Migrants: The Story of Us All
Author: Sam Miller
Published by Abacus Books Distributed by Hachette India
Genre: History
Pages 440
MRP: Rs. 899/-
Thank you @hachetteindia for a review copy of the book
Migrants: The Story of us all by Sam Miller is an insightful and thought-provoking book that delves into the history of human migration. The author explores the concept of migration from its earliest origins to the present day, highlighting the role it has played in shaping our societies and cultures.
One of the key strengths of this book is the way in which it challenges commonly-held perceptions of migration. Miller demonstrates that migration is not a new phenomenon, but rather an integral part of human history that has been taking place for thousands of years. By exploring the experiences of migrants throughout history, he reveals that many of the debates around migration today are not new, and have in fact been recurring themes throughout history.
Miller's writing is engaging and accessible, making this book suitable for a wide range of readers. He uses a combination of historical research and personal anecdotes to bring the stories of migrants to life, and his passion for the subject shines through on every page.
Miller adopts a value-free approach to the term 'migrant', which encompasses a diverse range of people including colonial adventurers, West African slaves, and Jewish refugee communities. The book is a vast work of synthesis, and Miller's choices of which episodes to highlight are both expected and distinctive, as any panoramic view of history must be. Along the way, Miller dispels some popular myths, such as the idea that the Neanderthals were less intelligent than modern humans.
Miller's writing style is relaxed and engaging, and he adds personal anecdotes to the historical accounts, including his own family history and his quest to understand his own DNA. Despite acknowledging his own privileges, Miller is careful to remind readers that he is also a migrant, but he recognizes that he does not suffer from the same backlash that many other migrants face.
The Authors thoughts on India and the ‘Aryan Migration Theory’
While I personally haven’t read up much on the world history of migration, I can say that I have read about what the author has to say in India’s context. The author does write that the arguments of the Aryan Invasionists and migrationists were pretty flimsy, and even recognises the theories of the two extremes. But then the author gives merit to Tony Joseph and his 2018 work Early Indians which basically claims AIT/AMT. Whereas many historians such as Abhijeet Chawda have debunked Joseph’s book and his so called research. Chawda wrote a rebuttal, arguing that the peer review process is flawed and that it being published in a oeer reviewed journal does not automatically endow a research paper with credibility , Josephs research is based misrepresenting the datings on the expansions. So I would not take this part of the book by Miller too seriously.
Overall, Migrants: The Story of us all is an important and timely book that offers a fresh perspective on the history of migration. It provides valuable insights into the ways in which migration has shaped our world, and challenges readers to reconsider their preconceptions about this complex and often controversial topic. Whether you are a student of history, a migrant yourself, or simply interested in the human experience, this book is well worth reading.
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