In a special lecture on September 20 marking the centenary of Sir John Marshall’s announcement of the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC), indologist R. Balakrishnan, introduced the “R.I.G. Complex” (Rig-Indra-Gandhara Complex), presenting new toponymic evidence for the Aryan Migration Theory. He emphasised, with a caveat, that the terms “Aryan” and “Dravidian” denote linguistic affiliations and not racial identities, providing new insights into early migrations across the Indian subcontinent.
The R.I.G. Complex: Toponymic markers of migration
Balakrishnan’s R.I.G. Complex builds on his previous work, the K.V.T. Complex (Korkai-Vanji-Tondi Complex), which examined the probable Dravidian layers of migrations during the formation, maturation and decline of IVC with genetic mix of Ancient Ancestral South Indian (AASI) and Iranian hunter-gatherers and farmers. In his current analysis, which he calls R.I.G. Complex, he posits that place names stretching from Georgia to Southeast Asia serve as “fossilised evidence,” tracing the migration routes of Aryans and their affiliates using names found in texts such as the Rig Veda, Ramayana and Mahabharata. However, these layers of migrations and resultant language shifts seem to have happened towards later Harappan or post Harappan timelines.
He further asserts place names represent cultural markers that when combined with archaeological findings, offer insights into past migrations globally and Aryan migrations are no exception to this well-known pattern. The R.I.G. Complex identifies key place names that appear across regions from the lower steppes to central and western Asia, later surfacing in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, suggesting reliable migratory links between these regions. While the R.I.G. Complex spans a broad geography, the fossilised names appear to belong to different time periods.
Etymological pitfalls and cautions
While Balakrishnan advocates using toponyms to trace migration patterns, he also emphasises caution, warning of the “etymological trap,” where speculative interpretations can skew conclusions. Despite these potential pitfalls, he insists that place names — when analysed rigorously — can reveal cultural shifts and migrations, aligning with archaeological and scientific evidence like genetics.
Place name clusters: Tracing Aryan migrations
One of the most fascinating aspects of Balakrishnan’s lecture is his examination of the clusters of Mono Word Place Names (MWPN) derived from the Rig Veda, Ramayana and Mahabharata. He highlights the presence of Vedic clan names — such as Kula, Kashi, Dewa, Ashura, Aryan, Shiva and Amba and caste names — like Wais, Vais, Sudrani, Chandala, Satrain Varna and Rajan — appearing as far afield as Georgia, Iraq and Iran. Additionally, he notes place names associated with animals central to Vedic pastoral life — such as Ashvari (horse), Varagh (pig), Singa (lion), Gou, Go, Gow, Karki, Pashu (cow), Rishab (bull) and Gaja (elephant) and Makara (crocodile). River names like Sarayu, appear in Iran and place names like Gangyt in Azerbaijan and Gangav in Iran.
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In Indian subcontinental context, Vedic names display a marked predominance of occurrences in northern India and to be specific in Gangetic plains, with only minimal occurrences in the south. This distribution supports the settlement of Aryan speakers in post-Harappan times and correlates with evidence from Painted Grey Ware and Northern Black Polished Ware cultures. The recurrence of R.I.G. Complex names in far-flung regions like southeast Asia suggest Aryan traditions extended beyond India, reinforcing the theory of migrations from central Asia into the Indian subcontinent — in other words, a continuous flow of migrations of Indo-Aryan speakers from west to east.
Emerging evidence
Balakrishnan’s findings significantly bolster the Aryan Migration Theory, as the R.I.G. Complex toponyms correspond with archaeological discoveries of settlement and genetic studies supporting migration. His work complements scholars like Rajesh Kochhar, who suggested that migrating populations reused river and place names. Balakrishnan does not subscribe to the Mortimer Wheeler’s position with reference to the much debated Aryan Invasion Theory. This question, Balakrishnan handles with utmost caution. He references internal evidence and suggests that multiple factors may have contributed to the decline of the IVC, without attributing it to a single cause.
R.I.G. Complex place names, far from being random, form a definable cluster suggesting a clear pattern and contours for the Aryan migrations into India. Balakrishnan further expounds that similar toponymic patterns are seen in later Indo-Aryan migrations to southeast Asia, where toponymic clusters reflect the movement of Indian culture and ideologies and also populations.
He also refers to Rig Veda, which references t0 two oceans in the east and west, suggesting they may correspond to the Caspian and Black Seas, given that the concentration of Vedic place names is unlikely between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. This is also because of the fact that Vedic literature does not provide much information about the south Indian geography. Furthermore, he cites Vedic hymns that express gratitude for the destruction of enemies’ large towns and high walls, indicating an exodus from aboriginal homeland.
Social and cultural ramifications of migrations
Beyond tracing migrations, Balakrishnan explores the social and cultural implications of these movements. He argues that as Aryans migrated, new social hierarchies emerged, often marginalising local agrarian communities. He refers to the rise of Neo-Kshatriya class through ‘lateral entries’ and the incorporation of non-Aryan groups into orthodox Brahminic society through rituals like the “Vraatyastoma.” He contends that this process of assimilation and marginalisation reflects the broader social transformations initiated by Aryan migrations, significantly shaping the cultural and political landscape of ancient India.
Summary and insights
Balakrishnan’s R.I.G. Complex presents a novel perspective on the Aryan Migration Theory, using place names as evidence of early migration routes. His interdisciplinary approach, which integrates toponymy, archaeology and genetics, strengthens the case for Aryan migrations from steppes and Central Asia into the Indian subcontinent and in a subsequent period the migration or transfer of Indo-Aryan place names and ideologies into southeast Asia. The repeated occurrence and cultural significance of key place names enhance our understanding of how early Aryan migrations shaped the historical and cultural developments of South Asia.
Through his analysis, Balakrishnan deepens our insights into early Aryan movements and their lasting impacts. His research underscores the potential of toponymic — place names — studies to uncover new perspectives on ancient migrations and the shared histories of different regions and time periods.
Dhileepan Pakutharivu is an advocate practicing before the Madras high court.
