Why in News?

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has announced a $1 million prize for deciphering the Indus Valley script, sparking interest in a 5,000-year-old mystery.

Beyond its scholarly value, the initiative underscores political and cultural ambitions, particularly positioning Stalin as a champion of Dravidian identity.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• What is the Indus Valley Script?
• Challenges in Deciphering the Indus Script
• Connecting Indus Valley and Tamil Nadu
• Political and Cultural Implications of TN CM’s Attempt to Decipher Indus Script
• Conclusion 

What is the Indus Valley Script?

• About: Also known as the Harappan script, it is a collection of symbols created by the Indus Valley Civilization. It is one of the oldest writing systems in the Indian subcontinent.
• Other facts about the Indus Valley Script:
  • Script: The script is boustrophedon, meaning it is written right to left in one line and then left to right in the next line.
  • Time period: The script was used from about 2,500 BC to about 1,900 BC.
  • Language:
    • The language of the Indus script is unknown, and there are no known bilingual inscriptions to help decipher it.
    • The script may have represented several major language families, including Dravidian, Mundari, Indo-Aryan, Sino-Tibetan, and Language “X” of the Neolithic Period.
  • Symbols: About 400 symbols are known.
  • Found on: The script has been found on many objects, including pottery, seals, bronze and copper tables, bronze tools, bones, and clay tablets.
  • Development: The script's development trajectory includes early incised pottery marks, geometric button seals, and animal motifs with signs above them.
  • Purpose: Some researchers believe the script was mainly used for commercial purposes, with seals used as tax stamps and tablets used as permits for tax collection, craft making, or trading.

Challenges in Deciphering the Indus Script:

• Complexities of the writing system: Deciphering the Indus script remains challenging due to:
  • Lack of multilingual inscriptions: Unlike the Rosetta Stone, no bilingual artefacts have been found.
  • Unknown language: The script likely represents an unknown language, complicating phonetic assignments.
  • Limited artefacts: With only 3,500 seals discovered, each having an average of five characters, the available material is insufficient for comprehensive analysis.
• Future prospects: More archaeological excavations and analyses are essential to provide scholars with data to unravel the script.

Connecting Indus Valley and Tamil Nadu:

• Research basis: A study documented over 15,000 graffiti-bearing pot shards from 140 Tamil Nadu sites and compared them to 4,000 Indus Valley artefacts.
• Key findings include:
  • Identification of 42 base signs, 544 variants, and 1,521 composite forms.
  • 60% of Tamil Nadu signs had parallels in the Indus script, and 90% of graffiti marks in both regions were comparable.
• Significance of similarities: The study, focused on key Tamil Nadu sites like Keeladi, Sivagalai, and Thulukarpatti, suggests:
  • Evidence of cultural contact between the Indus Valley (Copper Age) and Tamil Nadu (Iron Age).
  • Possibility of direct or intermediary cultural exchanges, warranting further material evidence.

Political and Cultural Implications of TN CM’s Attempt to Decipher Indus Script:

• Dravidian identity and historical reframing: Stalin’s initiatives aim to challenge Aryan-centric narratives by emphasizing:
  • Tamil Nadu’s parallel development alongside the Indus Valley Civilisation.
  • Advanced carbon dating from Keeladi, showing Tamil Brahmi script dates back to 600 BCE, narrowing the historical gap.
  • Highlighted symbols like the bull, connecting Indus seals to Tamil traditions like Jallikattu.
• Broader Dravidian image: Stalin has actively emphasized Dravidian governance through initiatives like:
  • Adding “Belongs to Dravidian Stock” to his social media profile.
  • Defining the “Dravidian Model” as inclusive growth in governance and budgeting.
• Political confrontations: Stalin’s efforts align with his party’s stance against BJP’s cultural narratives, highlighting Tamil Nadu’s unique cultural heritage and historical significance.

Conclusion:

• Stalin’s initiative not only seeks to decipher an ancient script but also asserts Tamil Nadu’s historical significance and cultural identity.
• The integration of archaeological findings into political narratives highlights a broader effort to reshape India’s history from a Dravidian perspective.