CM Stalin offers USD 1 million prize to unravel Indus Valley mystery
This declaration was made at the inaugural ceremony of the International Seminar on the Centenary of the Discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization, held at the Government Museum in Egmore here.
CHENNAI: To catalyse the efforts to decipher the symbols and language used in Indus Valley Civilisation, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday announced a staggering $1 million prize individuals or organisation who can unravel the long-standing mystery that has confounded archaeologists and epigraphists even a century after the discovery of the civilisation.
Stalin announced this prize at the inaugural ceremony of the three-day International Seminar on the Centenary of the Discovery of the Indus Valley Civilization, held at the Government Museum in Egmore.
Addressing the gathering of noted archaeologists, historians, and scholars from around the world, the chief minister noted that a remarkable 60 per cent of the symbols found on the pottery found during Indus Valley excavations were identical to those discovered on artifacts unearthed during excavations in Tamil Nadu.
This striking similarity has sparked interest among scholars, many of whom believe that deciphering the link may hold the key to understanding the mysteries of the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC).
To further promote research in this field, Stalin also announced a grant of Rs 2 crore to establish a research chair in the name of Iravatham Mahadevan, a renowned epigraphist who is widely considered as an authority on IVC. This chair will facilitate in-depth research on Indus Valley Civilisation, specifically focusing on its connections with Tamil Nadu.
In addition, the government has instituted awards to encourage epigraphic researchers. Every year, two scholars will be recognised for their outstanding contributions to the field of epigraphy, with a special emphasis on IVC.
The seminar also witnessed the release of a book titled "A Geometry Study", which explores the connections between IVC and symbols found during excavations in Tamil Nadu.
Stalin also laid the foundation stone for a statue of Sir John Marshall, the legendary archaeologist who discovered the Indus Valley Civilisation.
In his address, Minister Thangam Thennarasu emphasised the significance of scientific research in understanding historical mysteries, noting how the writing found in Indus Valley Civilisation remains an enigma despite numerous attempts, and that its connection to other civilisations was still a topic of debate.
The seminar is expected to shed new light on IVC and its connections with Tamil Nadu and will feature presentations by scholars.
Counter-narratives on IVC
World-renowned Indus Valley Civilisation scholars like Finnish Indologist Asko Parpola and Iravatham Mahadevan believe that the script used there is ‘Dravidian’. Beyond archaeology and epigraphy, proving a link between the once-thriving and advanced civilisation and Dravidian culture and history offers a counter-narrative to the efforts to portray it as the Sindu-Saraswati vedic civilisation.