💥Join UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (July Batch) + XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to Mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

Subject: Indus Valley Civilization

  • To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss.

  • The ancient civilization in Indian sub-continent differed from those of Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece in that its culture and traditions have been preserved without a breakdown to the present day. Comment.

  • Discuss the salient features of the Harappan architecture.

    The architecture of the Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan Culture) represents one of the earliest examples of sophisticated, utilitarian urban planning in human history.

    Salient Features of Harappan Architecture

    Grid-Based Town Planning

    The Layout: rectangular grid system, where streets and lanes intersected at right angles, cutting the settlement into neat blocks.

    The Arteries: Main avenues were exceptionally wide, running systematically from north-to-south and east-to-west to maximize natural ventilation.

    Dual Layout: Citadel and Lower Town

    The Citadel: Built on a massive mud-brick platform to protect against seasonal flooding. It housed elite administrative or public structures. Eg- Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro and large-scale public Granaries.

    The Lower Town (Residential Zone): Located to the east, this larger, non-elevated expanse housed the common citizens, merchants, and working-class artisans.

    Uniform and Durable Building Materials

    Standardized Bricks: the Harappans pioneered the use of kiln-burnt mud bricks.

    Proportional Consistency: dimensions of the bricks followed a strict mathematical ratio of 4:2:1.

    Residential Architecture and Privacy

    Courtyard-Centric Homes: Private houses varied from small two-room units to multi-story mansions, all constructed around an open central courtyard.

    Privacy Norms: No windows opened directly onto the main thoroughfares. Main entrance doors were strategically placed in side alleys to maintain privacy.

    Advanced Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineering

    The Drainage Grid: Every residential unit was connected to a highly sophisticated, gravity-assisted street drainage network.

    Maintenance Infrastructure: Channels were covered by loose, removable limestone slabs or bricks to facilitate routine desilting and cleaning operations.

    Public Infrastructure Elements

    The Great Bath (Mohenjo-daro): It featured changing rooms, multi-tiered steps, and an incoming clean water well system.

    Dockyard Architecture (Lothal): It features thick, reinforced baked-brick retaining embankments designed to withstand water pressure.

    Harappan architecture reflects a remarkably egalitarian, planned, and civic-minded urban civilisation, whose principles of urban planning remain relevant even today.

  • Mohenjo-daro’s “Dancing Girl”: History, Identity and the Debate on Modesty

    Why in News?

    The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) restored the original image of the iconic Mohenjo-daro bronze figurine in a Class 9 textbook after an earlier version had shaded its bare torso, reviving debates over cultural representation and historical interpretation.

    About the Figurine

    • A bronze statuette discovered at Mohenjo-daro (1926), dating to the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2500 BCE).
    • About 10.5 cm tall, created using the lost-wax casting technique.
    • Depicts a young female figure adorned with numerous bangles and ornaments.

    Why is its Identity Contested?

    • Archaeologist John Marshall identified it as a “nautch girl” (dancing girl) based on posture and appearance.
    • However, scholars argue there is no archaeological evidence that she was a professional dancer.
    • Historian Upinder Singh notes that the figure “may not have been dancing at all.”
    • Archaeologist Gregory L. Possehl also questioned the dancer interpretation.

    Partition and Ownership Debate

    • After Partition, around 12,000 Harappan artefacts in Delhi became subjects of dispute between India and Pakistan.
    • Both countries agreed to a 50:50 division of artefacts from Mohenjo-daro and Chanhu-daro.
    • Pakistan chose the “Priest King” figurine over the Dancing Girl, reportedly due to concerns over the latter’s nudity.
    • The Dancing Girl remains in India and is viewed by many scholars as part of the shared heritage of South Asia.

    Significance

    • Demonstrates the advanced metallurgical skills of the Indus Valley Civilization.
    • Highlights how colonial interpretations and contemporary moral values shape our understanding of the past.
    • Reflects debates on heritage ownership, gender, modesty, and cultural identity.

    Value Addition

    • Lost-Wax Casting Technique: A metal casting process in which a wax model is covered with clay; molten metal replaces the melted wax to create the final sculpture.
    • The Dancing Girl is one of the most iconic artistic representations of the Indus Valley Civilization.

    [2025] The famous female figurine known as ‘Dancing Girl’, found at Mohenjo-daro, is made of

    [A] carnelian

    [B] clay

    [C] bronze

    [D] gold

  • Regarding the Indus Valley Civilization, consider the following statements

    Regarding the Indus Valley Civilization, consider the following statements:
    1. It was predominantly a secular civilization and the religious element, though present, did not dominate the scene.
    2. During this period, cotton was used for manufacturing textiles in India.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • Which of the following characterizes/characterize the people of Indus Civilization

    Which of the following characterizes/characterize the people of Indus Civilization?
    (1). They possessed great palaces and temples.
    (2). They worshipped both male and female deities.
    (3). They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare.
    Select the correct the statement/statements using the codes given below.

  • With reference to .the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and

    With reference to .the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and
    Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct?
    1. Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus
    Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them.
    2. Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only
    copper and iron.
    3. Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley
    people having been aware of this animal.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • Which one of the following is not a Harappan site

    Which one of the following is not a Harappan site?

  • Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs

    Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?

  • The famous female figurine known as ‘Dancing Girl’, found at Mohenjo-daro, is made of

    The famous female figurine known as ‘Dancing Girl’, found at Mohenjo-daro, is made of: