History, Art and Culture: January 2025 UPSC Current Affairs | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

Deciphering the Indus Script: A Gateway to Understanding Ancient Civilizations

Why in News?

The Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), renowned as one of the earliest urban cultures, thrived between 3000-1500 BCE across parts of modern-day India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Despite its historical importance, the Indus script remains undeciphered, posing challenges to our understanding of the civilization’s social, political, and cultural dynamics. Recently, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a $1 million reward for decoding this ancient script, highlighting its significance and potential links to Dravidian heritage.

Key Takeaways

• The Indus script’s undeciphered status limits insights into Harappan society.
• Recent studies suggest possible connections between the Indus script and proto-Dravidian languages.
• Challenges include the lack of bilingual texts and limited data from inscriptions.

Additional Details

• Understanding Harappan Culture: The inability to interpret the Indus script restricts scholars from gaining a full understanding of governance, societal structures, and daily life within the IVC.
• Cultural and Linguistic Connections: Scholars propose links between the Indus script and proto-Dravidian languages, evidenced by the existence of the Brahui language and Dravidian loanwords in ancient texts.
• Potential Historical Insights: Deciphering the script may reveal details about trade routes, religious practices, and social hierarchies, as well as connections to other civilizations such as those in Mesopotamia and Egypt.
• Morphological Study in Tamil Nadu: A study from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology indicates that 90% of pottery graffiti marks share similarities with the Indus script.
• Cultural Exchange Hypothesis: The presence of trade items like carnelian and high-tin bronze objects in South Indian graves suggests cultural exchanges with the Indus Valley.
• Dravidian Hypothesis: This theory posits that the Indus script is an early form of Dravidian language, supported by structural similarities and evidence of Dravidian influence on later languages.
• The absence of bilingual texts, unlike those for Egyptian hieroglyphs, complicates the decipherment process.
• Further archaeological excavations and advancements in technology, such as AI and computational linguistics, are essential for progressing research on the Indus script.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration among historians, archaeologists, linguists, and data scientists will enhance methodologies for deciphering the script.

Disintegration of the Soviet Union

Why in News?

Recently, December 25 marked the anniversary of the day when the Soviet flag was taken down from the Kremlin, signifying the end of the Soviet Union.

Key Takeaways

• The Soviet Union, or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), was a socialist federation from 1922 to 1991.
• It consisted of multiple republics governed by the Communist Party, with Russia as the dominant power.

What Led to the Formation of the Soviet Union?

• Historical Context: The roots of the Soviet Union trace back to the Russian Revolution of 1917, which ended the Romanov dynasty's reign.
• February Revolution 1917: Protests led to Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication, ending the monarchy.
• October Revolution 1917: Lenin and Trotsky led the Bolsheviks to overthrow the Provisional Government, establishing Soviet rule.
• Russian Civil War (1918-1922): The Red Army fought against anti-Bolshevik forces, consolidating Bolshevik power.
• Formation of the USSR (1922): Officially declared on December 30, 1922, becoming the world’s first communist state.

World War II and Expansion

• The Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) were incorporated into the Soviet Union in the 1940s following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
• