Political Science Observations

German Indology and the Aryan Myth

Historical Connections Between Scholarship and Ideology

Introduction

The relationship between German Indology and the Aryan myth represents a complex intersection of academic scholarship, nationalist ideology, and racial theory. German scholars played a pivotal role in transforming a linguistic concept into a pseudoscientific racial ideology that would later be adopted by the Nazi regime.

From Linguistics to Racial Ideology

The journey of the "Aryan" concept from an academic term to a state-sponsored racial myth involved several key developments.

Philological Origins

The story begins with European scholars like Sir William Jones, who in the late 18th century noted similarities between Sanskrit, Latin, and Greek, suggesting a common ancestral language now called Proto-Indo-European. The term "Aryan" was derived from the Sanskrit word *ā́rya*, a self-designation used by the Vedic people meaning "noble" or "honorable".

German Romantic Nationalism

In the 19th century, German Romantic thinkers like Friedrich Schlegel shifted the focus from linguistics to national identity, arguing that the original speakers of this proto-language were the ancestors of modern Germans. This was part of a nationalist project to give Germany a glorious ancient history distinct from the Classical tradition.

The Racial Transformation

Thinkers like Arthur de Gobineau and Houston Stewart Chamberlain merged the linguistic concept with Social Darwinism, proposing that "Aryan" referred to a biological "master race" of light-skinned Nordic people who had migrated from Europe and founded ancient civilizations.

Indology in Service of the Nazi State

When the Nazis came to power in 1933, the fabricated racial myth became state ideology, and many German Indologists actively offered their expertise to the regime.

The Ahnenerbe

Heinrich Himmler's SS organization for "ancestral heritage research" was central to this effort. Its 1938 expedition to Tibet aimed to find physical evidence of the lost Aryan race, with anthropologists measuring skulls and facial features to try to prove Nazi racial theories.

Walther Wüst

An Indologist who served as curator of the Ahnenerbe, Wüst provided academic legitimacy by arguing that Nazism was the modern expression of an ancient Aryan worldview, comparing Hitler to figures from Indian tradition.

Academic Complicity

Scholars like Erich Frauwallner participated in initiatives arguing that their research demonstrated the philosophical superiority of the "Aryan mind," deliberately distorting Indian philosophy to serve Nazi ideology.

Key Figures and Their Roles

Figure / Organization	Role / Affiliation	Contribution to the Aryan Ideology
Friedrich Max Müller	German philologist at Oxford University	Pioneered comparative linguistics; proposed Aryan migration theory; his work was later distorted for racial purposes
Heinrich Himmler's Ahnenerbe	SS organization for "ancestral heritage research"	Organized expeditions to find Aryan origins; collected anthropological data to prove racial theories
Walther Wüst	Indologist; Curator of the Ahnenerbe	Provided academic legitimacy by linking Nazism to ancient Aryan worldview
Jakob Wilhelm Hauer	Professor of Religious Studies and Indology; SS member	Led efforts to promote an "Aryan" worldview in education, blending Indology with Nazi racial doctrine

Historical Development Timeline

Late 18th Century: Linguistic Discovery

Sir William Jones identifies similarities between Sanskrit and European languages, suggesting a common origin.

Early 19th Century: German Romanticism

Friedrich Schlegel and others connect linguistic findings to German national identity, seeking ancient Germanic glory.

Mid-19th Century: Racialization

Arthur de Gobineau and others transform the linguistic concept into a racial hierarchy with Aryans at the top.

1933-1945: Nazi Appropriation

The Nazi regime adopts the Aryan myth as state ideology, with Indologists providing scholarly justification.

Post-War Period: Academic Reckoning

Scholars begin to critically examine the complicity of Indology in supporting Nazi ideology.

Conclusion: Scholarship and Its Distortions

The relationship between German Indology and the Aryan myth demonstrates how academic research can be appropriated for ideological purposes. What began as legitimate linguistic inquiry was progressively distorted through nationalist and racial interpretations.

It is crucial to recognize that the Nazi interpretation represented a profound distortion of the original Vedic concept of *ā́rya*, which was cultural and religious rather than biological. Modern scholarship has largely rejected these racial interpretations in favor of more nuanced understandings of ancient migrations and cultural exchanges.

This history serves as a cautionary tale about the responsibility of scholars to guard against the misuse of their work and to maintain rigorous distinction between evidence-based research and ideological appropriation.