Arts of the Indus Valley — NCERT Solutions

The art objects discovered at Indus Valley sites such as Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, Dholavira, and Chanhu-daro provide invaluable insights into the daily life of its people. The following points summarise what these objects reveal:

1. Clothing and Fashion:

• Finds of spindle whorls made of faience, pottery, and shell indicate that spinning of cotton and wool was very common.
• Men and women wore two separate pieces of attire — similar to the dhoti and shawl. The shawl covered the left shoulder, passing below the right shoulder.
• The Priest-King sculpture shows a robe decorated with trefoil patterns, suggesting that clothing was not merely functional but also decorative.

2. Personal Grooming and Cosmetics:

• Cinnabar was used as a cosmetic and face-paint.
• Lipstick and collyrium (eyeliner) were also known.
• Different hairstyles were in vogue, as seen in figurines, and wearing a beard was popular.
• This shows that the people were highly conscious of personal appearance and fashion.

3. Jewellery and Ornaments:

• Elaborate jewellery made of gold, silver, carnelian, lapis lazuli, turquoise, and shell has been found.
• Both men and women wore necklaces, bangles, earrings, and finger rings.
• This indicates prosperity, trade connections (lapis lazuli came from Afghanistan), and a love of adornment.

4. Children's Toys and Games:

• Terracotta toys such as wheeled carts, rattles, whistles, and animal figurines show that children had a rich play life.
• These also indicate the existence of skilled craftsmen who catered to everyday domestic needs.

5. Religion and Ritual:

• Mother Goddess figurines in terracotta suggest worship of a female deity associated with fertility.
• The Pashupati Seal (showing a yogi figure surrounded by animals) suggests proto-Shaivite religious beliefs.
• Fire altars found at some sites indicate ritual practices.

6. Trade and Economy:

• Seals with animal motifs and script were likely used for trade and identification of goods.
• The variety of materials used (imported stones, metals) shows long-distance trade with Mesopotamia, Central Asia, and the Persian Gulf.

7. Craft and Technology:

• The Dancing Girl (bronze) demonstrates mastery of the lost-wax casting technique.
• Painted pottery with geometric and floral designs shows a sophisticated ceramic tradition.
• Stone carving (as seen in the Priest-King sculpture and stone structural remains at Dholavira) shows advanced architectural and sculptural skills.

Conclusion: The art objects of the Indus Valley Civilisation paint a vivid picture of a prosperous, well-organised, fashion-conscious, and culturally rich society that valued both beauty and functionality in everyday life.

Museum Exhibit Plan: 'Echoes of the Indus — Art of a Lost Civilisation'

As a curator, I have designed the following exhibit with ten key objects organised by material.

SECTION A — STONE OBJECTS

Exhibit 1: The Priest-King (Steatite, Mohenjo-daro, c. 2000–1900 BCE)

• Description: A 17.5 cm tall bust of a bearded male figure wearing a robe decorated with trefoil (three-leaf clover) patterns originally filled with red pigment. A fillet (headband) is worn across the forehead.
• Significance: Possibly represents a priest, king, or deity. Shows the high quality of stone carving and the importance of clothing and ornamentation.
• Now housed at: National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi.

Exhibit 2: Steatite Seals (Various sites, c. 2600–1900 BCE)

• Description: Small, square seals (approx. 2–3 cm) with a perforated boss on the back. Carved with animal motifs (unicorn, bull, rhinoceros, tiger, elephant) and an undeciphered pictographic script.
• Significance: Used for trade and administration. The unicorn seal is the most common. The Pashupati Seal shows a yogi figure surrounded by animals.
• Now housed at: National Museum, New Delhi; National Museum of Pakistan.

Exhibit 3: Stone Weights (Chert, various sites)

• Description: Precisely cut cuboid weights made of chert in a standardised binary system.
• Significance: Indicate a sophisticated system of weights and measures, suggesting regulated trade.

Exhibit 4: Stone Structural Remains — Dholavira

• Description: Large stone blocks used in construction of gateways, reservoirs, and public buildings.
• Significance: Show that Indus people used stone extensively in architecture, unlike the predominantly brick-built cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.

SECTION B — METAL OBJECTS

Exhibit 5: The Dancing Girl (Bronze, Mohenjo-daro, c. 2500 BCE)

• Description: A 10.8 cm tall bronze figurine of a young girl in a confident, relaxed pose — right hand on hip, left arm covered with bangles, wearing only a necklace.
• Significance: Made using the lost-wax (cire perdue) casting technique. Represents the high level of metallurgical skill. The pose suggests dance or leisure, giving insight into cultural life.
• Now housed at: National Museum, New Delhi.

Exhibit 6: Bronze Bull (Harappa)

• Description: A small bronze figurine of a bull with a naturalistic, dynamic pose.
• Significance: Shows the Indus people's skill in animal sculpture and their reverence for the bull as a symbol of strength.

Exhibit 7: Copper Tools and Weapons (Various sites)

• Description: Flat axes, chisels, knives, spearheads, and fish hooks made of copper.
• Significance: Indicate the technological advancement of the civilisation and the transition from stone to metal tools.

Exhibit 8: Gold and Silver Jewellery (Mohenjo-daro, Lothal)

• Description: Necklaces, bangles, earrings, and pendants made of gold, silver, carnelian, lapis lazuli, and turquoise.
• Significance: Reflect prosperity, trade connections (lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, carnelian from Gujarat), and a sophisticated aesthetic sense.

SECTION C — TERRACOTTA OBJECTS

Exhibit 9: Mother Goddess Figurines (Terracotta, various sites)

• Description: Hand-modelled female figurines with elaborate headdresses, heavy jewellery, and wide hips. Often shown with a cup or lamp on the head.
• Significance: Suggest worship of a mother goddess associated with fertility and prosperity. Reflect religious beliefs and ritual practices of the Indus people.

Exhibit 10: Terracotta Toys and Animal Figurines (Various sites)

• Description: Wheeled carts, rattles, whistles, and figurines of animals (bulls, dogs, monkeys, birds) made of terracotta. Some animals have movable heads.
• Significance: Provide insight into children's play, domestic life, and the craftsmen's ability to create objects of everyday use with artistic skill.

Curator's Note (Wall Text for the Exhibit):

"The Indus Valley Civilisation (c. 3000–1500 BCE) was one of the world's earliest urban cultures, flourishing across present-day Pakistan and northwestern India. The art objects in this exhibit — carved from stone, cast in metal, and shaped from clay — speak to us across four thousand years of silence. They tell us of a people who valued beauty, order, and craftsmanship; who traded across continents; who dressed with care and worshipped with devotion. Though their script remains undeciphered, their art is a language we can still read."

Conclusion: This exhibit, spanning three material categories and ten key objects, offers a comprehensive and engaging introduction to the art and daily life of the Indus Valley Civilisation, making ancient history accessible and visually compelling for museum visitors of all ages.