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Home > Dalitica > Micropedia Dalitica G to L > Indus Valley Civilisation - Pride of Indigenous Dalits

Indus Valley Civilisation - Pride of Indigenous Dalits

Sunday, 07 December 2008 09:50
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 During earlier colonial times it was thought that the Aryans 'civilised' India, but this has long since proved to be wrong. Indus Valley culture which started with village settlements some 8000 BCE flourished between 2300 to 1700 BCE over nearly a million square kilometers. Some of the achievements that belong to this civilisation are city planning, pictographic script, standardised weights and measures, seals, pottery, ornaments, cultic artwork, secular artwork, baths and drainage system and much more. Scholar now believe that there is even evidence of silk manufacture at Harappa.  Dalits can be justly proud of their forefather's and foremother's achievements.

Indus class system

This high degree of sophistication was only possible with a highly developed class system. Many different types of workmen must have existed at that time. This society clearly had its have and have nots. Astronomy was a specialised skill possibly monopolised by "priest king" rulers. Scholars have even postulated the existence of slavery.

It has been thought that although this civilisation has classes, large scale signs of class conflict were not found. Most scholars are of this opinion to this day. Extrapolating backwards, it was even suggested by no less than the scholar D D Kosambi that religion had such a powerful effect on the population that the never thought of rebelling. However we know that far from being peaceful, unchanging and stagnant, later Indian history had numerous conflicts many of which although were not full blown revolts were nevertheless subversive in nature.

Not only was Indus Valley Civilisation a class ridden society it has also been suggested that some of the later Brahminic priesthood also had its roots in the "priest king" rulers of Indus Valley civilisation.

Decline of the Indus cities

Current historical thinking points to a gradual ongoing deterioration of the Indus cities due to a number of diverse factors such as the changing river courses, flooding, tectonic movements etc. The only thing that can be said with any degree of certainty is that there were no Aryan hordes who destroyed the Indus Valley citadels and cities.

Having said the above, it is time for Dalits to rewire some aspects of Dalit history so as not to be left behind the 21st century thinking. Outdated thinking only helps anti-dalit forces.

Internet Resources:

1.UNESCO World Heritage Site video -Archaeological Ruins at Mohenjodaro.

2. Mohenjo-Daro Slide Show 

3. Slide Show from Harappa Com

4. The Indus Civilisation - Resources

5. The Indus Civilisation from Harappa.com

6. Harappa Com educational resources -  children's educational resource page.

7. Colouring book for children.

8. A selection of academic books on Indus Valley Civilisation.

 

 

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Last Updated on Sunday, 13 June 2010 15:34  

Rquotes

 

Criticism of pollution taboos - Echoing Guru Ravidas from North India:
 

Fools! Immersing yourselves in water You shout: Pollution! Pollution! This 'clean' body your temporary abode isn't it pollution? Your honeyed drink: pollution. Blossoms polluted by the bees. As soon as you touch the pure milk of a cow with your hand pollution!

Medieval Tamil Sidha Civavakkiyar

in The Siddha Quest for Immortality by Kamil V Zvelebil, Mandrake of Oxford, UK, 2003.

Picture by Mehrangarh Museum Trust

Newsflash

The Times of India

8 Indian states have more poor than 26 poorest African nations
PTI, Jul 12, 2010, 04.18pm IST

LONDON: Acute poverty prevails in eight Indian states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, together accounting for more poor people than in the 26 poorest African nations combined, a new 'multidimensional' measure of global poverty has said.

The new measure, called the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), was developed and applied by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative with UNDP support.

It will be featured in the forthcoming 20 th anniversary edition of the UNDP Human Development Report.

An analysis by MPI creators reveals that there are more 'MPI poor' people in eight Indian states (421 million in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal) than in the 26 poorest African countries combined (410 million).

The new poverty measure that gives a multidimensional picture of people living in poverty, and is expected to help target development resources more effectively, its creators said.

The MPI supplants the Human Poverty Index, which had been included in the annual Human Development Reports since 1997.

The 2010 UNDP Human Development Report will be published in late October, but research findings from the Multidimensional Poverty Index were made available today at a policy forum in London and on line on the websites of OPHI and the UNDP Human Development Report.

The MPI assesses a range of critical factors or 'deprivations' at the household level: from education to
health outcomes to assets and services.

Taken together, these factors provide a fuller portrait of acute poverty than simple income measures, according to OPHI and UNDP.

The measure reveals the nature and extent of poverty at different levels: from household up to regional, national and international level.

This new multidimensional approach to assessing poverty has been adapted for national use in Mexico, and is now being considered by Chile and Colombia.

"The MPI is like a high resolution lens which reveals a vivid spectrum of challenges facing the poorest households," said OPHI Director Dr Sabina Alkire, who created the MPI with Professor James Foster of George Washington University and Maria Emma Santos of OPHI.

The UNDP Human Development Report Office is also joining forces with OPHI to promote international discussions on the practical applicability of this multidimensional approach to measuring poverty.