Assimilation of foreigners in Indian society with special reference to North-West India; A historical perspective

No society is static. It changes according to the nature of challenges it has to respond to and the requirements it has to answer. From the tribal society of the Rigvedic period to the feudal society of the early medieval period, Indian social structure underwent numerous changes. Politico-economic factors, changes in the mode of production, demographic changes, a continuous and large influx of foreigners etc were largely responsible for the social changes. But these phases of change mainly related to the history of North-West India. Those who migrated from other parts of the world were completely and swiftly absorbed within the indigenous social system. Some of them absorbed in the Hindu fold that they have virtually lost their separate entity and they are known as Indian or Hindustani. They followed common customs both with regards to the dress and eating habits. The paper is to find out new facts, to search out the causes responsible for the assimilation of foreigners and the development of the synthesis of Indian culture. Archaeological remains, the vast corpus of secular and religious literature are the main source of information.