'All of us are descendants of Harappans': Archaeologist Vasant Shinde

Interview/ Vasant Shinde, archaeologist

Archaeologist Vasant Shinde led the excavation of Rakhigarhi (Haryana) and co-authored two landmark papers published in Cell and Science, in 2019, based on the DNA analysis of a 4,500-year-old female skeleton recovered from the site. The study grabbed eyeballs as it provided the first genetic insights into our ancestry, and the findings were included in NCERT textbooks. However, it also sparked a debate, with some scholars being divided over the interpretation of the data, especially in relation to the contentious Aryan invasion or migration theory.

Shinde, who also served as the vice-chancellor of Deccan College, is overseeing the establishment of a national maritime museum in Lothal, a massive project expected to open within a year. In an interview with THE WEEK, Shinde spoke about the significance of Rakhigarhi, its most famous woman and addressed lingering doubts about the findings. Excerpts:

Why is Rakhigarhi so important?

There was no clear idea about the size of Rakhigarhi before our excavations. The site is spread over 500 hectares, which is double the size of the biggest known Harappan city of Mohenjo-daro. [With Rakhigarhi] we now know that the beginning of the Harappan culture goes back to 6000 BCE. This is important because we did not have such early dates before.

What answers did Rakhigarhi provide?

We found good evidence of the gradual growth of the Harappan city.... In the case of architecture, we found that they began with simple, circular pit dwellings. Four or five dwellings formed a cluster. So each one used for a different purpose, be it for sleeping, as a kitchen or for storage. This is how they started in 6000 BCE.

In the next level, maybe in around 5500 BCE, they continued to build circular huts but not underground. Then in the third phase, we find proper rectangular Harappan structures. In the fourth stage, there is some modicum of planning as structures are arranged in a linear pattern, and roads and streets started coming up. In the fifth phase, full-fledged townships emerge.

How did the process of DNA extraction happen?

I excavated the site of Farmana [in Haryana] in 2006.... We did not know what precautions to take while collecting samples. We dug up 70 burials at once and kept them open for two months. So whatever DNA was there, escaped. Subsequently, I came in contact with some Korean geneticists, who then guided us to make sure that there was no contamination. We used PPE kits and different tools for each burial.

But when we analysed the DNA, surprisingly, we found some elements of East Asian people. The Harappans never had contact with that region. Then we realised that one of our students involved in excavation was from Korea. So sensitive is the DNA.

Then how were you successful?

We excavated 60 burials in Rakhigarhi. In 59, we did not find anything, because the climate in India is not conducive for the preservation of organic matter, including DNA. Then we analysed the last sample. And surprisingly, we found a good amount of authentic DNA. She was 35 years old.

We took the help of scientists from different institutes like CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology), Harvard and labs in Korea. We also realised that if only Indians published the study, international scholars would again doubt it. We published the results in September 2019. In November, at an international conference in China, they recognised our research as one of nine breakthrough research [papers] worldwide.

What more do we know about the Rakhigarhi woman?

She was from an affluent family as we found a lot of burial pots around. She was a good-looking woman because her features are sharp. She was tall, maybe around five and a half to six feet. She was well-built like modern Haryana women.

Can you take us through the study’s major findings?

It took us back almost 12,000 years, [when] hunter-gatherers somewhere in Northwest [Asia] split into two groups; one came to South Asia and one went to Iran. Both of them had common ancestry, so you find some [similarity in] genes between the early population in Iran and India.

But where the [first group] went, they mixed with the Anatolian (modern-day Turkey) people. The group that came here remained independent. And their genes started getting mutated. It formed what we call ancient ancestral South Asian [genes]. Those were the distinctive genes of the Harappans and Indians.

What do you mean by Harappan and Indian genes?

So now we know that these were the Indian people. For the past 12,000 years, there is no discontinuity in our genetic history.... The strong indication that we are getting from this research is that the majority populations of South Asia have the same source. So all of us, right now, no matter the religion or language, we are the descendants of the Harappans.

But people in India look so different from north to south.

Genes have nothing to do with that. It has to do with geography, climate, food habits and with whom the mixing was happening more.

You had talked about the Aryan issue after the study was published.

Because of this study, the whole Aryan hypothesis collapsed. Because, firstly, the hypothesis was based on flimsy ground. There was no solid evidence. First some scholars said that Aryans (came from Central Asia) and killed [Harappan] people. Later, their opinion changed and they said large-scale migration took place because of which there was a change. People have been coming and going. The Mughals came, the British came.

But suppose the Aryans had come, two things would have happened. If they came from Central Asia, they could have brought with them their material culture and planted it here. That is human tendency. Like when we go and settle in America or Europe, we preserve our culture and heritage there. We don't forget our roots. Second, if they had [invaded] and killed the local people, then they could have [mixed with people and] introduced new genes in South Asia. There could have been breakage in the genetic history of South Asia. But it never happened. So, the Aryan invasion or Aryan migration theory collapses.