It is a riddle that has perplexed experts for over a century. Now, it comes with an enticing cash reward: $1 million for anyone capable of unraveling the script of the ancient Indus Valley civilization. This civilization, which thrived nearly 5,000 years ago across present-day India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, remains shrouded in mystery due to the inability to read its script.
Archaeological excavations at over 2,000 sites have revealed an array of artifacts. Yet, without deciphering the civilization’s script, insights into its language, culture, religion, and the events leading to its rise and decline remain frustratingly elusive. The prize, announced by M.K. Stalin, chief minister of Tamil Nadu, aims to invigorate scholarship surrounding this ancient script.
However, this initiative transcends mere academic inquiry. It emerges as a crucial battleground in the ongoing cultural war concerning India’s historical legacy. Hindu nationalists assert that the original Indian populace descends from the Aryan race, which introduced the Vedic religion of Hinduism to the region. This view is a cornerstone of Hindutva, the ideology advocating Hindu superiority as championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party. Conversely, Mr. Stalin's political faction posits that the indigenous Dravidian people of southern India predate northern Aryan settlers, who are viewed as invaders from Europe—an assertion complicated by the ambiguous distinctions between Aryans and Dravidians.
