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TN CM Stalin Announces $1-Million Prize For Deciphering Indus Script

The script used by Harappans still remains undeciphered. Philologists believe, once deciphered, it may open a floodgate of new information on the hoary civilisation.

TN CM Stalin Announces USD 1 Million Prize For Decoding Indus Valley Script
A file photo of Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin (ANI)
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By ETV Bharat English Team

Published : Jan 5, 2025, 4:37 PM IST

Updated : Jan 5, 2025, 6:17 PM IST

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has announced a cash prize of $1 million for philologists who can crack and come up with a coherent meaning of the script used by the people of Indus Valley Civilisation.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the International Seminar on the Centenary of the Discovery of the Indus Valley Civilisation, held at the Government Museum in Egmore, Chennai on Sunday.

The three-day seminar has gathered renowned archaeologists, historians, philologists and scholars from across the globe to brainstorm over the Harapan Civilisation's significance and its historical connections with Tamil Nadu.

The Harapan Civilisation, one of the earliest, is remarkable for its urban culture and advanced town planning. Although archaeologists have interpreted most of its aspects, the script used by Harappans remains undeciphered. Philologists believe, once deciphered, it may open a floodgate of new information on the civilisation.

In his keynote address, Stalin highlighted that approximately 60 per cent of the symbols found on Indus Valley pottery are identical to those on artefacts unearthed during excavations in Tamil Nadu and this striking similarity has sparked deep interest among scholars and could potentially unlock the mysteries of the Civilisation.

For the promotion of research in this field, he also announced a grant of Rs 2 crore to establish a research chair dedicated to renowned archaeologist Iravatham Mahadevan. This chair will facilitate in-depth studies on the Harappan Civilisation, with a special focus on its links to Tamil Nadu.

It may be noted that recent archaeological findings from Sivakalai in Tuticorin have brought researchers a step closer to establishing a definitive connection between Tamil Nadu and the Indus Valley Civilisation. A carbon dating of these findings determined their ages between 2,500 BCE and 3,000 BCE.

Interestingly, the archaeological remains from Tamil Nadu suggest the presence of an Iron Age Civilisation which ran parallel to the Harappan Civilisation, which spanned between 3,300 BCE and 1,300 BCE.

While the hoary Indus Valley Civilisation predominantly used copper items, the prevalence of iron objects in Tamil Nadu suggests an advancement in metallurgy. This intriguing discovery has captivated historians and archaeologists alike.

Meanwhile, ongoing studies are closely examining graffiti marks on objects excavated in Tamil Nadu to ascertain their connection to the undeciphered Indus script. The results of these studies could shed further light on whether the graffiti marks are linked to the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Also Read:

  1. Bhojshala Temple-Mosque Row: SC Notes Excavation At The Site Despite Interim Order
  2. ASI Surveys 5 Pilgrimage Sites Including Temple Reopened After 46 Yrs, 19 Wells In Sambhal

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has announced a cash prize of $1 million for philologists who can crack and come up with a coherent meaning of the script used by the people of Indus Valley Civilisation.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the International Seminar on the Centenary of the Discovery of the Indus Valley Civilisation, held at the Government Museum in Egmore, Chennai on Sunday.

The three-day seminar has gathered renowned archaeologists, historians, philologists and scholars from across the globe to brainstorm over the Harapan Civilisation's significance and its historical connections with Tamil Nadu.

The Harapan Civilisation, one of the earliest, is remarkable for its urban culture and advanced town planning. Although archaeologists have interpreted most of its aspects, the script used by Harappans remains undeciphered. Philologists believe, once deciphered, it may open a floodgate of new information on the civilisation.

In his keynote address, Stalin highlighted that approximately 60 per cent of the symbols found on Indus Valley pottery are identical to those on artefacts unearthed during excavations in Tamil Nadu and this striking similarity has sparked deep interest among scholars and could potentially unlock the mysteries of the Civilisation.

For the promotion of research in this field, he also announced a grant of Rs 2 crore to establish a research chair dedicated to renowned archaeologist Iravatham Mahadevan. This chair will facilitate in-depth studies on the Harappan Civilisation, with a special focus on its links to Tamil Nadu.

It may be noted that recent archaeological findings from Sivakalai in Tuticorin have brought researchers a step closer to establishing a definitive connection between Tamil Nadu and the Indus Valley Civilisation. A carbon dating of these findings determined their ages between 2,500 BCE and 3,000 BCE.

Interestingly, the archaeological remains from Tamil Nadu suggest the presence of an Iron Age Civilisation which ran parallel to the Harappan Civilisation, which spanned between 3,300 BCE and 1,300 BCE.

While the hoary Indus Valley Civilisation predominantly used copper items, the prevalence of iron objects in Tamil Nadu suggests an advancement in metallurgy. This intriguing discovery has captivated historians and archaeologists alike.

Meanwhile, ongoing studies are closely examining graffiti marks on objects excavated in Tamil Nadu to ascertain their connection to the undeciphered Indus script. The results of these studies could shed further light on whether the graffiti marks are linked to the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Also Read:

  1. Bhojshala Temple-Mosque Row: SC Notes Excavation At The Site Despite Interim Order
  2. ASI Surveys 5 Pilgrimage Sites Including Temple Reopened After 46 Yrs, 19 Wells In Sambhal
Last Updated : Jan 5, 2025, 6:17 PM IST
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