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 s tandardised 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. July 2006 25

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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