Indus Valley: An Ancient Civilization Echoing Sangam Literature

The discovery of the Indus Valley marks a pivotal moment in the archaeological history of the Indian subcontinent. It has been a century since this significant revelation, announced on the front page of The Illustrated London News on September 20, 1924.

This announcement transformed our understanding of Indian history.Sir John Marshall, then head of the Archaeological Society of India (ASI), revealed details of a newly discovered site in Harappa (present-day Pakistan). He noted, "It is not easy for an archaeologist to illuminate the remains of a vanished civilization.

But at this moment, we are close to such a discovery in the Indus plains." His article, titled “First Light on a Long-Forgotten Civilisation,” highlighted the implications of this find.Shortly thereafter, historian Archibald Choice reported that seals discovered in the Indus Valley bore similarities to those found in Iran and Mesopotamia, indicating connections to the Bronze Age (3300-2500 BC).

This shifted the historical timeline, as prior to this, Indian history was thought to begin in 326 BC with Alexander the Great's invaded in Kandahar. The discovery journey began earlier in 1829, when Charles Masson, a deserter from the East India Company, traveled through Punjab. Fascinated by Alexander, he mistakenly dated archaeological sites to his era. Later visitors, like Alexander Burns, noted the burnt bricks from these sites, which were subsequently plundered for railway construction after the British took control.

Archaeological interest intensified after 1861 with the formation of the ASI, where Alexander Kannikam served as the first Director General.He identified Harappa but initially misinterpreted it as a Buddhist site. However, the appointment of John Marshall as the ASI's Director General led to renewed exploration. Hiranand Shastri's investigations refuted the Buddhist hypothesis, suggesting a much older civilization.In the 1920s, excavations began in earnest, uncovering artifacts that linked Harappa and Mohenjo Daro as parts of the same archaeological culture.

By 1931, much of Mohenjo Daro had been excavated, revealing sophisticated urban planning, standardized brick sizes, drainage systems, and large granaries. R. Balakrishnan, a consultant from the Indus Research Center in Chennai, remarked on the archaeological significance of these discoveries.The Indus Valley is now often associated with Dravidian culture, a connection initially proposed by linguist Sunithi Kumar Chatterjee. He argued that the Indus Valley civilization was non-Aryan and pre-Aryan.

Further research by historians like Henry Heeras and Airavatham Mahadevan explored these links, suggesting that the Indus people spoke a Dravidian language.This monumental discovery reshaped perceptions of Indian history, revealing a civilization that predated the Vedic period. Amarnath Ramakrishna of the ASI noted, "This discovery has fundamentally altered our understanding of Indian history."John Marshall’s role in this exploration was crucial. He connected the dots between Harappa and Mohenjo Daro, proposing that they represented a unified culture and trade language. His insights paved the way for the recognition of the Indus Valley Civilization as a distinct entity.

Recently, the Tamil Nadu government announced plans to erect a statue of John Marshall, reflecting the state's pride in its historical contributions. Balakrishnan emphasized that while epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata do not reflect Indus Valley life, the lifestyles depicted in Sangam literature are more aligned with it. He asserts, "If the Indus Valley is an enigma, Tamil Nadu is its key.

"Despite a century of exploration, mysteries remain. Scholars still debate the language of the Indus Valley inhabitants and whether the symbols found are linguistic or merely pictographic. Some researchers, like Bahata Angamali Mukhopadhyay, view the symbols as trade indicators and believe the spoken language was Old Dravidian. In contrast, Airavatam Mahadevan posits that the Indus script may represent an early form of the Dravidian language.

Asko Parpola from Finland, an expert on Indus scripts, has stated that a complete decipherment may remain elusive without new and definitive sources. Thus, while the discovery of the Indus Valley has significantly advanced our understanding of ancient Indian civilization, many questions continue to challenge researchers today.