Who are we Indians? Many believe our ancestors have lived in South Asia since 'time immemorial,' but this notion may not stretch back as far as we think. Journalist Tony Joseph takes us 65,000 years into the past, recounting the journey of modern humans, or Homo sapiens, from Africa to the Indian subcontinent. Utilizing recent DNA evidence, he tracks significant migrations into India, including agriculturalists from Iran between 7000 and 3000 BCE and pastoralists from the Central Asian Steppe between 2000 and 1000 BCE. Joseph confronts contentious questions about Indian history: Who were the Harappans? Did the 'Aryans' migrate to India? Are North and South Indians genetically distinct? Are castes separate genetic groups? This work draws on groundbreaking DNA research while also incorporating archaeological and linguistic evidence, all presented in an engaging and accessible style. It decisively addresses several contentious debates regarding the ancestry of modern Indians. Ultimately, it reveals a profound truth: we are all migrants and we are all mixed, illustrating how the modern Indian population has come to be as it is today.
