Different theories regarding the creator / authorship of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Different theories regarding the creator / authorship of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Creator of the Indus Valley Civilization:-
Due to lack of sufficient evidence, lack of proper decipherment of the inscriptions found in the Indus Valley and Harappa, it is difficult to identify the creators of this civilization. In this context, it can be said that unless the Indus script is deciphered, the creators of the Indus Civilization cannot be identified.
'' It is impossible at the present state of our knowledge to come to any definite conclusion ''
- The Vedic Age.
Opinion of anthropologists and archaeologists
According to anthropologists, the creators of the Indus Civilization were people belonging to the Proto-Australoid and Mongol ethnic groups. According to archaeologists, the Harappan culture declined over time and different types of cultures emerged. Again, the Indus Valley and Harappa were enriched by these different cultures. The archaeological evidence that has been discovered shows that this culture can be called a mixed culture.
Period of Indus Civilization
From the evidence of the ruins, archaeologists have come to the conclusion that this civilization was contemporary with the civilizations of Sumer, Mesopotamia, etc. of three thousand years ago. The discovery of several more layers in the ruins of Mohenjodaro further shows that this civilization lasted for about two thousand years.
According to the historian W. Durant,
'' The Indus Valley Civilization was older than that which flowered out of the mud of the Nile ''.
Dravidian Creation
Many researchers consider the Dravidian race to be the creator of this culture. Their argument behind this is that the Dravidian race started living in North, North-West and West India long before the arrival of the Aryans. Even today, a Dravidian-speaking tribe called ''Brahui'' lives in Baluchistan.
According to this, there is some similarity between the Indus script and the Tamil language. Even today, a mixture of Proto-Australoid and Mediterranean people is seen among the South Indians.
In terms of religion, many similarities can be seen between the Harappan and Dravidian cultures. Shiva worship, Linga worship, Goddess worship - were prevalent in both cultures.
But despite all these arguments, there is a huge difference between the Dravidian and Harappan cultures. There is no similarity between the two cultures in the cremation system. The similarity of both cultures has not been proven.
Sumerian creation
The discovery of metal materials used in the Sumerian region and bricks made in the Sumerian method has led many to believe that the Sumerian is the creator of the Harappan culture. According to Wheeler, the idea of the Harappan culture came from the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
According to Gordon Child, there are some similarities between the Sumerian and Harappan cultures. For example - (a) advanced urban planning, (b) crop production system, (c) the design of the potter's wheel, (d) burnt bricks, (e) copper and bronze utensils, (f) pictorial writing system - etc.
However, there are differences between the two cultures in sculpture, terracotta work and writing. The industrial differences between the Harappan seals and the Sumerian seals are seen. Therefore, the source of the Harappan culture cannot be found in the Sumerian culture.
Vedic Aryans creation
Again, according to some historians, Harappan culture was created by Aryans. But none of the prominent scholars support this view today.
'' there is not the least doubt that we can no longer accept the view ; now generally held that Vedic Civilization is the sole foundation of all subsequent civilization of India .''
Sir John Marshall believes that the Dravidians are the creators of this culture. In his words -
'' Mohenjodaro was not Aryan and very likely was Dravidian.''
Basam does not consider the Aryans to be the creators of Mohenjo Daro civilization. Because, there are vast differences between them in terms of social system, worship, and civic characteristics.
Comparison of Harappan civilization with Sumerian and Mesopotamian civilizations
The potter's wheel, the use of burnt bricks, advanced civic life and the style of painting were the characteristics of both cultures. Moreover, the seal of Mohenjodaro has been found in Elam and Mesopotamia; again their seal has been found in Mohenjo Daro. Therefore, historians consider these two civilizations as the same group and call them ''Indo - Sumerian Culture''. But Sir John Marshall rejected this theory and said -
'' The Indus Valley was the cradle of the Sumerian and later civilization of Western Asia .''
Conclusion
In Mohenjo Daro, there are signs of the existence of three distinct races. Such as - (i) Mediterranean, (ii) Caucasian race and (iii) the third is unknown. Moreover, the existence of people belonging to the Mongol ethnic group has been found from the tombs of Mohenjodaro. Therefore, it can be easily assumed that the Indus Valley Civilization was not created by any particular civilization. In fact, it was created and flourished by different races at different times. The evidence of different cultures discovered in Mohenjo Daro and Harappa supports the logic of this theory.
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