Unmasking the Syriacs

An Archaeo-linguistic Perspective on the Origins of Indian Christianity

This is an archaeo-linguistic study of the origin of Indian Christianity, especially the Syriac Christianity of South India. Probably the first time the archaeological evidence from the socio-commercial network spread across Afro-Eurasian trade routes has been analysed and compared to find out the connections and possible migration of Christianity to South Asia. The claims of the churches and respective church historians were verified based on material evidence (archaeological) and cross-checking with canonical, hagiographic, and Gnostic literature. The result may astonish conventional historical narratives and popular beliefs. Modern scientific studies of linguistics, ceramics, semiotics, numismatics, genetics, codicology, etc. are used in this study to verify the results.

Major areas studied

• Historical facts about Indian Christianity and its apostolic origin as claimed by different churches and their historians

• Is there any historical material evidence of first-century Christianity in India other than hagiographies?

• Facts about the Persian/Pahlavi crosses of south India and their ownership

• Historical fact about the hypothesis of fourth-century subjugation of Indian Christianity by Persian Christianity put forward by Church historians especially Syriac church historians in the light of scientific research in the field of archaeological, ceramic, linguistic, numismatic, semiotic and genetic studies

• The comparative study of previous translations of Pahlavi inscriptions on the stone structures of South India by scholars including the latest one by Mr. Shilanand Hemraj (2014)

• Comparative analysis of Archaeological materials unearthed from ancient Socio-commercial networks in the Afro-Eurasian trade routes against those found in India

• The historical facts about the Martyrdom of apostle Thomas at Mylapore, Chennai based on material evidence, travellers' records, and other parallel and alternative evidence

Finally, an answer to an old historical problem-the question of the origin of Indian Christianity-a first-century apostolic one or a later transfer through Afro-Eurasian socio-commercial networks-is provided. A worthwhile read for both Christians and non-Christians.