How genetics is settling the Aryan migration debate

Thehindu.com/profile/author/Tony-Joseph-1094/
New DNA evidence is solving the most fought-over question in Indian history. And you will be surprised at how sure-footed the answer is, writes Tony Joseph

The thorniest, most fought-over question in Indian history is slowly but surely getting answered: did Indo-European language speakers, who called themselves Aryans, stream into India sometime around 2,000 BC – 1,500 BC when the Indus Valley civilisation came to an end, bringing with them Sanskrit and a distinctive set of cultural practices? Genetic research based on an avalanche of new DNA evidence is making scientists around the world converge on an unambiguous answer: yes, they did.
This may come as a surprise to many — and a shock to some — because the dominant narrative in recent years has been that genetics research had thoroughly disproved the Aryan migration theory. This interpretation was always a bit of a stretch as anyone who read the nuanced scientific papers in the original knew. But now it has broken apart altogether under a flood of new data on Y-chromosomes (or chromosomes that are transmitted through the male parental line, from father to son).

Lines of descent

Until recently, only data on mtDNA (or matrilineal DNA, transmitted only from mother to daughter) were available and that seemed to suggest there was little external infusion into the Indian gene pool over the last 12,500 years or so. New Y-DNA data has turned that conclusion upside down, with strong evidence of external infusion of genes into the Indian male lineage during the period in question.

Real history of the Kanchi math !...It was only in the 20th century works, all compiled after Chandrasekharendra Saraswati

The Kumbhakonam math shifted to Kanchipuram in accordance with its
new story. In 1839 AD, 
 In article sadananda@anvil.nrl.navy.mil (K. Sadananda) writes: >
 In article , editor.csm.uc.edu (digest editor)
; wrote: 
; Kanchipuram, July 24 (PTI) The former President, Mr R Venkataraman, today inaugurated the year long 60th centenary celebrations of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, the head of the 2,500 year old Kanchi mutt, amidst religious fervour. Sri Jayendra Saraswathi is the 69th pontiff of the mutt, which was established here by Adi Sankara, who was the first 'peedapathi' (head of the mutt) from 482 to 477 bc. SIR May I bring to your attention that by all accounts Adi Sankara time was some where around 8th to 9th century AD. And of the four Matts that he established Kanchi is not one of them. Either the Mutt is less than 1100 years old or if it is 482 B.C. as is claimed in the news then it must not have been established by Adi Sankaracharya.

 Please check the dates and the real history of the kanchi matt. Is there any one in the network that has better information about the Kanchi peetam? Sadananda Both this post and a previous one by Bon Giovanni have raised questions of historicity of Adi Sankaracharya and the Kanchi math. This is not a new question. It is generally accepted as tradition that Adi Sankaracharya, the famous Advaita philosopher, founded four maths (monasteries) at Sringeri, Puri, Dwaraka and Badrinath; that he ascended the famous sarvagna-pitha in Kashmir, and finally passed away near Kedarnath. None of the four recognized mathas claims jurisdiction over the other three. However, the Kanchi math claims that Sankaracharya established a fifth math in Kanchi, with jurisdiction over the recognized four mathas; that Sankaracharya ascended a sarvagna-pitha not in Kashmir, but at Kanchi, and that he passed away not in Kedarnath, but at Kanchi. These and other such claims have been widely publicized by the followers of the Kanchi math with the direct participation of and encouragement from the heads of the Kanchi math, including the recently departed centenarian Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati (C.S., for short) and his successor Sri Jayendra Saraswati (J.S.).