INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

Category: History of Ancient India  By P Jain

Features of Indus Valley Civilization

Indus Valley Civilization (also known as Harappan Civilization) is an ancient India civilization
that flourished more than 4000 years ago in the north-western parts of Indo-Pakistan sub-
continent. It derived its name from river Indus, which is the main river of the region. The
various features of Indus Valley Civilization are given below:

1. This civilization is extended far beyond the Indus Valley. The main towns of Indus valley
civilization were Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Kalibangan, Lothal.

2. The significant features of Indus Valley civilization are personal cleanliness, town planning,
construction of burnt-brick houses, ceramics, casting, forging of metals, manufacturing of
cotton and woolen textiles.

3. Mohenjo-Daro people had finest bath facilities, drainage system, and knowledge of personal
hygiene.

4. They were equally conscious of plant medicine since there was occasional warfare.

5. The town planning and other characteristics indicate that a homogeneous indigenous culture
developed.

6. The portrayal of a three-faced figure surrounded by various animals has been considered as
Shiva in the form of Pasupati or Brahma, the originator of Brahmi School of learning.

7. The seal has been available in the stupa area that is generally believed as college
area. Computer study of the available seals has been started in different centers.

8. The naksatras are of Harappan origin and these are related to later Dravidian names.

9. Application of decimal scale in linear measure is another very important achievement of the
Harappans.
10. They had perhaps a fairly good idea of lunar astronomy, as envisaged from some of the
seals since they were very much attached to navigation and fire worship as found in Kalibangan.

11. The rectangular bath at each of the Harappan sites was considered a holy place.

12. The Harappan people could prepare painted potteries of burnt clay, glazed potteries
faience, terracotta, etc. The glazing of potteries is believed to be of Indian origin.

13. The cities were supported by both trade and agriculture. The foundations of well-planned
shipyards at Kalibangan and Lothal and granaries at all these main Harappan sites indicate how
important they were in the economy of that time.

14. Certain medicated and contemplative postures of the people, available among terracotta
figurines suggest that they also developed the science of physical and mental discipline to a
high degree.

Social and Economic Life of Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan

Civilization)
Category: History of Ancient India,  By Vinay Pandey

The social and economic life of the people of Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan
Civilization) was systematic and organised.

The Indus valley population consisted of Australoid, Mediterranean, Mongoloid and Alpine
races. The cosmopolitan character of the population proves that the Indus valley was the
meeting place of the people of various races.

The people had good understanding of an urban civilization. The population of Mohenjo-Daro

was about 35000.

Food of the people of Indus Civilization 

The food of the Harappan people was supplied from extensive areas cultivated in vicinity of the
city. Besides food was supplied from distant areas by boats plying on the rivers. Rice was
probably grown in the Indus valley.
The staple food of the people comprised wheat, barley, rice, milk and some vegetables like
peas, sesamums and fruits like date palms. Mutton, pork, poultry, fish etc. were also eaten by
the Indus people.

Agriculture appears to be the main occupation of the Indus people. The discovery of a granary
at Harappa lends support to this.

Social Dress of the Harappan People

Many spindles were discovered at the Harappan sites. This proves the use of cotton for weaving
social cloths. Probably wool was also used. The garments might have been sewn.

Both men and women used two pieces of cloth. The men folk wore some lower garment like
dhoti and upper garment like shawl. The upper garment wrapped the left shoulder.

Female attire was the same as that of men. Arts and crafts and trade formed one of the main
occupations of the people.

The potter, the mason, the metal worker had high demand. The cotton and woolen dresses
show the existence of cotton and woolen industries. Goldsmiths and silversmiths made
ornaments.

House-hold articles and Furniture’s of Indus People

Most of the house-hold articles were made of pottery or of metals like copper and bronze. The
art of pottery attained a wonderful excellence at Mohenjo-Daro. This is proved by painted and
glazed wares. Most of the kitchen utensils including jars, vessels, dishes etc. were made of
earth and stone.

Domestic implements like axe, knife, needles, saws etc. were made of bronze or copper. Copper
supply was limited as it had to be imported from outside. So copper had to be discretely used
for making necessary implements and weapons like axe, lance, and dagger. There is lack of
defensive weapons like sword. Chairs and tools were used for decorating rooms and for sitting
comfortably.

Amusements of Indus Valley people

Dicing was a favorite pastime. Clay modeling was general social amusements of people. The
Indus children had the advantages of playing with animal shaped toys made of clay. Rich people
had spacious courtyards. They used to spend time with their friends and families.
Animals of Indus Valley 
Some of animals living in the Indus valley were domesticated while others were wild. The
remains of humped bull, buffalo, sheep, elephant, pig and camel have been found. Dogs, cats
were also domesticated. Formerly, it was believed that the Indus people did not tame horses as
domestic animals. However, the bones and skeletons of horses have been found at Kalibangan
and Sukanjodaro in the upper layers. Perhaps at a late stage of the Indus civilization horses
were domesticated. The existence of wild animals like rhinoceros, tiger, and bison in the Indus
forests is confirmed by terracotta figures of these animals.

