of Sanatana Dharma and among those ideals were: recognition of spiritual nature of man wherever he is from; acceptance of every culture as an expression of eternal values; and mans obligation to respect and protect environment, and all creatures, tame and wild.
Thus the book speaks of beauty and universality of Hinduism, and its respect for all faiths – and it asserts that < “Whatever god you choose, He is that God, and Dharma (Righteousness) is His Will” >.
The book presents the SONG OF THE HINDU, said to have been composed by Karkarta Bharat (the elected Supreme Chief of the Clan) , and sung throughout the land in 5000 B.C to explain, WHO IS A HINDU? his Identity, his Duty, and his Mission. Only few lines from that Song are quoted below:
How can a scheme of salvation be limited to a single view of Gods nature and worship?
Is then God, not an all-loving Universal God?
“Know this then, that whatever god you choose, He is that One God
And Dharma or righteousness is His Will.
Clearly then, he who seeks to deny protection to another on the basis of his faith, offends against the Hindu way of life, and denies an all-loving God
He who seeks to convert another to his own faith, offends against his own soul and the will of God and the law of humanity
The Hindu way of life? Always it has been and always it shall bethat God wills a rich harmony not a colorless uniformity
A Hindu must enlarge the heritage of mankind
For a Hindu is not a mere preserver of custom
For a Hindu is not a mere protector of present knowledge
Hinduism is a movement, not a position; a growing tradition and not a fixed revelation
A Hindu must grow and evolve, with all that was good in the past, with all that is good in the present, and with all goodness that future ages shall bring
Yet he remains a Hindu
Hinduism is the law of life, not a dogma; its aim is not to create a creed but character, and its goal is to achieve perfection through most varied spiritual knowledge which rejects nothing, and yet refines everything, through continuous testing and experiencing
Yet a Hindu must remain strong and united, for a Hindu must know that not an external, outside force can ever crush him, except when he is divided and betrays his own
What then is the final goal of the Hindu? Through strength, unity, discipline, selfless work, to reach the ultimate in being, ultimate in awareness and ultimate in bliss, not for himself alone, but for all
This was the silent pledge that our ancient ancestors had taken, when they called themselves the Hindu…
If I cannot abide by that pledge, how can I retain the right to call myself a Hindu?
(Extract from page 65 of Gidwanis March of the Aryans)
Gidwani presents his work as a novel, with an entertaining, dramatic story, that charms and captivates. Maybe, he felt that a mere historical text will fail to capture the drama of pre-history Hinduism and Aryans. Controversy will no doubt erupt from Gidwanis thesis that Aryans originated from India and went out to far distant lands of Asia and Europe. Historians have always looked to the West as the Aryan home-ground. The fact however is that Gidwanis effort is backed by enormous research of over 18 years, while historians offer no evidence, apart from pointing out 22 regions from which Aryans could possibly have emerged.
All literature on India begins with the Vedic Age. No other writer Indian or foreign has ventured to write about those ancient, pre-Vedic times. Gidwanis March of the Aryans along with his earlier book, Return of the Aryans are the only two books which trace Indias drama far back to pre-Vedic roots. The appeal of March of the Aryans is, therefore, powerful and enduring to those in search of Indias pre-ancient cultural, philosophic, spiritual and material heritage. Also, it fulfills a long-felt need to keep alive, for younger generation, the awareness of the foundation and eternal values of Indias culture.
Very correctly, Reviewers have observed, that March of the Aryans is a book that must be read and the more it is read the more will there be treasures to discover”.
Authors Background
Bhagwan S. Gidwani, born in Karachi in 1923, was Indias Additional Director General of Tourism and Director General of Civil Aviation till 1978. He served as Indias Counsel at the International Court of Justice at The Hague, and as Representative of India on Council of ICAO (UN) from 1978 to 1981.Thereafter, he joined ICAO (U.N.), as its Director till 1985.
Gidwani is the author of a highly artistic, poetic book OMAR Khayyam & I which discovers fresh and vibrant insights in Omars poetry and mysticism. Gidwanis earlier novel The Sword of Tipu Sultan was a best-seller, which is translated in various languages, reprinted in 44 editions; and has sold upwards of two hundred thousand copies. Gidwani also wrote the Script & Screen-Play for the TV Serial, The Sword of Tipu Sultan, in 52 episodes which was telecast in India for several years continuously and is being re-run in India for the fifth time. It has been telecast also in Europe, U.K., and U.S.A. Gidwani, was declared as no. 2 Top-Winner among the Best Indian Novelists of the last century, in a Poll organized by Meghdutam Literary Magazine in collaboration with Indian newspapers. Gidwani, thus scored over many well-known and established writers, such as Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, R K Narayan, Munshi Premchand, Vikram Seth, Khushwant Singh, Shobha De, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Ruskin Bond, Nayantara Sahagal, Arundhuti Roy and many others.
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