Authors : Patil, D.A., Ahirrao, Y.A.
Page Nos : 290-303
Description :
Indian social framework is the result of long evolutionary process involving assimilation and absorption of various tribes, ethnic groups of their cultures with indigenous that drifted into India in different phases of history. ‘Godhuma’ (wheat) originally from the Levant region of the Near East and accompanied mankind since remote ancient times. This study is aimed at to decipher its antiquity in India based on information from all sources. The present author accrued data on presence of ‘Godhuma’ (wheat) in India from various credible sources such as archeobotany, paleobotany, mythology, ancient religious texts, ancient Sanskrit scripts and epics, socio-religious events, ancient and modern-traditional recipes, ethnobotany, etymology, numismatics, philately, etc. It evolved partly by nature and partly by human manipulation from its primitive form (Einkorn wheat) into main cultivated ones such as bread wheat (T.aestivum L.) and durum wheat (T.turgidum L. var. durum). It spread to the Old World since ancient period and New World in recent period. Particularly in India, wheat spread over in pre-Harapan, Harrapan and even later periods. Some forms vis-a-vis species appear evolved in Indian Himalayan region. It revealed various views on the antiquity and scientific history of wheat in Indian context. It was not readily accepted by ancient Indians. All pervasive examination of various evidences indicated that it gained importance in later period of time. It is fully absorbed and integrated in cuisine and culture in modern India.