Trade and Commerce and Economy of Harappa

The Indus people used copper and tin. Copper, gold, tin, silver were brought from the Nilgiri
region of South India, Mysore, Rajputana, Kashmir, Afghanistan and Persia. That the Indus
people had a brisk trade link with Western Asia is clear from the discovery of the Indus seals in
these areas. Silver and sapphire were imported from Persia and Afghanistan. That the Indus
cities had brisk trade with Sumeria is proved by the discovery of numerous Indus seals in
Sumeria. At Umma and Akkad two bales of Indus clothes with Indus seals have been discovered.
Indus cities had a lucrative market of cotton goods in Sumeria and Western Asia. Besides ivory
works, combs, pearls were exported to West Asia from the Indus cities. It is presumed that
large number of merchants from the Indus cities lived in Sumeria. The Indus cities had maritime
trade with Sumeria through the Persian Gulf. The skeletal remains of camels have prompted
scholars to think that trade with Turkomania and West Asia was also carried by overland route.

The domestic articles used by the Indus people and the comfortable houses in which they lived
convey the prosperity of the Indus people. It was a rich bourgeois civilization. Rich people used
gold instruments studded with jewels. The excellence in art and craft is proved by fine
ornaments, stone and copper implements and the potters. Weaving was a principal occupation
of the people. Apart from trade and industry, agriculture was the chief occupation of the Indus
people. The Indus people used various types of weights and measures. A strict control was
exercised to maintain proper standard of weight. The decimal system was also known to them.

Social Class and Social Structure of Indus Valley Civilization

The humped bull, buffalo, ship etc. and the granary indicate the existence of a prosperous
agricultural community. Some scholars believe that there was a prosperous and powerful ruling
class in the Indus cities who imposed their domination on the rest. All men of the cities and the
nearby areas did not enjoy social and economic equality. Those who lived in the upper portion
of the cities near the forts formed a ruling class. The existence of forts has led Prof. Wheeler to
surmise that the ruling class dominated over the workers and peasants from these forts. As
copper was scarce, common men could hardly afford to possess copper weapons. The ruling
class had a monopoly of the copper weapons by which they terrified the people and exploited
the resources produced by them by fanning or by craft. The existence of two roomed
tenements has led Sir Mortimer Wheeler to guess that they were perhaps workers’ quarters.

In respect of the social life of the Indus people, it is suggested by scholars that there was strong
family organizations among them. The craftsmen taught their skill in crafting to their children.
The toys were used by children of the family. The large number of seals engraved with letters
conveys the idea that there was good percentage of literacy among the Indus people. The
sanitary system, the drainage system also speaks of their cleanliness and public hygiene. The
seals, the terracotta figurines, the images of dancing girls prove the artistic taste of the Indus
men.

Indus Religion: Religion of Indus People

The religion of the Indus people had some interesting aspects. There is a striking absence of any
temple among the remains of the Indus valley. Some scholars like to believe that the large
buildings found at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro was in fact temples. But Dr. Basham has
rejected this view on the ground that no idol has been found within these buildings.

The prevalence of the worship of the Mother Goddess (Sakti) has been suggested. The worship
of Siva is suggested by the discovery of figure of a deity with three faces, with horned head-
dress, seating cross-legged in a Yogic posture, surrounded by animals like buffalo, rhinoceros,
deer, tiger, etc. The figure has been identified by Prof. Marshall with that of Siva (Shiva);
Trimukha (three faced), Pasupati (lord of animals), Mahayogin. Two more figures representing
Siva(Shiva) have been unearthed also. In these figures Siva seats in a Yogic posture and plants
or flowers emerge from his head. Shiva has infinite and limitless powers. Lord Shiva blesses his
devotees in every-way. The worship of Shiva Linga was prevalent.

Animal worship is attested by seals and terracotta figurines.

Worship of tree, fire, water and probably sun seems to have been in vogue among the Indus
people. The discovery of a few seals bearing Swastika symbol and Wheel symbol also indicates
Sun worship. As Swastika is the symbol of the Sun. The discovery of a sacrificial pit of Lothal
lends support to the view that the Indus people performed animal sacrifices. But we are not
sure on this point and must wait for further proof.

Funerary Custom of Indus People

The Indus people had three funeral custom:

1. Complete burial of the dead body.

2. Burial of the bones of the dead body after wild beasts ate of it.
3. Burial of ashes and bones after burning the dead body.
Many historians have discovered existence of different classes in the Harappan society from the
difference of the funeral custom.

Town Planning System of Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan

Civilization)
Category: History of Ancient India By Vinay Pandey

Town Planning System  

The Town Planning System of Indus Valley Civilization (Harappan Civilization) was city based.
The excellent drainage and sanitation systems are remarkable.

