The Significance of Deciphering the Indus Script

Source: This post on The Significance of Deciphering the Indus Script has been based on article “Why is deciphering the Indus script important?” published in The Hindu on 9^th January 2025.

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Context: The article explores the significance of deciphering the script of the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC), one of the earliest urban civilizations, and the potential connections between the Indus script and the Dravidian languages, particularly Tamil. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s announcement of a $1-million prize for deciphering the script underscores the ongoing efforts to understand the mysterious writing system, which holds the key to unraveling the full cultural, linguistic, and historical scope of the IVC.

Why is deciphering the Indus script important?

1. Deciphering the Indus script, often called a “mystery script,” is critical to understanding the complete cultural picture of the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC).
2. Other contemporary scripts like those from Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations have been deciphered. The inability to decipher the Indus script leaves gaps in understanding its culture and history.

Why is Tamil Nadu particularly interested in the Indus scripts?

1. The announcement stems from the Dravidian hypothesis, which posits a connection between the Indus scripts and proto-Dravidian languages.
2. This theory has been debated since the discovery of the IVC and is supported by scholars such as Iravatham Mahadevan, Asko Parpola, and others.

What is the Indus Valley Civilisation?

1. The IVC, also known as the Harappan Civilisation, spanned 2,000 sites across 1.5 million sq. km. in present-day India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
2. It existed during the Bronze Age (3000-1500 BCE) and had a wider geographical area than the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations combined.
3. The IVC introduced urban life along ancient migration routes connecting central and western Asia to India.

What is the Dravidian hypothesis regarding the Indus script?

1. The hypothesis suggests that the Indus script encodes a proto-Dravidian language. Scholars cite:
   1. The survival of Brahui, a Dravidian language, in the Indus region.
   2. Dravidian loanwords in the Rigveda.
   3. Substratum influence of Dravidian on Prakrit dialects.
   4. Computer analyses showing that the language in the Indus script likely used suffixes (like Dravidian) but not prefixes or infixes.
2. Scholars like Iravatham Mahadevan emphasize that while evidence supports the Dravidian theory, much work remains to confirm it.

What are the recent findings from Tamil Nadu?

1. A study commissioned by Tamil Nadu’s State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) reveals that 90% of graffiti marks found in Tamil Nadu share parallels with the Indus script.
2. The study differentiates “graffiti” (ceramic engravings) from “script” (seals and metal objects) but finds both to be related undeciphered signs.
3. Out of 42 base signs and their variants, 60% have parallels in the Indus script.

What evidence suggests cultural contact between the IVC and south India?

The study posits a possible cultural exchange between the two regions:

• Identical graffiti marks in Tamil Nadu and the Indus region suggest shared elements.
• Artifacts such as carnelian and agate beads, and high-tin bronze objects in Iron Age graves in south India indicate trade or contact.
• The Copper Age of the Indus Valley coincided with the Iron Age of south India, making cultural exchange plausible through direct or intermediate zones.

What further evidence is needed?

• The presence of semiprecious stones, copper, and high-tin bronze indicates trade, but more tangible evidence is required.
• Future studies should include excavations, scientific investigations, and historical linguistic analysis to confirm cultural connections.

Why is further research important?

• The findings highlight the potential relationship between the Indus script and south Indian culture, but additional material evidence and linguistic analysis are essential for conclusive proof.
• The $1-million prize and recent studies aim to inspire further exploration to unlock the mysteries of the Indus script and its cultural significance.