[John Will]

Could be a descendant of Alexander’s army. Also aren’t central asians, persians as pale as europeans?

[CarrotAndStick]

Well, unless a significant population of Indians have their ancestry from the low-UV radiation areas, this theory seems absurd. Methinks people in rainforests would also need to have pale skin, if the same logic holds.

And there are Hindus who have similar features too. That wouldn't be the case if they were descendents of foreigners. India's social caste norms would have kept them out.

An Indian girl from Kashmir

Another actress from the south of the country

[Sherman Logan]

The traditional story of Indian history is that Aryans invaded from Central Asia in the 2000 to 1500 BC period, about the same time as similar groups went into Europe, Asia Minor, Iran and quite possibly China.

They are generally thought to be associated with the original charioteers, who were able to conquer widely due to their superior chariot plus composite bow weapons system.

The Aryans wanted to forever maintain their superiority to the Dravidian natives, so set up the caste (the Indian word means “color”) system.

Some Hindus get amazingly torqued at the very thought that India may have been invaded in the distant past, considering it somehow as trying to say that Hindu civilization is originally “European.” Oddly, IMHO, since we know of a great many invasions during historical times, and the Aryan invasions of Europe and India occurred about the same time.

[blam]

"Could be a descendant of Alexander’s army. Also aren’t central asians, persians as pale as europeans?"

Nah. Read this:

On The Presence Of Non-Chinese At Anyang

[Ptarmigan]

I have noticed a lot of pale skinned people in the Middle East, especially from Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Alexander is part of the factor. Also, many European crusaders mixed with the inhabitants.

[muawiyah]

The Brits were in India for several hundred years. No doubt things happened.

[PuTiDaMo]

Central Asia and Persia have been taking in migrations of fair-featured Indo-European types since 2000 BC or so. “Alexander’s army” is most likely responsible for a small fraction of the Caucasian traits found there.