Indus Valley Civilization

                                                Indus Valley Civilization

Indus valley civilization developed at two centres-Harappa and Mohenjodaro. Harappa is situated in the Montogmery district (now in Pakistan) which is about 180 kilometres from Lahore.This site was larger than Mohenjodaro and from the point of view of culture it gives us more source material to draw from.Another main centre of Indus valley civilization was Mohenjodaro which is situated in the Larkana district of Sindh. Mohenjodaro literally means the 'Mound of the Dead'.The distance between the two significant towns of Harappa culture is about 650 kilometres.

Other Centres-

Apart from Harappa and Mohenjodaro,the remains of Indus Valley Civilization have been discovered at various other sites -Chanhudaro,Amri,Lohun-jo-Daro,Naal and Rupar.Jhukar and Kelat are towns planned in a very systematic and scientific way.

A visitors to the ruins will be struck to see how the town was planned.The roads were very wide and they intersected one another at right angles like the modern ones to form crossings.On both sides of roads the houses were built with all facilities includings ventilation,drainage and soakpits .All the houses were not of the same size but the smallest of them contained two rooms.There were some double - storeyed houses.The staircases were built in the houses .  

         Main features of Indus Valley Civilization 

Civic Organization -

It is not easy to judge who looked after the arrangements of the town but whosoever he might have been,whether an individual or a committee of men,was really thoroughly competent.Fine drainage system,careful planning of the town,and well-arranged water supply clearly show that every required step was taken to make the citizen comfortable.In the days of yore no such arrangements were available anywhere else.The owners of pottery kilns were not allowed to build their furnaces within the town to avoid the air pollution.The street light system and watch and ward system at night also existed to ward off danger.The inhabitants of the towns were not permitted to throw their rubbish or waste matter in the lane or along the street or road.All rubbish of the houses was thrown at a particular place fixed for collecting the waste matter.Besides a public well in every street,there was a well in each house.

Proper Drainage System-

The Indus Valley people were well aware of the harm that would follow if the drains were not properly covered.They used gypsum,lime and cement in the construction of the drains.They had an elaborate system of drainage on scientific pattern as is being followed today.The covers of the drains were portable could be removed easily when required.The small house drains were connected with the street drainage system which led the water to a pool away from the township.Main drain of the town was 75 cm. to the city .Perhaps drains were cleaned every day to remove obstruction in the flow of sewage,otherwise it might cause great inconvenience to the people.It is really the most striking feature of the Indus Valley civilization that they could evolve such a developed sense of sanitation.

                     Architecture of Indus People

The architectural skills of the Indus Valley people came to be known after excavations at Harappa and Mohenjodaro. The people of this civilization had built dwellings ranging from one-roomed houses to big palatial buildings which could be divided into three parts-

1-Dwelling houses or residential buildings.

2-Public halls

3-Public baths

The dwellings houses were constructed of baked bricks which were fixed in place with the help of mud mortar.The building were generally two or more storeyed and had staircases.They had big doors perhaps of wood.Each house had a number of rooms,in addition to a bath and a kitchen,all having brick floors.
Pillared hall among the public buildings.24 metres square pillared hall was perhaps a meeting hall where people used to assemble for state business.
The great public bath,at Mohenjodaro was the largest and the most significant,which measures 4.6m.*4.6m. The great Bath is surrounded by a large number of rooms.It has a flight of steps at either end and is fed by a well situated in one of the adjoining rooms.There was separate drainage system to let off the dirty water.

Art and Craft-

Indus valley people were not skillful in architecture only.They had remarkable ability and proficiency in other arts like sculpture,carving,pottery and painting.

The proficiency of Indus valley sculptor can be seen easily in human and animal figures that have been excavated.Among these figures,those of a bull,a strong dog, a yogi,a dancing girl are most significant.The majority of human figures are female and they are nude except for a narrow girdle round the waist.

About five hundred seals have been found in diffferent excavation which show that artist of Indus valley were highly skilled in carving.There are engravings of bull,rhinoceros and elephant on these seals.Their pots and pans were not only polished and glazed to give bright lustre,but were also painted to look beautiful.The different kinds of designs,figures and objects of nature were painted on them.The painters of Indus valley civilization were super in their art.