Greater Magadha: Studies in the Culture of Early India

A Fascinating topic touched by Johannes Bronkhorst but eventually it feels to be inadequately argued (also politcally motivated or at times bad faith).

The core of the hypothesis is that the geographical region of Mahajanapada Magadha was home to a culture — precursor of Sramana traditions which was distinct from orthodox Vedic Brahmanism. The core argument seems to be conveyed convincingly enough but even the author tries to bolster his speculations he turns into specious and selective readings of ancient texts.
While correctly critiquing circular reasoning in traditional dating of Vedic Upanisads and early Sramana tests, the author himself indulges in circular reasoning. All this is done to prove that the idea of Karmic retribution came into Brahmanism from Sramana schools. Personally I did not find this a preposterous hypothesis, but the reasoning and arguments in the book in support of it are very tenuous.
Especially that the argument that medical origin of Ayurveda is from the region of Greater Magadha is very poorly argued. Rather some of the arguments presented can be refuted by non scholars — especially as they are based on interpolation of a line or two from Megasthenes and other texts.
The book was written in 2007 , but it can be seen in light of recent genetic findings. Genetics is not touched in the book.
The arguments of linguistics — for apparent distance between Vedic and Classical Sanskrit and Pali — or in general Early and Middle Indo Aryan languages are not expanded.
Some claims — like Carvaka as a Brahmanical response to Sramana concept of Karmic retribution is interesting enough as personally I found it well argued.

In overall — a fascinating topic but maybe this topic needs more interdisciplinary work of linguistics, archeology, genetics and liturgical studies can intersect.