History Optional (Decline of Indus Valley Civilisation) by Shivlal Gupta

Model Answer

Question #1.  Certain elements of the indus valley civilization continue to exist in every individual of the Indian subcontinent. Discuss this statement in the light of survival and      significance of the indus valley civilization

Ans. Indus Valley Civilization came to an end around 1750 BC whereby people began to settle down in adjoining villages and began to focus on the primary activities like agriculture and animal husbandry. It resulted into four major zones of village culture also known as the Post Harappan Culture. The first major zone to indicate survival of the great civilization was found in the region of Sind and Baluchisthan. In this region, important post Harappan sites were Jhukar, Chanhu-Daro, and Amri. At these sites, people continued to use copper and stone implements which indicate late Harappan Chalcolithic culture. During this cultural phase, emphasis was again given on potteries due to limited surplus of food grains. The distinct potteries which were produced are known as Ochre Coloured Potteries. These potteries have facilitated historians to comprehend the community and village life of the late Chalcolithic people. The maximum number of Ochre Coloured Potteries (OCPs) have been found at Jhukar and therefore it is also known as Jhukar Culture.

After the decline of Indus Valley Civilization, survival was witnessed in the geographical region of Quetta Valley where prominent sites like Mundigak, Gumra, Naushahro and Pirak are located. At these sites limited production of food grains continued accompanied with the manufacturing of Ochre Coloured Potteries (OCP).

The third major region of late Harappan phase was spread over the contemporary States of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The prominent sites excavated are Ropar, Bara, Siswal and Mitathal. At these places, a large number of copper implements along with OCP have been found and this region proved to be relatively more prosperous than other post Harappan cultures.

The fourth and last major region to exhibit post Harappan culture was present day Gujarat where prominent sites like Desalpur, Rangpur, Rojadi, and Parbhas Patan have yielded the evidence of food production accompanied with OCP Ware.

In the contemporary time, scholars are more concerned with research about the post Harappan phase in order to understand the survival of the great civilization. At the same time this survival and items found till contemporary times clearly exhibit the significance of this civilization.

The most distinctive feature of the Indus Valley Civilization was with respect to a proper city plan marked by the Grid Pattern. This pattern is witnessed in prominent cities of India. For instance, the city of Chandigarh is based on block pattern which was conceptualized by

a French architect Le-Corbusier. Another modern city of India Jaipur is based on the block pattern founded by the Rajput ruler Raja Jai Singh. Another Indian city based on grid pattern is Raipur which is marked with straight roads and proper drainage network.

The significance of Indus Valley Civilization is largely seen in religious practices of Hinduism. Harappan people worship mother Goddesses even now to seek blessings for prosperity. At the same time, the male God of Indus Valley Civilization Proto Shiva is worshiped symbolically in the form of Phallus symbols.

In fact, Lord Shiva is worshiped as the major God along with Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. In fact, Hinduism is considered to be the oldest religion of the world due to its traces in Indus Valley Civilization. During Indus Valley Civilization, rudimentary beginning of coins took place whereby one unit comprised of 16 seals made of steatite. In course of time, 16 became a conventional figure for counting in India and I rupee comprised 16 Annas.

During Indus Valley Civilization, large number of crops was cultivated which indicated multiple cropping and prosperous agriculture. Similar practices continued and agriculture remained to be a mainstay of the Indian economy. In fact Indus Valley Civilization set the benchmark for urban centers whereby almost 3/4th of total population was to be engaged in non agricultural activities. This criterion is valid to define urban centers till the present time

Last but not least, people of the Indus Valley Civilization kept themselves entertained through objects like toy carts, which continued to amuse children for a considerable period of time. Ornamentation marked by jewellery and use of Kajal continues to remain popular in contemporary times. Therefore, it can be safely concluded that certain elements of Indus Valley continue in every person of the Indian subcontinent.

Question #2.  The evidence from mature and late Harappan sites shows a complex interplay of elements of continuity and change

The evidence from mature and late Harappan sites shows a complex interplay of elements of continuity and change. Comment.

Ans. Late Harappan sites at Ghaggar Hakra Valley, Sind, Eastern Punjab and Haryana, Ganga- Yamuna Doab etc show both continuity and change with respect to the mature Harappan phase, be it in pottery, economic activities, art and artefacts, settlement pattern or the agricultural practices

Settlement pattern: In Punjab, the province of Pakistan and the Ghaggar-Hakra valley, the late Harappan phase is represented by Cemetry-H culture with decline in the number of settlements. Also, the size of late Harappan settlement decreased substantially at almost all sites in comparison to the mature Harappan phase. But the Ganga - Yamuna Doab and Kutch and Saurashtra region saw a rise in the number of settlements in the late Harappan phase. Also, there was a rise in the number of settlements in Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. This suggests the Eastward and Southward shift of the settlements and the people.

Pottery: Compared to the mature Harappan pottery, the slip of late Harappan pottery is less bright. The pots tend to be thicker and sturdier. Some of the classical Harappan shapes like beaker, goblet etc disappeared but some others continued like dish-on-stand, jars. Even graffiti on pottery occurred in the region of Gujarat,

Trade and seals: The seals of circular and rectangular shape but without motifs have been excavated from the region of Gujarat and even seals with figures similar to those found in the Persian Gulf area have been which shows that the trade relation between Saurashtra Region and Persian Gulf continued in late Harappan phase.

Agriculture: Diversification of agriculture was one of the most prominent developments in the late Harappan phase. There was the beginning of double cropping-wheat and barley in winters and rice, millets etc as summer crops.

Various elements of Harappan urbanism such as cities, script, seals, long distance trade declined in the late Harappan phase but did not completely disappear. As few urban centers like Bet-Dwarka, Diamabad, Kudwaha etc belong to the late Harappan phase. But this transition from the mature to late Harappan phase was gradual and not sudden and abrupt.