Decode Indus Valley script, win USD 1 million prize: MK Stalin’s challenge
Decode Indus Valley script, win USD 1 million prize: MK Stalin’s challenge Decode Indus Valley script, win USD 1 million prize: MK Stalin’s challenge
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday announced a USD 1 million (around Rs 8.5 crore) cash prize for anyone who can successfully decipher the scripts of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Inaugurating the centenary celebration of the Indus Valley Civilisation conference in Chennai, MK Stalin said, “We are still unable to clearly understand the script of the Indus Valley Civilisation that once flourished. Efforts are on to this day by scholars to solve the riddle and, in order to encourage such efforts, a prize of USD 1 million will be provided to individuals or organisations that solve the riddle”.
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The Indus Valley Civilisation, one of the most ancient urban societies, is renowned for its sophisticated urban planning and enigmatic script, which remains undeciphered to this day. The mystery surrounding the decline of this advanced civilisation also continues to baffle historians and researchers alike.
The Chief Minister recounted the moment in 1924 when Sir John Marshall brought the Indus Valley Civilisation to global attention. He noted how this discovery reshaped the understanding of the Indian subcontinent’s history, challenging earlier narratives that centred on Aryan and Sanskrit influences. “John Marshall’s research was a turning point that highlighted a rich, independent heritage predating those claims,” Stalin said.
Drawing connections between the Indus Valley Civilisation and Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister cited research findings that reveal striking similarities between artifacts from the Indus Valley and sites in Tamil Nadu.
“Studies show that symbols of bulls, considered a representation of Dravidian culture, are prevalent in Indus Valley artifacts, while horse depictions are conspicuously absent. Furthermore, symbols and inscriptions found at sites in Tamil Nadu, such as Sivakalai, Adichanallur, Mayiladumparai, and others, bear a 60 per cent resemblance to those of the Indus Valley, with pottery inscriptions showing a 90 per cent similarity,” he explained.
Scientific dating of objects from these Tamil Nadu sites has confirmed that their Iron Age timeline aligns with that of the Indus Valley Civilisation. This, according to Stalin, underscored the shared cultural and historical roots of the two regions.