“Right questions lead to Right Answers"
In my childhood I was taught about “Indus Valley
Civilisation”, about its main cities; Mohanjedaro and Harappa, its advancements
and glory. It was taught for many years before me and will probably be taught after
me.
During a recent study of the civilization as a part of my initiative, a series
of questions came up in my mind. What did I learn? How much of what I learned
did I put into practice? Am I proud of the fact that I belong to one of the
oldest civilizations of the planet Earth and that it existed on our motherland?
We know that civilizations in the past settled and prospered
around rivers and I asked myself “Will my heart be filled with more pride if I
call the civilization “Sindhu Ghati Sabhyatha” instead of “Indus Valley
Civilisation” because the word “Indus” is a word foreign to us?. It was
interesting to trace how “Sindhu” became “Hindu” then “Indos”,“Indus” which
eventually led to “BharathaVarsh” having other names as “Hindustan” and “India”
It was taught to us that the civilization existed approximately
between 5000 BCE and 1700 BCE and was at its peak between 2500 BCE and 2000 BCE.
The people who lived at that time excelled in arts, civil engineering, revenue,
trade, pottery, sculpture and many other facets. The prosperous civilization came
to an end for reasons which can’t be pin pointed. Some say it was due to Aryans
who came in great numbers sweeping aside everything that came in front of them,
others say it was due to repeated floods while some others attribute it to
drying up of River Saraswathi.
Some more questions cropped up in my mind.
“Weren’t the leaders or rulers during the period of civilization
take into account that their prosperity will lead to external forces or people
being attracted by it, come in mostly by force and take away what they built? Did
they think of protecting their land and people and build adequate measures? Did
it have any bearing upon the events to follow in the times to come? Is it true
even today?”
“If there were repeated floods why were not they managed on
the basis of the engineering knowledge possessed by people of that era? Why
couldn’t people be shifted to safe places and the civilization rebuilt? Does it
have any bearing upon the recent floods in our major cities, inundation, chaos
and disturbance to civic life? Are there any lessons to be learnt?”
“If it was due to drying up of the river Saraswathi, couldn’t
they foresee it? Did it happen gradually or all of a sudden? Is there a lesson for
us? Do we think of the rivers around us drying up and the consequences?”
Something inside me tells “It is just the beginning. Keep
asking questions, find answers and spread awareness”
It also tells me “Open the minds of our children and youth, make
them self learners and fill a quest (jignasa, thrishna) in them to seek”.
