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

 

[External Email]

Thank you so much, Paolo.

 

Patrick

 

 



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

 

Dear Patrick,

 

In the  Mārkaṇḍeyapurā Prāgjyotia 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@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

_______________________________________________
INDOLOGY mailing list
INDOLOGY@list.indology.info
https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology



-- 

Paolo E. Rosati

PhD in Asian and African Studies

https://uniroma1.academia.edu/paoloerosati/

​​https://orcid.org/0000-0001-81430026 

paoloe.rosati@gmail.com

Mobile/Whatsapp: (+39) 338 73 83 472

 

This message is from an external sender. Learn more about why this matters.