Caste and Race in India c9.54

c9.54

The treatment of the subject cannot be complete without an investigation of the physical types of India and their origins.¹ In this field also a lead has been given by Risley. It is best to start with a statement of his view. He distinguishes seven types: (1) The Turko-Iranian of Baluchistan and North-West Frontier Provinces. We do not discuss this type, because we think that it essentially lies outside cultural India. (2) The Indo-Aryan type of Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajputana. It is dolichocephalic with a narrow nose. We leave out other physical characteristics as they are far too vague. (3) The Mongoloid type of the Himalayas, Nepal, Assam, and Burma. (4) The Dravidian type extending from Ceylon to the valley of the Ganges and pervading the whole of Madras, Hyderabad, and the Central Provinces, most of Central India and Chhota-Nagpur. It was " probably the original type of the population of India ". It is dolichocephalic with a " very broad nose ". (5) The Aryo-Dravidian type of the United Provinces, Bihar and Ceylon. It is also found in parts of Rajputana. The head-form is long with a tendency to medium. (6) The Mongolo-Dravidian type of Lower Bengal and Orissa. " The head is broad; nose medium with a tendency to broad." (7) The Scytho-Dravidian type of Western India. " The head is broad; nose moderately fine."²