Devdutt Pattanaik on how Harappa changed India’s sense of self
Dec 9, 2024
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Devdutt Pattanaik, a renowned mythologist and author, delves into the transformative impact of the Indus Valley Civilization on Indian identity. He explores the power of storytelling, emphasizing the interplay of mythology and history in understanding ancient cultures. Pattanaik unpacks the fascinating imagery on Harappan seals, shedding light on themes of conflict and societal constructs. He also discusses the significance of big cats in culture, the merchant community's principles of non-violence, and the symbolic legacy of the unicorn across civilizations.
Devdutt Pattanaik emphasizes that the Harappan civilization's identity is illuminated through mythology, art, and symbolism, offering insights beyond traditional historical analyses.
The absence of militaristic artifacts in Harappa suggests a society that prioritized trade and non-violence, valuing economic stability over conquest.
Harappan seals, rich with unique motifs, reflect a narrative of balance between humanity and nature, indicating a sophisticated cultural self-awareness.
Deep dives
The Historical Significance of Harappan Civilization
The Harappan civilization, existing around 4,500 years ago, is positioned contemporaneously with other ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, marking a pivotal moment in Indian history. Key artifacts and images, including the famous seals and the motifs found therein, offer limited insights due to the script being undeciphered, leading scholars to hypothesize about the character and governance of this society. The civilization is generally depicted through icons like the Great Bath and the so-called 'dancing girl', which have come to symbolize its cultural richness yet have kept its deeper narratives elusive. Recent explorations into the mythology surrounding these artifacts provide an alternative viewpoint to traditional historical narratives, enabling a more imaginative connection to the civilization's identity and societal norms.
Exploring Mythology Over History
Devdutt Patnaik emphasizes the importance of mythology in understanding the Harappan civilization, asserting that mythology reveals how a culture perceives itself through stories, symbols, and rituals. By focusing on art and iconography rather than just historical texts, he argues that insights into the Harappan mindset can be gleaned from their artifacts, which communicate aspects of their values and social structure. This approach opens up opportunities to study the civilization's psychological and cultural dimensions, moving beyond the limitations of material evidence that historians often rely on. The artist's illustrative contributions to his book serve not only as complementary visuals but also as interpretative mediums that vibrantly narrate the tales that might lie behind the ancient artifacts.
Trade and Non-Violence in Harappan Society
Patanik proposes that the Harappan civilization was primarily commercial rather than militaristic, suggesting that the absence of weapons and an army indicates a society focused on trade and commerce, regulated by a sense of non-violence or 'Ahimsa'. This notion is supported by the observation that Harappan seals illustrate wild animals rather than domesticated ones, indicating a unique cultural emphasis on nature and coexistence instead of conquest. The civilization's trade networks, prominent with their distinct measuring systems and lack of glorification of warfare, suggest that the Harappans prioritized economic stability and harmony over territorial expansion. This commercial ethos highlights how they cultivated relationships through trade, facilitating a mutual dependence rather than conflict with neighboring regions.
The Role of Imagery in Cultural Identity
The imagery found in Harappan seals conveys a wealth of information about cultural identity, with many artifacts showcasing narrative patterns unique to the civilization. Patanik points out the significance of the unicorn motif, which appears prominently in Harappan art and could symbolize singularity or independence, perhaps reflecting how the people viewed themselves and their environment. By discussing specific artifacts, such as seals depicting human interaction with wild animals and narrative scenes, he posits these details suggest a societal appreciation for balance between humans, nature, and mythical elements. This focus on visual storytelling invites a deeper appreciation for the symbolism and imagination that likely permeated Harappan culture, thus enriching our understanding of their identity.
Legacy and Continuity Post-Harappa
The podcast suggests that, despite the eventual decline of urban centers in the Harappan era, many aspects of this civilization's culture and practices endured and even influenced later societies. The exchange of goods and ideas, as well as shared agricultural practices, likely facilitated continuity as populations adapted and migrated post-Harappa. Patanik raises intriguing points concerning potential connections between Harappan and later Vedic societies, highlighting the role of women in this continuity as crucial transmitters of cultural memory. The transition from an urban merchant civilization to more localized societies underscores a dynamic historical legacy that hints at the resilience and adaptability of Harappan descendants.
The transformative discovery made in 1924 by John Marshall, Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, revealed the existence of the Indus Valley Civilisation, pushing back the origins of Indian civilisation by millennia. Now, Devdutt Pattanaik’s new book, Ahimsa: 100 Reflections on the Harappan Civilisation, offers a unique perspective on this ancient civilisation, exploring it through the lens of mythology rather than traditional history or archaeology, connecting the dots between the imagery depicted on the seals we are familiar with.
Produced by Shashank Bhargava Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
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