Aryans

In a general sense, Aryan is the term used for the people and culture of the ancient Indo-European civilization that spanned the continents thousands of years before the time of Christ. As it has been used in the past century in the English language, the term Aryan can be distinguished from its etymological roots and usage in Hindi in the same period. Of the two languages, the Hindi usage is longer and has a more complex history than its English-language usage. Located within the Indo-European family of languages, the term has mutually exclusive meanings depending on whether it is used in the Indo-Persian or the modern English language. In the Indo-Persian language context, its meaning has religious and moral elements, while in English it is virtually synonymous with racism. The divergent racist meaning in English has resulted from historical events in 20th-century Europe. The more ancient Indo-Persian usage is more sophisticated and continues to be used in literature and discussions without reference to genetics or racism. In modern Indian Hindi linguistic usage, for instance, there is a distinction between Ary and Arya, which is obscured when the terms are transliterated and rendered in English as “Aryan.”

In the Indo-Persian linguistic script and usage, Ary without the a is a self-referential term used to distinguish between the local community and the others without reference to genetics. The antonym Anaryan or Unaryan is used to refer to the “others,” or those who are not members of the reference group. An Aryan in this sense is one with membership in the local geographical and sociological group with social responsibilities. In this geographical sense, Aryan has been in continuous use since about 3000 BCE.

Additionally in Hindi, Ary without the a has a moral or class significance. It is a masculine adjective meaning respectable, from a good family, noble, or honorable; that is, an Aryan is a morally honorable person or someone of noble family. The honorific Aryaputr used by a wife addressing her husband means literally a “son” (putr) of a noble (ary) or “Honorable One.” The feminine noun Arya refers either to the goddess Parvati or to one's mother-in-law or grandmother, and an Aryan is a devotee of Parvati or a female relative. Also, Aryavarth in Hindi is a masculine noun referring to the geographic region in northern India between the Himalayas and the Vindhya mountains.

An example of current usage in Hindi and its rendering into English script may be seen in the organization known as the Arya Samaj. Founded in 1875 in Mumbai, India, by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, before and unrelated to the Nazi party, the Samaj uses Arya in English, while in Hindi it does not include the a ending. The descriptive Ary aspect of the name may be noted in the members’ principles, which draw on teachings of the Vedas to make the world inclusive of all races noble. This requires spiritual, moral, and ethical inclusionary conduct seeking the good of all. As there are religious features to the Vedas, being Aryan in this context has religious significance, which is contrary to racism.

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