UPSC Daily Current Affairs| Prelim Bits 09-01-2025

Challenges in Deciphering Harappan Script

Why in News?

Recently, the scholars have struggled to solve many subproblems to decipher the Harappan writing system.

• Challenges – Deciding if set of symbols actually represent a writing system.
• Devising appropriate procedures to isolate or segment the stream of symbols into a sequence of single signs.
• Reducing the set of signs to the minimal set by forming (its alphabet, syllabary, or inventory of signs) by identifying all allographs.

Allograph is the different representations of the same character in different typefaces. It is the same sign written in a variant form, for example a printed ‘a’ and a cursive ‘a’

• Assigning to each symbol their specified value, whether phonetic or otherwise.
• Trying to match these values to a specific language.
• No multilingual inscriptions – IVC had robust trade links with the contemporaneous Mesopotamian Civilisation whose cuneiform script was deciphered but there isn’t any multilingual inscriptions found.

The most famous multilingual inscription is the Rosetta Stone, which contains a decree passed during the reign of Ptolemy V in 196 BCE in 3 scripts: Greek, demotic (a later ancient Egyptian script), and hieroglyphics.

• Unknown Script and/or Language – The Indus script is under the category of ‘an unknown script writing an unknown language’.

• Insufficient material evidences – Although some 3,500 seals have been identified till date, given that each seal has on average only 5 characters inscribed, it isn’t sufficient to decipher the script.
• This general paucity of information has made it difficult to decipher its script.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has announced a $1 million prize for deciphering the script of the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Reference

The Indian Express| Challenges in Deciphering Indus Script

Related News

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Connection between Harappan and the Vedic Age

Savitribai Phule

Why in News?

Every year on January 3, people celebrate Savitribai Phule Jayanti.

• Background – A Dalit woman from the Mali community from Naigaon village in Maharashtra.
• Education – She is the 1^st Indian woman teacher.
• She and her husband Jyotirao Phule open a school for girls in Pune, in 1848 and this became the country’s 1^st girls’ school.
• During her tenure, she established 17 schools across the nation.
• Social reforms – She advocated inter-caste marriages, widow remarriage, and eradication of child marriage, sati and dowry systems, among other social issues.
• Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha – A childcare centre for the protection of pregnant widows and rape victims.
• Satyashodhak Samaj (‘Truth-seekers’ society’) – It was setup in 1873 by both of them.
• It is a platform open to all, irrespective of their caste, religion or class hierarchies, with the sole aim of bringing social equity.
• Literary works – She published her 1^st collection of poems, called Kavya Phule (‘Poetry’s Blossoms’), at the age of 23 in 1854.
• She published Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar (‘The Ocean of Pure Gems’), in 1892.
• Matushri Savitribai Phlenchi Bhashane va Gaani (S’avitribai Phule’s speeches and songs’), and her letters to her husband have also been published.
• Her Marathi poetry promoted ideals such as equality, liberty, humanism, and the significance of education.
• Recognition – In honour of her great work towards women's education, January 3 is observed as Women's Education Day.

References

1. Business Standard| Women Education Day
2. The Indian Express| Savitribai Phule’s Contribution

Miyawaki technique

Why in News?

In preparation for Mahakumbh 2025, dense forests have been developed at various locations across Prayagraj, to ensure pure air and a healthy atmosphere for the millions of devotees expected to visit the city.

• Miyawaki Foresting – An ecological engineering technique of afforestation, involves planting a diverse range of native tree species in a small area, which then grow into a dense, multilayered forest.
• Developed by – Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in 1970s.
• Aim – To create a self-sustaining forest, with a high level of biodiversity and to restore degraded land and combat climate change.
• Process – It involves planting trees and shrubs close to one another to accelerate their growth.
• Plants grow 10 times faster with this technique, making it a practical solution for urban areas.
• A completely maintenance-free, wild and native forest after the 1^st 3 years.
• 4 steps of Miyawaki foresting technique
  • Initial survey of the locality
  • Collection of the seeds
  • Preparation of planting sites
  • Planting.

Miyawaki Technique is also known as Pot Plantation Method.

• Benefits – Up to 30 times more dense than conventional plantations.
• Up to 30 times better noise and dust reduction.
• Up to 30 times better Carbon-dioxide absorption as compared to a monoculture plantation.
• It is highly effective in the establishment of urban forests as well as converting unproductive wastelands into ecological and socially beneficial productive lands.

The Prayagraj Municipal Corporation has utilized the Japanese Miyawaki technique over the past 2 years to establish multiple oxygen banks, which have now transformed into lush green forests. It also contributed to improving air quality, playing a crucial role in environmental conservation.

Reference

PIB| Green Mahakumbh using Miyawaki Technique