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The Indus Valley Civilisation
I
n 1922, when the discovery of the Indus Valley
Civilisation came to light, it unearthed a new
era in the history of India. Though there is no
unanimity among historians and archaeologists
about the antiquity of this ancient Bronze Age
civilisation, a general overall span of 2500-1500
BC is agreed to by most.
The Indus Valley Civilisation was the largest
cultural zone of the period – it covered a vast 1.3
million square kilometres. It extended from Manda
(J&K) in the north to Daimabad (Maharashtra) in
the south, and from Suktagendor (Pakistan) in
the west to Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh) in the east.
Again there is no agreement among historians
and anthropologists on the issue of the founders
of the Indus Valley Civilisation. However, recent
research has thrown up some conclusive
evidence on this front: the founders were of a
mixed stock—proto-Austroloid, Mediterranean,
and Mongoloid.
Urban civilisation
The Indus Valley Civilisation was an urban
civilisation. The major cities of the Indus Valley
Civilisation are as follows:
Mohenjodaro (Sindh, Pakistan), Harappa (Punjab,
Pakistan), Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Lothal
(Gujarat), Chanhudaro (Sindh, Pakistan),
Dholavira (Gujarat), Banawali (Haryana), and
Surkotada (Gujarat).
Common features across cities
While there were distinguishing features between
cities, they still had some common features. The
foremost feature was the systematic town
planning on the lines of the grid system, which
meant that the streets and lanes cut across at
right angles. The roads were paved.
Almost all cities were characterised by uniform
town planning. At Kalibangan, Harappa, and
Mohenjadaro, this takes the shape of two
distinct elements: on the west, a ‘citadel’ mound
built on a high podium of mud-brick, with a long
axis running north to south, and to the east a
lower town consisting of what must have been
the main residential areas. Another common
feature was the use of standardised burnt
bricks and total absence of stone buildings.
Probably the most remarkable feature of the
cities in the Indus Valley Civilisation was the
underground drainage system connecting all
houses to the streets drains which were covered
with either bricks or stones.
Mohenjodaro, the largest of all the Indus Valley
Civilisation cities, was home to the Great Bath,
which was located at the centre of the citadel and
was a ritual bathing site. In this city, the Great
Granary was also located. Scholars believe that
the presence of such a large granary implies the
existence of a centralised tax collecting agency.
Lothal is the only Indus site with an artificial brick
dockyard. At Kalibangan, archaeologists have
discovered two platforms with fire altars
suggesting the practice of the cult of sacrifice.
Polity
There is no agreement among scholars on the
issue of the type of political system prevalent in
the Indus Valley Civilisation. It seems the either
the priests or the merchants made up the ruling
class.
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Religion
No temples in any of the sites have been found.
However, we can arrive at some basic ideas on
this issue from the seals found in various IVC
sites. The people of the Indus Valley Civilisation
practised fire-worship, nature worship, and
worshipped Pasupati Mahadeva (chief diety) and
Mother Goddess.
Script and language
The script of the Indus Valley Civilisation was
pictographic. The signs and pictures depicted
birds, animals, forces of nature, and human
figures. Till now, the script has not been
deciphered. On the issue of language, there is no
unanimity: some scholars say that the language
spoken by the people of the Indus Valley
Civilisation was Dravidian or near to Dravidian.
Trade and commerce
Apart from inland commerce within the zone, the
people of the Indus Valley Civilisation carried on
extensive trade relations with Mesopotamia and
some Gulf states like Bahrain (seals of the Indus
Valley Civilisation have been found in the towns
and cities of these civilisations). Lothal must have
served as a port town to carry on maritime trade.
Seals
A large number of seals have been found from
the numerous sites. The seals, made of steatite,
were mostly round in shape. The seals depicted
carvings of animals, trees, human figures, and
divine figures. Some scholars believe that seals
were used by the traders for purpose of exchange
but there is no clarity as to in what way.
Decline of the Indus Valley Civilisation
As is the case with most other aspects of this
ancient Civilisation, even its decline has been
the subject-matter of much speculation. Theories
ranging from natural disasters like floods and
earthquakes to the emergence of the Aryans have
been cited as contributory factors to the decline
of this great civilisation.
They said this!!
“I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us.” — Franz Kafka
“I enjoy reading biographies because I want to know about the people who messed up the
world.”
— Marie Dressler
“I have given up reading books. I find it takes my mind off myself.”
— Oscar Levant
“I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the
train.”
— Oscar Wilde
“One of the first and most important things for a critic to learn is how to sleep undetected in
the theater.”
— William Archer
“Never pay attention to what the critics say: a statue has never been set up in honour of a
critic.” — Jean Sibelius
“Religion has done love a great service by making it a sin.”
July 2006 26
— Anatole France