Indian American Bhagat Singh Thind argued for US citizenship based on his Aryan identity and caste, sparking a debate on defining whiteness. The podcast explores the myths of the Indo-European language theory, Sir William Jones's discoveries, racist theories of white supremacy, and the tragic consequences of Nazi ideologies. It delves into the origins of Indo-European languages, the Yamnaya culture's migrations, and the misinterpretation of symbols like the swastika. Thind's story of overcoming discrimination and achieving citizenship amidst the backdrop of Nazi Germany's influence on immigration policies is highlighted.
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Quick takeaways
Racial purity ideologies, based on linguistic theories, led to genocides and reinforced global racial hierarchies.
The Supreme Court's rejection of Thind's Aryan descent claim highlighted challenges in defining citizenship based on race.
Deep dives
Bhagat Singh Thind's Journey to the US
In 1913, Bhagat Singh Thind, a Brahmin Indian, arrived in the US seeking educational opportunities after being inspired by American literature. He worked in the logging industry to fund his studies at UC Berkeley, eventually earning a PhD. Despite his patriotism and service in World War I, his application for US citizenship was initially granted but later revoked due to racial discrimination.
US Citizenship and Racial Definitions
The 1923 US vs. Bhagat Singh Thind court case highlighted the challenges of defining citizenship based on race. The Supreme Court rejected Thind's argument of Aryan descent and ruled that although language and race are distinct, Thind did not fit the definition of a white person from a US perspective.
Indo-European Language Theory and Racism
The discovery of the Indo-European language family in the 18th century led to racist ideologies in the 19th and 20th centuries. The concept of Aryan supremacy was distorted by European racists like Alfred Rosenberg and Adolf Hilter, paving the way for the atrocities of the Holocaust based on racial pseudoscience.
Consequences of Racial Purity Ideologies
Racial purity ideologies, stemming from linguistic theories like the Indo-European language family, had devastating consequences globally. The pursuit of Aryan supremacism resulted in genocides and reinforced racial hierarchies, rationalizing exclusion and violence against groups deemed inferior.
In 1923, an Indian American man named Bhagat Singh Thind told the U.S. Supreme Court that he was white, and therefore eligible to become a naturalized citizen. He based his claim on the fact that he was a member of India's highest caste and identified as an Aryan. His claims were supported by the so-called Indo-European language theory, a controversial idea at the time that says nearly half the world's population speak a language that originated in one place. Theories about who lived in that place inspired a racist ideology that contended that the original speakers of the language were a white supreme race that colonized Europe and Asia thousands of years ago. This was used by many to define whiteness and eventually led to one of the most horrific events in history. On this episode of Throughline, we unpack the myths around this powerful idea and explore the politics and promise of the mother tongue.
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