Urban Cities: The Indus civilization flourished around cities. The ruins of the cities, so far
unearthed, show remarkable town planning, and excellent system of drainage and sanitation of
the Indus Valley Civilization. The city was the heart of the civilization. The life in the Indus cities
gives the impression of “a democratic bourgeois economy” like that of ancient Crete.

Large cities divided into two parts: Both at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro and also at
Kalibangan, the city was divided into two main parts. The higher and upper portion of the city
was protected by a construction which looks like a fort. The ruling class of the towns perhaps
lived in the protected area. The other part of the towns was lower in height than the former
and common men lived in this area. The lower area of the towns generally spread over one
square mile.

Streets
The main streets of Indus Valley ran from north to south and east to west intersecting one
another at right angles. The streets were broad varying from 9 feet to 34 feet. They ran straight
to a mile. They were suitable for wheeled traffic. Lanes were joined with the streets. Each lane
had a public welt. Street lamps were provided for welfare of public.

Systematically built Buildings and Houses

The nature of the buildings at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro shows that the town dwellers were
divided into various social classes. The rich and the ruling class lived in the multi-roomed
spacious houses and the poorer section lived in small tenements. The public building and big
houses were situated on the streets. The modest houses were situated on the lanes.
Encroachment on public roads or lanes by building houses was not permitted. The houses can
be divided into three main groups viz.

 dwelling houses,
 larger buildings,
 Public baths.

Smaller houses had two rooms, while larger houses had many rooms. There were courtyards
attached to big buildings. There was little artistic touch in the architectural design of the
buildings belonging either to the rich or the poor. They were plain, utilitarian and comfortable
to live. Some of the buildings were probably multi-storied.

Most of the houses had baths, wells and covered drains connected with street drains. Ordinary
buildings had little ventilation arrangements, as doors and windows were rarely fixed in the
outer walls. Doors of entrance were fixed not on the front wall but on the side walls. One could
enter a house by the door facing the side lanes of the house. The doors were made of wood.
Large buildings had spacious doors.

Building Materials
There was no stone built house in the Indus cities. Most of the houses were built of burnt
bricks. But unburnt sun-dried bricks were also used. That portion of the buildings where
contamination with water was possible, burnt bricks were used. For other parts sun-dried bricks
were used. Most of the bricks were of equal size. The staircases of big buildings were solid; the
roofs were flat and were made of wood.

Drainage System
The elaborate drainage system was a remarkable feature of the civilization. According to D. D.
Kosambi, the drainage plans of the Indus cities definitely establish the separate identity or
independent character of the Indus civilization. No ancient civilization before the Roman
civilization had such an advanced drainage and sanitation system. Each house had horizontal
and vertical drains. There were underground drains for the streets. These drains were covered
by stone slabs. The soak pits were made of bricks. The house drains were connected with road
drains.

Great Public Bath and Granary of Indus Valley Civilization

There is an impressive building which was used as a public bath. The overall dimension of the
Bath is 180 feet by 108 feet. The bathing pool is 39 feet by 23 feet with 8 feet depth. There is a
device to fill and empty the water of the bathing pool. There are galleries and rooms on all sides
of the bathing pool. Dr. Kosambi has provided an interpretation of the bathing pool and the
adjoining rooms which is ingenuous. According to him, men used to bathe in the tanks as a
ritual for the mother goddess to whom the citadel belonged. This public bath was attached to
the Mohenjo-Daro fort where upper class people lived. Among the other large buildings there
was a big hall which was perhaps used for public meeting.

There is the ruin of a great granary at Harappa measuring 169 fit x 135 fit. Attached to the
granary were two roomed tenements with a common courtyard. These tenements housed the
workers or the slaves who thrashed the corn to be preserved in the granary.

Declining Stage of the City

The advanced style of the Indus city life found in the earlier layers is absent in the later layers.
In later layers there was a marked decline in civic discipline. Buildings encroached on the roads.
Lanes were chocked with klins. Slums grew around. At Harappa and more clearly, at Mohenjo-
Daro excavation has revealed the general shape of town planning system of the Indus Valley
Civilization.

Drainage System of Harappan Civilization (Indus Valley)

Category: History of Ancient India by Mayank Kulkarni

The most striking feature of this Harappan civilization (Indus Valley Civilization) is that the Indus
Valley people had constructed their drainage system on very scientific lines.

The drainage system of Mohen-jo-daro is so elaborate that “the like of which has not yet been
found anywhere in the world in any other city of the same antiquity.”

House drains emptied themselves into the main drains which ran under the main streets and
below many lanes. The Harappan people well knew that such drains were not to be left open.

The drainage system and drains were covered with bricks or stones and were provided with
inspection traps and main holes at regular intervals for inspection. Every care was taken that
the house-wives did not throw refuse or dirt in the drains. Every house had its own soak-pit
which collected all the sediments and allowed only the water to flow into the street drain. The
elaborate drainage system of the Harappan people shows that they had developed a high sense
of health and sanitation.