[INDOLOGY] Mleccha

Tue Aug 25 04:58:00 UTC 2026

The following reference may be of interest  too.

Elisabeth C. I. During Caspers, and A. Govindankutty. “R. Thapar’s Dravidian Hypothesis for the Locations of Meluḫḫa, Dilmun and Makan: A Critical Reconsideration.” Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient 21, no. 2 (1978): 113–45.

Regards,

Palaniappan

From: INDOLOGY <indology-bounces at list.indology.info> on behalf of Indology List <indology at list.indology.info>
Reply-To: Vasudha Narayanan <vasu at ufl.edu>
Date: Monday, August 24, 2026 at 5:03 PM
To: Patrick Olivelle <jpo at austin.utexas.edu>
Cc: Indology List <indology at list.indology.info>
Subject: Re: [INDOLOGY] Mleccha

Dear Patrick:

I have not seen all the suggestions so far and I apologize if I am repeating some of them. This short ist is from my folder; I can send you these articles (many downloaded from JSTOR) if your friend wants them.

Extensive references to mlecchas: 

Romila Thapar, “The Image of the Barbarian in Early India.”   Comparative Studies in Society and History, Oct.,1971, Vol. 13, No. 4 (Oct., 1971), pp. 408-436. Cambridge University Press

.

Brief references to Skandagupta’s usage of the term

Pankaj Tandon, “The Succession after Kumāragupta I.” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society , Oct. 2014, Third Series, Vol. 24, No. 4 (OCTOBER 2014), pp. 557-572. Cambridge University Press / Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Professor Deshpande, perhaps you were thinking of these articles? 

Parpola, Asko and Simo Parpola 1975. “On the relationship of the Sumerian toponym Meluhha and Sanskrit mleccha” Studia Orientalia 46: 205:238.

Romila Thapar, “A Possible Identification of Meluḫḫa, Dilmun and Makan.” Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient , Jan., 1975, Vol. 18, No. 1 (Jan., 1975), pp. 1-42

(see footnote 34 in particular in this article)

In addition, Parasher-Sen has an extensive biblio that goes with her article on Mleccha in the Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism.

Your friend may have done this already --since mleccha, although quite distinct, sometimes comes alongside “yavana,” the scholarship on that term may, perhaps be useful as well.

Best,

Vasu

Vasudha Narayanan

University of Florida

From: INDOLOGY <indology-bounces at list.indology.info> On Behalf Of Patrick Olivelle via INDOLOGY
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2026 5:26 PM
To: Paolo E. Rosati <paoloe.rosati at gmail.com>
Cc: Indology <indology at list.indology.info>
Subject: Re: [INDOLOGY] Mleccha

[External Email] 

Thank you so much, Paolo.

Patrick

On Aug 24, 2026, at 4:23 PM, Paolo E. Rosati <paoloe.rosati at gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Patrick,

In the  Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa  Prāgjyotiṣa is described as the kingdom of mleccha. Inscriptions support an association between  Śālastambha dynasty of Kāmarūpa and the mlecchas, but they also connect Naraka's mytho-historical dynasty to the mlecchas. 

Sharma, Mukunda M. 1978. Inscriptions of Ancient Assam. Guwahati: Dept. Publications Guwahati University.
Sircar, D.C.  (1990) 2007. “The Mlechchha Dynasty of Sālastambha.” In Ancient Period, From the Pre-historic Times to Twelfth Century A.D., vol. 1 of The Comprehensive History of Assam, edited by H.K. Barpujari, 122–39. Guwahati: Publication Board. 
Choudhury, P.C. 1959. The History of Civilization of the People of Assam up to 12th Century A.D. Guwahati: Dept. of Historical and Antiquarian Studies in Assam.
Best wishes,

Paolo

Il giorno lun 24 ago 2026 alle ore 14:31 Patrick Olivelle via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info> ha scritto:

Dear All:

A colleague in India who is not a member of this list asked me for secondary works, as well as primary sources, for the concept of “mleccha” in ancient India. The work by Parasher-Sen is well known. But are there others? With thanks and best wishes,

Patrick

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Paolo E. Rosati 

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