Harappan cities were more advanced
than India's contemporary cities
Chennai:
Were Harappan cities much advanced than the modern cities of India?
Yes says Michel Danino, the guest professor at Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar.
Delivering a lecture on Harappan expertise in Civil Engineering to commemorate World Heritage Day at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Danino says the cities during the Harappan era were well planned and scored over the contemporary civilisation.
Danino, who has authored The Lost River: On The Trail of the Sarasvati, said the cities at large resemble anything better than the modern Indian cities.
Danino, who hails from France, said that town-planning was of such a level that it would be found only 2000 years later in Europe.
“Geometrically designed, the towns had fortifications for protection against both intruders and floods,” he said.
He also said that Harappa and Mohenjodaro civilisation also had several distinct quarters, assembly halls, and manufacturing units of various types ; sewerage through underground drains built with precisely laid bricks, and an efficient water management with numerous reservoirs and wells.
He said the wells were constructed using special “trapezoid” bricks which would lock together if water of loose soil pressed on the well’s outer sides.
Talking about the Dholavira site in Rann of Kutch, Danino said it had separate drains to collect rain water and six or seven dams built across nearby rivers. Interestingly, he said the civilisation was one of the pioneers in water harvesting system.
He said that the rain pattern of the region in the Kachch region has not changed much in over four thousand years can be gauged from the fact that the Harappans at Dholavira were well aware of the need to conserve water – a trait found sadly lacking in modern India. He also said that there were five types of plans for Harappan houses.
Talking about the Kalibangan site, he said the lower town’s streets formed a well-planned and carefully maintained grid.
than India's contemporary cities
Chennai:
Were Harappan cities much advanced than the modern cities of India?
Yes says Michel Danino, the guest professor at Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar.
Delivering a lecture on Harappan expertise in Civil Engineering to commemorate World Heritage Day at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Danino says the cities during the Harappan era were well planned and scored over the contemporary civilisation.
Danino, who has authored The Lost River: On The Trail of the Sarasvati, said the cities at large resemble anything better than the modern Indian cities.
Danino, who hails from France, said that town-planning was of such a level that it would be found only 2000 years later in Europe.
“Geometrically designed, the towns had fortifications for protection against both intruders and floods,” he said.
He also said that Harappa and Mohenjodaro civilisation also had several distinct quarters, assembly halls, and manufacturing units of various types ; sewerage through underground drains built with precisely laid bricks, and an efficient water management with numerous reservoirs and wells.
He said the wells were constructed using special “trapezoid” bricks which would lock together if water of loose soil pressed on the well’s outer sides.
Talking about the Dholavira site in Rann of Kutch, Danino said it had separate drains to collect rain water and six or seven dams built across nearby rivers. Interestingly, he said the civilisation was one of the pioneers in water harvesting system.
He said that the rain pattern of the region in the Kachch region has not changed much in over four thousand years can be gauged from the fact that the Harappans at Dholavira were well aware of the need to conserve water – a trait found sadly lacking in modern India. He also said that there were five types of plans for Harappan houses.
Talking about the Kalibangan site, he said the lower town’s streets formed a well-planned and carefully maintained grid.
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