Q. 1 “The town planning of Kalibanga is similar to the town planning of the Indus Valley.” Explain.
“कालीबंगा की नगर नियोजन सिंधु घाटी की नगर योजना के अनुरूप है।” व्याख्या कीजिए।
Ans :
Kalibanga’s town planning mirrors the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) in several key aspects, reflecting a shared urban blueprint:
- Citadel-Lower Town Division: Like IVC cities (e.g., Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro), Kalibanga had a fortified citadel (western mound) for elites and a lower town (eastern mound) for commoners, both encircled by defensive walls.
- Grid Layout: Streets were laid in a grid pattern intersecting at right angles, with widths standardized (1.8–7.2 meters), akin to IVC’s meticulous urban design. A 34-ft-wide road suggests a “royal highway” similar to IVC’s broad avenues.
- Advanced Drainage: Kalibanga featured covered drains, soak pits, and waste disposal systems using gypsum-lime plaster, paralleling IVC’s sophisticated water management.
- Standardized Bricks: Burnt bricks in a 1:2:4 ratio and mud mortar for durability were used, consistent with IVC’s construction techniques.
- Residential Architecture: Houses had courtyards, bathrooms, wells, and interconnected drains, reflecting IVC’s emphasis on hygiene and privacy.
Unique features like the world’s oldest plowed field and fire altars (Agnivedi) highlight regional adaptations but do not detract from the overarching IVC influence. The decline due to drought/river shifts further aligns with IVC’s hypothesized collapse mechanisms.
The city plan of Kalibangan is very similar to that of the Indus Valley Civilization, with similarities in defences, roads, drainage, house structure, and building materials, indicating advanced city planning of these ancient civilisations.
| Source : Class 9 SST Page 10, 12th page 9 |
| Extra Info : Also See about Balathal Civilization |
