In the Rig Veda, reference has been made to a place : harupiya.
What this place was had remained a mystery until the early 20th century, when a collective effort from Rakhaldas Bannerjee and Dayaram Sahni, not to mention, the brilliant John Marshall pushed the dates of Indian history back by at least a millenium. The importance of this event cannot be overestimated.
In restrospect, it has been accepted that the word harupiya was, in reality, a distortion for what the humanity knows as Harappa, one of the greatest sites of the celebrated Indus valley civilization, a civilization strikingly in contrast to that of the early Aryans [who were woefully backward in terms of metropolism compared to the Harappa dwellers]. Such was the advancement by the Harappans, that the coming of Aryans seems to be a setback to urbanism. Cities were not to be seen until 500 years after the Aryans came.
Well, the Indus valley people not only gifted cities to the world. One of their gifts was the fowl, which probably originated in India itself. The humped bull, as present in the seals excavated, was also an important contribution. The Harappa civilisation was perhaps also the most fashionable of civilisations, for its men and women revelled in decorating themselves with jewellery.
The Rigveda also refers to their devastating god Indra as purendra [destroyer of forts]. What were these forts, if not the citadels of the Indus valley cities? This gives us more pointers as to how advanced was the planning of the Indus valley cities; indeed it is no less than a wonder that people were able to create such planned cities 2500 years ago. Fahien had remarked seeing the wooden palace of the Mauryans in Pataliputra that it was hard to believe that it was the work of mortals. Wonder what he would have said if he ever visited the Harappan cities.
When we think of most of the peculiar habits of the Indian people, I think we can relate most of these to our indigenous ancestors. The obsession with jewellery has already been mentioned. Even Shiva can be traced to the proto-shiva found, which depicts a horned man, encompassed with bulls and other animals in a state of meditation. The proto-australoid features, which the Indians have, is remarkably visible in the statue of dancing girl, perhaps the most provocative of all Indian archeaological excavations. Completely nude save some jewelleries, she stands protrudingly, one hand on the hips and the other on the thigh, as if wanting to be adorned. She would be delighted to know that adorned she is, even after millenia have passed. Such recognition Menka or Urvashi would be envying from the heavens [if they are there !!]. Even the practice ritual bath can be traced to the Great Bath found at Mohenjodaro, apparantely being used for ablutions in those times.
DANCING GIRL : MOST PROVOCATIVE OF ALL INDIAN SCULPTURES
The Harappans also had their script of their own, like the Mesopotamians, but the Harappan script has remained a mystery till date. They had good sense of pottery, and black earthen pottery has been excavated.
Whereas the Harappans came out of age in all the good things, what they lacked in was military strength. I think the peace loving DNA in Indians also derives from the Indus valley people. They could not sustain the Aryan colonialism, and vanquished gradually, to become one of the greatest puzzles of Indian history.
What this place was had remained a mystery until the early 20th century, when a collective effort from Rakhaldas Bannerjee and Dayaram Sahni, not to mention, the brilliant John Marshall pushed the dates of Indian history back by at least a millenium. The importance of this event cannot be overestimated.
In restrospect, it has been accepted that the word harupiya was, in reality, a distortion for what the humanity knows as Harappa, one of the greatest sites of the celebrated Indus valley civilization, a civilization strikingly in contrast to that of the early Aryans [who were woefully backward in terms of metropolism compared to the Harappa dwellers]. Such was the advancement by the Harappans, that the coming of Aryans seems to be a setback to urbanism. Cities were not to be seen until 500 years after the Aryans came.
Well, the Indus valley people not only gifted cities to the world. One of their gifts was the fowl, which probably originated in India itself. The humped bull, as present in the seals excavated, was also an important contribution. The Harappa civilisation was perhaps also the most fashionable of civilisations, for its men and women revelled in decorating themselves with jewellery.
The Rigveda also refers to their devastating god Indra as purendra [destroyer of forts]. What were these forts, if not the citadels of the Indus valley cities? This gives us more pointers as to how advanced was the planning of the Indus valley cities; indeed it is no less than a wonder that people were able to create such planned cities 2500 years ago. Fahien had remarked seeing the wooden palace of the Mauryans in Pataliputra that it was hard to believe that it was the work of mortals. Wonder what he would have said if he ever visited the Harappan cities.
When we think of most of the peculiar habits of the Indian people, I think we can relate most of these to our indigenous ancestors. The obsession with jewellery has already been mentioned. Even Shiva can be traced to the proto-shiva found, which depicts a horned man, encompassed with bulls and other animals in a state of meditation. The proto-australoid features, which the Indians have, is remarkably visible in the statue of dancing girl, perhaps the most provocative of all Indian archeaological excavations. Completely nude save some jewelleries, she stands protrudingly, one hand on the hips and the other on the thigh, as if wanting to be adorned. She would be delighted to know that adorned she is, even after millenia have passed. Such recognition Menka or Urvashi would be envying from the heavens [if they are there !!]. Even the practice ritual bath can be traced to the Great Bath found at Mohenjodaro, apparantely being used for ablutions in those times.
DANCING GIRL : MOST PROVOCATIVE OF ALL INDIAN SCULPTURES
The Harappans also had their script of their own, like the Mesopotamians, but the Harappan script has remained a mystery till date. They had good sense of pottery, and black earthen pottery has been excavated.
Whereas the Harappans came out of age in all the good things, what they lacked in was military strength. I think the peace loving DNA in Indians also derives from the Indus valley people. They could not sustain the Aryan colonialism, and vanquished gradually, to become one of the greatest puzzles of Indian history.
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