NOTE:- ENGLISH AND HINDI LANGUAGE:-
प्रश्न---सिन्धु घाटी सभ्यता के स्वरूप पर संक्षिप्त प्रकाश डालिए।
Question
--- Throw a brief light on the nature of Indus Valley Civilization.
Or
Describe in detail the main features of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Or
Describe the main features of Indus Valley Civilization
Answer--- The Indus Valley Civilization originated in the northwestern
part of the Indian subcontinental region on the Chalcolithic background. Based
on the carbon denting method, its date has been considered between 2500 BC
--1750 BC. The first Harappan site located in the western Punjab province of
Pakistan was discovered in 1921. That is why this civilization is also known as
Harappan Civilization. This civilization was more extensive and developed than
its contemporary Mesopotamia (Tajla-Eurat river) and Egypt (Nile river valley).
The center of this civilization is the Indus Valley. From here it extended to
the frontier of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and western Uttar Pradesh.
It extended from Jammu in the north to the mouth of Narmada-Godavari in the
south and from Balochistan in the west to Meerut in the north-east. The
important material found by excavating these sites throws light on the rise,
expansion, form, time, merger, symptoms etc. of this civilization. It seems
that for the entire period of its existence, this culture continued to use the
same type of tools, weapons, and houses, but some features also changed and
many colors of civilizational culture were also seen.
The main features of the Harappan civilization--- The main features of the
Harappan civilization can be understood through a diagram on the basis of the
following contexts---
1*Bronze Age Civilization ---- Harappan Civilization is also known as
Copper Age Civilization. Because in this era, copper weapons and utensils were
made in large quantities. Even weapons were made of stone. Later, bronze tools
and other items were manufactured on a large scale. Due to the abundance of
bronze, this civilization came to be called the Bronze Age civilization. Bronze
craftsmen had an important place in the Harappan society.
2* Urban Civilization ----- Harappan culture was also an urban culture.
Many cities emerged during this period, in these cities well-maintained
highways, pucca buildings, well-maintained drains, roads and construction of
public bathrooms, strong governance, testify that attention was also paid to
the amenities of ordinary people. Knowledge-science, art-skill, script also
developed under this civilization. Faith in personal property, social
class-discrimination and religion is also seen at this time. Some of the main
features of urban civilization can be seen in detail.
(i) Huge Bathroom ---- The existence of a huge water tank has come to
light inside the fort of Mohenjodaro. Eto steps were made at the southern and
northern ends to enter this water body. Special facility was taken in the
manufacture of furs. It was made of solid bricks. This reservoir was used for
ritual bathing.
(ii) Systematic Highways ---- All the cities of Harappan civilization
were built on the basis of a systematic plan and the roads of these cities cut
each other at right angles. These roads are of three types - wide, medium wide,
and narrow lanes. The widest road of Mohenjodaro is more than 10 meters wide.
Which archaeologists have called the highway.
(iii) Strong governance system---- It appears to be due to keeping in
mind the same town-building plan, same type of script, use of tools of
measurement, use of seals etc. at different sites related to Harappan culture.
All Harappan cities tend to be tied in one administrative thread, as there were
elements of cultural unity and evidence of distant trade, which ensured the
establishment of central authority and strong governance.
3* Democratic Civilization ---- The huge assembly hall and bath found
from the excavation are the symbols of the collective life of the Harappans.
There were two main centers of governance-- Harappa and Mohenjodaro. Central
power was decentralised. The officials of the central government governed the
cities with the help of local officials and citizens.
4* Industrial Civilization ---- The basis of the economic life of the
inhabitants of the Harappan civilization was trade-commerce and industry. Along
with local trade, these people also traded with foreign countries. The trade
may have been done through barter. The Harappans mention a trade relationship
with Meluha in Mesopotamian inscriptions. Meluha is the ancient name of Sindh
region. One person used to do the same occupation and people doing the same
type of occupation lived in the same area.
5* Peace-oriented civilization ----- A great feature of the Harappan
civilization was that it was basically a peace-oriented civilization. Peace and
order in the state were necessary to maintain the economic base of that
culture. This is the reason that we get a large number of tools and equipment
used in industry and domestic use, but the number of weapons of war and
violence is negligible. They were used for hunting and self-defense. Thus it
was a peaceful civilization.
6* Systematic Religious Life---- The religious life of the
Harappans was well-organized. They mainly worshiped two deities. One in male
form, the other in female form. They considered the earth as the goddess of
fertility. They also worshiped trees and animals and birds. The most important
in animal worship was that of the humpbacked bull. The idols of Pashupati
Mahadev and Mother Goddess were worshipped. Their religious beliefs, beliefs
and practices were fixed. According to Marshal, many superstitions prevalent in
Hindu religion over a period of time are also found in Harappan civilization
and thus we get the original form of many major elements of Hindu religion only
in Indus civilization.
7* Knowledge of writing, calculation and measurement----- The people of
Indus civilization had knowledge of script but this script has not been read
yet. The script is pictograph, the first attempt to read it was made in 1925 by
L.A. Wendell. Mostly the script is written from right to left. Indus people
also knew how to measure and weigh. Objects in the form of watts have been
found. Such poles have been found on which measurement marks have been found.
8* Animal husbandry and agriculture------- The main basis of the
economic life of the Harappans was trade and industry. But these people also
paid special attention to agriculture. Wooden plows were used for agricultural
purposes. Evidence of wheat and barley has been found in the excavation. Jowar
and millet were also cultivated in Kharif season. Along with agriculture,
animal husbandry was also prevalent in this civilization. Not only milk, meat,
wool, etc. were available from animals, as well as they were also used for
carrying loads and pulling carts. On the basis of paintings, seals, and remains
made on pottery, we can get information about the animals of the time. The
people of this civilization used to keep animals like pig, sheep, goat, cow,
humpback bull, buffalo, camel, elephant, dog etc.
In conclusion, it can be said that the Harappan civilization which was a mature, prosperous, extensive, developed civilization. There are many such characteristics and features of this civilization, so that there was no other civilization in that period like Harappan civilization, city expansion, democratic system, peace-oriented and its various characteristics distinguish it from other contemporary civilizations