INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION: HISTORY
NEWS: Clear
proof of continuities exists between Indus and cultures that developed later:
Jamison
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a $1
million reward for deciphering the Indus Valley script, emphasizing
its importance during the centenary celebration of the Indus Valley
Civilization's discovery. This initiative has rekindled interest in the
linguistic continuity between the Indus script and South Indian cultures,
especially with recent findings from Keezhadi in Tamil Nadu.
1.
Importance of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)
- Timeframe:
Existed between 3300 BCE and 1300 BCE.
- Prominent
Urban Centers: Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, Dholavira,
and Lothal.
- Key
Features: Advanced urban planning, standardized
weights, and an undeciphered script.
2. Indus
Valley Script: Key Characteristics
- Mediums: Found
on seals, pottery, amulets, and tablets.
- Structure:
- Contains
375-400 unique signs.
- Likely
written right to left.
- Pictorial
Symbols: Depict animals like bulls and elephants.
- Geometric
Signs: Include lines and intersecting patterns.
- Composite
Symbols: Combine pictorial and geometric elements.
3. Key
Locations of the Script
- Harappa:
Religious and administrative symbols.
- Mohenjo-Daro: Rich
animal motifs and geometric patterns.
- Dholavira
(India): Unique 10-sign public inscription.
- Lothal
(India): Trade-related seals and tools.
4.
Potential Continuity Between IVC and Later Cultures
- Evidence
from Keezhadi (Tamil Nadu):
- 72 inscribed
potsherds with Tamil-Brahmi script and graffiti marks
unearthed.
- Similarity
of up to 90% between Indus and Tamil Nadu symbols.
- Indicates
possible cultural and linguistic continuity.
5. Tamil
Nadu’s Initiative
- Announced
by Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin.
- Aimed
at deciphering the Indus script to establish links to South Indian
cultures.
- Significance: Could
unlock insights into the cultural legacy of IVC and its connections
to later Indian civilizations.
6.
Challenges and Next Steps
- Challenges: Script
remains undeciphered due to its short inscriptions and lack of a
bilingual text like the Rosetta Stone.
- Next
Steps: Requires collaborative research,
advancements in AI, and comparative studies of Keezhadi findings.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/clear-proof-of-continuities-exists-between-indus-and-cultures-that-developed-later-jamison/article69065103.ece