Harappan Civilization will be called ‘Sindhu-Sarasvati’ in new textbooks

Context: Michel Danino, visiting professor at IIT Gandhinagar and chair of the NCERT committee for new social science textbooks, recently supervised the release of the Class 6 textbook ‘Exploring Society: India and Beyond’. In an interview, he addressed concerns about the use of alternative names like ‘Sindhu-Saraswati’ and ‘Indus-Sarasvati’ for the Harappan Civilization, stating that these terms are based on established archaeological research rather than political agendas.

More information: 

• In contrast to previous editions, the new Class 6 social science textbook ‘Exploring Society: India and Beyond features’ extensive references to the 'Sarasvati' river in its chapter on the origins of Indian civilization. The earlier textbook, Our Past I, briefly mentioned the Sarasvati only in the context of Rig Vedic hymns.
• The updated textbook highlights the Sarasvati river's significance in the chapter on the 'Beginnings of Indian Civilization,' identifying the Harappan Civilization as the 'Indus-Sarasvati' or 'Sindhu-Sarasvati' Civilization.
• It describes how the Sarasvati basin, which included major sites like Rakhigarhi and Ganweriwala, was integral to this ancient civilization. The river, now known as the 'Ghaggar' in India and 'Hakra' in Pakistan, is depicted as seasonal in the new textbook. 
• The textbook also discusses the role of the Sarasvati-river in the decline of the Harappan Civilization. It cites two primary factors:
  • climate change leading to reduced rainfall; and
  • the drying up of the Sarasvati-river in its central basin, resulting in the abandonment of cities such as Kalibangan and Banawali.
• In contrast, the old textbook did not specifically attribute the river's decline to the downfall of Harappan cities. It mentioned various theories including river drying, deforestation, and flooding, but did not conclusively link these factors to the collapse of all cities, suggesting instead a loss of control by the rulers.

Harappan Civilisation

• The Harappan civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, is considered the beginning of Indian history. It can be divided into three phases:
  • Early Harappan Phase from 3200 to 2600 BCE.
  • Mature Harappan Phase from 2600 to 1900 BCE.
  • Late Harappan Phase from 1900 to 1700 BCE.
• The early Harappan phase marked the transition towards the mature Harappan period. 
• During this phase, farmers from the highlands gradually migrated between their mountain residences and the lowland river valleys. 
• The earliest specimens of the Indus script date back to the third millennium BCE, and trade networks connected this civilization to other regional cultures and distant sources of raw materials.
• By this time, the villagers had successfully cultivated a diverse range of crops such as peas, sesame seeds, dates, and cotton. Additionally, they also domesticated animals like the water buffalo.
• By 2600 BCE, early Harappan villages had developed into major urban centres, signalling the beginning of the mature Harappan phase.

Geographical setting of the Harappan Civilization: 

1. Geographic extent: The Harappan Civilization's geographic reach encompassed:

• Northern Extent: From Mandu in Jammu
• Southern Extent: To Daimabad in Maharashtra
• Western Extent: From Sutkagendor in Balochistan, Pakistan
• Eastern Extent: To Alamgirpur in Western Uttar Pradesh

2. The civilization covered regions including: Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh. Notably, Harappan sites have also been discovered in parts of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.

3. The Pre-Harappan site of Mehrgarh in Pakistan provides evidence of early cotton cultivation, indicating the region's agricultural development prior to the rise of the Harappan Civilization.

Important sites of the Civilization

1. Harappa:

• Location: Situated on the banks of the Ravi River in Punjab, Pakistan.
• Findings: Significant discoveries include Cemetery-37, Two sandstone statues depicting human anatomy, Two rows of six Granaries, workmen quarters, red sandstone male torso. 

2. Mohenjo-Daro: 

• Location: Located on the banks of the Indus River in Punjab, Pakistan.
• Findings: Notable structures such as the Great Bath and Assembly Hall were found. Additionally, a seal depicting Pashupati Mahadeva (Proto-Shiva) and a fragment of woven cotton were unearthed.

3. Chanhudaro: 

• Location: Situated on the banks of the Indus River in Sindh, Pakistan.
• Findings: This site is unique for lacking a citadel. Discoveries include bronze figurines of a bullock cart and ekkas (two-wheeled carts), along with a small pot that suggests the presence of a kink well.

4. Lothal: 

• Location: Located on the banks of the Bhogva River near Gulf of Cambay, in Gujarat, India.
• Findings: The city was divided into a citadel and a lower town, with a notable dockyard. Evidence of rice cultivation was also found.

5. Kalibangan:

• Location: Situated on the banks of the Ghaggar River in Rajasthan, India.
• Findings: Discoveries include evidence of a ploughed field, a wooden furrow, seven fire-altars, camel bones, and two types of burials—circular and rectangular graves.

6. Dholavira: 

• Location: Situated near the Luni River in the Kachchh district of Gujarat, India.
• Findings: The site revealed a unique water management system, a Harappan inscription, and evidence of a stadium.

7. Surkotada: 

• Location: Located between the Sabarmati and Bhogavo rivers in Gujarat, India.
• Findings: Important finds include evidence of horses, an oval grave, and pit burial practices.

8. Banawali: 

• Location: Situated on the banks of the Saraswati River in Haryana, India.
• Findings: The site shows evidence of both pre-Harappan and Harappan cultures. Noteworthy discoveries include high-quality barley remains.