CAPF AC 2020 Q102: Ancient History – Indus Valley Civilization
Which one of the following statements about the Harappan script is NOT correct?
- (a) It has about four hundred signs
- (b) It was written from right to left
- (c) It has been found on bone rods and jewellery
- (d) It refers to the people of Meluhha
Answer: (d) It refers to the people of Meluhha
Explanation
The Harappan script
How to think: the Harappan script is undeciphered.
Nobody can read it, so nobody can say what it refers to.
The name Meluhha comes from Mesopotamian texts, not Harappan ones.
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| (a) It has about four hundred signs | True | Between 375 and 400 signs |
| (b) It was written from right to left | True | Signs are crowded on the left, as if space ran out |
| (c) It has been found on bone rods and jewellery | True | Also on seals, copper tools, jar rims and tablets |
| (d) It refers to the people of Meluhha | NOT correct | Meluhha is the Mesopotamian name for the Harappan region |
More on the script:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Status | Not deciphered |
| Type | Not alphabetical; too many signs |
| Longest inscription | About 26 signs |
| Famous find | A signboard at Dholavira |
Mesopotamian names: Meluhha (Harappan region), Dilmun (Bahrain), Magan (Oman).
Answer: (d) It refers to the people of Meluhha.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. This statement is true: the script has about 375 to 400 signs.
- (b) Incorrect. This statement is true: it was written from right to left.
- (c) Incorrect. This statement is true: writing is found on bone rods and jewellery too.
- (d) CORRECT. This is the wrong statement: the script is unread, and Meluhha is a Mesopotamian word.
Key point
Harappan script: undeciphered, 375 to 400 signs, right to left, longest about 26 signs, not alphabetical. Meluhha is the Mesopotamian name for the Harappan region.
Remember
Harappan script: unread, right to left, about 400 signs.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the script has been read; it has not.
- Saying it was written left to right.
- Taking Meluhha as a Harappan word; it is from Mesopotamian records.
Exam tip
Educated guess: an unread script cannot be said to refer to anyone. That alone marks (d).
Sources
- NCERT Class XII History — Themes in Indian History Part I (Bricks, Beads and Bones)
- Iravatham Mahadevan — The Indus Script: Texts, Concordance and Tables (Archaeological Survey of India, 1977)