Indus Valley Civilization Explained in Hindi | Harappan Culture for UPSC/UPPSC

Think about it. 4,500 years ago, when many civilizations of the world were taking birth, a great civilization was emerging on the earth of India. Indus Valley Civilization. We also call it Harappan Civilization. And it was one of the most advanced urban civilizations in the world. Harappa in 1921 and Mohenjo-daro excavation in 1922 revealed this civilization to the world. Archaeologists like Sir John Marshall and Dayaram Sahani discovered it and shocked the world. The IBC was extended to North West India and Pakistan. Its centers were in Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Indus and its tributaries, Ravi, Byas, Satluj, Ghaggar were the lifelines of this civilization. The biggest feature of the IBC was its advanced town planning. Roads were straight and in a grid pattern. The drainage system was covered and every house was connected to the drainage. Houses were made of solid bricks and were multi-storied. Granaries were built on a huge scale. This is proof that the Harappans had mastered urban planning thousands of years ago. Mohenjo-daro's Great Bath, perhaps the world's first public water tank, shows that water and purity played a major role in religion and social life. Harappan economy was mostly based on agriculture. They grew wheat, barley and cotton. They were also very skilled in crafts. It was common for them to make bead making, pottery and bronze tools. Trade was also very developed. Cotton and beads were exported to Mesopotamia. A dockyard was found in Lothal. This proves that their maritime trade was also very advanced. The seals of the IBC are very famous. Animals and symbols are made on them. The Harappan script has never been read. This is the biggest mystery. We have not yet been able to find out their language and literature. The Harappan society was organized. But there is little proof of hierarchy. A figure like the priest-king is found in Mohenjo-daro. Mother Goddess was worshipped. Animals, trees and fertility symbols were also considered sacred. This religion later seems to be associated with the Vedic tradition. Harappans were not only traders and farmers. They were also great artists. Their most famous statue is the dancing girl. It is made of bronze. And shows their expertise in metal casting. Then there is the bearded priest-king. This is a proof of stone carving. Along with that, their painted pottery, beads and ornaments show their creative side and artistry. Harappans were not only in art and business. In fact, they were also advanced in science and technology. The bricks used in their houses and buildings were always in a standardized ratio of 1-2-4. Weights and measures were also uniform. This kept accuracy in trade and construction. And their cities had a well-planned water supply and sanitation system. All this shows how highly advanced the Harappan civilization was. But like every civilization, the Harappan civilization also declined. The exact reason is not clear. But historians believe that floods and river shifts, over-exploitation of land, climatic change, and perhaps the Aryan invasion due to all these reasons, this civilization gradually ended. But it did not completely wipe out Harappa. Even today, bull cart, beads, cotton weaving, mother goddess worship, all these are present among us as a Harappan legacy. Remember for the exam, these are high-value points which are asked every time. Because these are the most important aspects of the Harappan civilization. Indus Valley Civilization, our oldest urban society, which marked every phase of future Indian history. Now in the next chapter, we will see Vedic Age and how it shaped India's cultural identity.