Rethinking the Transition from the Indus Valley Civilization to Early Vedic Society: A Multi-Causal and Interaction-Based Approach

The transition from the Indus Valley Civilization to early Vedic society remains one of the most debated questions in South Asian history. Traditional explanations have tended to polarize between migration-based and indigenous continuity models. This study adopts a multi-causal, interaction-based framework that incorporates ecological shifts, gradual population movement, and sustained cultural exchange. Drawing on interdisciplinary evidence from archaeology, historical linguistics, and cultural history, it examines how complex processes shaped early Indian society. Comparative insights, including parallels with East Asian traditions such as the Japanese Kitsune folklore motif, illustrate how cultural narratives traverse and adapt across regions. This approach offers a nuanced understanding of early Indian cultural transformation and challenges the limitations of single-cause explanations.