Should a guru that teaches vedas be a Indian?

Question

Guru means teacher, he teaches us about vedas and upanishads.

So can a guru be a non Indian ?

Answer 1

The eminent Indus Valley Script expert Iravatham Mahadevan accepted Harvard's Michael Witzel as his guru,

https://ontogenyphylogenyepigenetcs.wordpress.com/the-second-conference-of-michael-witzel-at-madras-university/

Iravatham Mahadevan (11.15 to 11.25 a.m): “Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Gurudevo Maheswara; Guru sakshat Parabrahma tasmai sri kuruve Namaha” reciting this sloka[3], he started speaking: “WItzel has been the greatest expert in Vedic Sanskrit particularly in Rigvedic. …..I met him six years back at the Harvard University in connection with my publication of the book[4] and at that time, he received me and took me to go around the University[5] and the great library. To be frank with you, I do know about the topic, ”Phylogeny[6] and Epigenetics and origin of languages”. From “gen”, I could understand that it is something connected with “production” or “origin” = to born, to produce…..I think he is going to show the unity of Indo-European languages.

“There has been misunderstanding about Michael Witzel and his work. Some two days ago, when Prof Witzel was invited to deliver his lecture at Madras Sanskrit College, some misguided elements tried to disturb the meeting and they distributed handouts. Of course, we have difference of opinion, but we should not resort to such methods. There could be difference of opinion, but we should respect our guests, as we believe in “Adhiti devo bhava” (treating / honoring the guests). I too have difference with him about his fundamental view that Indus script was not a system of writing at all, but I cannot take a gun and shoot him…….Indian culture is pluralistic and tolerant………We believe in Ekam sat bhauta vadhanti…..Such was our attitude. In the west, there was conflict between the Church and the State…. But in India we have great leaders. Buddha taught band showed a different way ………In south, we have Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhva. Each wrote his own Bhasya, but their followers co-existed. “Therefore, such intolerant attitude is anti-Indian and anti-Hindu and they do disservice to our nation. Such elements are confined to the fringe of our society…..In this context, I should tell few words about Ashoka who lived 2300 years ago. I request the Sanskrit scholars to read Pali verses of the inscription and memorize in the heart. I read what the Girnar inscription says[7] –

Padma Bhushan David Frawley is another.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Frawley

In fact Frawley and Witzel have had debates about RigVedic interpretation.

Answer 2

As far as Vedic tradition is concerned, Guru, Acharya, Upadhyaya etc., are all required to have some specific qualifications. Like those given below:

Manu Smriti 2.140. They call that Brahmana who initiates a pupil and teaches him the Veda together with the Kalpa and the Rahasyas, the teacher (acharya, of the latter).

2.141. But he who for his livelihood teaches a portion only of the Veda, or also the Angas of the Veda, is called the sub-teacher (upadhyaya)

2.142. That Brahmana, who performs in accordance with the rules (of the Veda) the rites, the Garbhadhana (conception-rite), and so forth, and gives food (to the child), is called the Guru (the venerable one).

So, first requirement is that the Guru or the Acharya (who teaches the pupil the Vedas) must be Brahmins. Now you can decide yourself if it is possible for a non-Indian to meet this requirement or not?

Guru is a broad term. The answer to the question "Can a Guru be a non-Indian?" depends on how you define the term.

If you're looking for the Guru -- one who teaches pupil Vedas, then he can't be a non-Indian, by virtue of the verses given above. Because a non-Indian can't be a Brahmin.