A Study of Brahui-Tamil and in the context of their presence in the Indus valley Civilization

In linguistic, cultural, historical and toponymic contexts

Authors

  • Nazir Shakir Brahui Director, Brahui Research Institute, Pakistan Author

Keywords:

Brahui, Tamil, Tamil Language

Abstract

Tamil is the oldest language of the world .Which is called Proto-Dravidian . The Dravidian word is the ancient form and origin of the present Tamil word . Hence Proto-Tamil is the mother of the present modern Dravidian languages . Which was spread from Kanyakumari to Karachi and from Gujrat to Iran before the Indo-European peoples . Various dialects of Proto-Tamil were spoken in this entire seven million square kilo meter area . Usually the Dravidians were confined to the IVC area , but the Proto-Dravidian or Tamil was the parent language spread over much more land and dialects . Just like earlier Bronze Age was considered from 3300 BC to 1300 BC . But now it is clear from the evidence of bronze found in various monuments of Tamil Nadu that the Bronze Age in Tamil Nadu was also at it peak in 5300 B C . Now it is enough to believe that Tamilians migrated from Africa to Kanyakumari   70 to 80 thousand years ago .

    Brahui language is spoken in present Pakistani Balochistan , Sindh ,Iran ,Afghanistan ,Central Asia , Turkimanistan and European countries , it is also the beginning or first dialect of Proto-Dravidian or Tamil language . Which first separated from Proto-Tamil 15000 to 20000 thousand years ago . Even today the names of Brahui regions and tribes are of Tamil origin . There is also a great linguistic , historical ,and cultural commonality between the speakers of the two languages . So far only linguistic research has been done on Brahuis . And that too to a very limited extent .

       The area that the Brahuis settled In the present Pakistani Balochistan consists of basically different mountan ranges . One of the is the “Brahui mountain range “. Which extends for 360 kilo meters from Pishin to Khuzdar . Only Brahui live in this entire area . Before that , Proto-Brahuis had founded Mihrgarh 9000 thousand years ago and IVC 5000 thousand years ago . Many exprts consider Mihrgarh and IVC as Proto-Brahuis  . This is correct in it place because Proto-Brahui was also Proto-Tamil and was a dialect of that language . Therefore ,it is correct to call or declare the founders of Mihrgarh and IVC as Proto-Dravidian , Tamil or Brahui . Proto-Sindhi , Gondi ,Kuruhk languages were also spoken in IVC . All these languages are also dialects of Proto-Tamil .

         In this paper , I will present a study of Brahui s linguistic ,cultural ,historical and toponymic similarities and relations with Tamil . On which no one has researched or studied from this angle before .  

Keywords: Brahui ,Tamil , Proto-Dravidian, Dravidian , Linguistics, IVC.

   A great deal has been written over the past nearly two centuries about the linguistic similarities between Brahui and other Dravidian languages. In this context, various scholars and researchers have also presented their studies on the linguistic relationship between Brahui and Tamil, as well as on the perspective that connects these languages with the founders of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC).

 

However, very little has been written in a systematic and comprehensive manner about the linguistic, cultural, and onomastic connections between Brahui and Tamil, and their possible presence and role in the Indus Valley Civilization. Recognizing this gap, Bama M.M, Raj Mutharasan, Arasu Chellaiah, Sridevi,Balakrishnan.R,and others from the JOC Study Circle organized an online lecture for me on April 4, 2026, at 9:00 PM.

    This is the revised version of that lecture, in which some changes have been made and new material has also been added.

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Author Biography

  • Nazir Shakir Brahui, Director, Brahui Research Institute, Pakistan

    Nazir Shakir Brahui*Director, Brahui Research Institute, Pakistan

    *Correspondence: braui5000@gmail.com. Tel: +923133452973

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Published

06/09/2026

How to Cite

A Study of Brahui-Tamil and in the context of their presence in the Indus valley Civilization: In linguistic, cultural, historical and toponymic contexts. (2026). Tamilmanam International Research Journal of Tamil Studies, 12(01), 346-385. https://tamilmanam.in/journal/index.php/issue/article/view/502

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