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@list.indology.info> on behalf of Indology List <indology@list.indology.info>
Reply-To: Vasudha Narayanan <vasu@ufl.edu>
Date: Monday, August 24, 2026 at 5:03 PM
To: Patrick Olivelle <jpo@austin.utexas.edu>
Cc: Indology List <indology@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@list.indology.info> On Behalf Of Patrick Olivelle via INDOLOGY
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2026 5:26 PM
To: Paolo E. Rosati <paoloe.rosati@gmail.com>
Cc: Indology <indology@list.indology.info>
Subject: Re: [INDOLOGY] Mleccha
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Thank you so much, Paolo.
Patrick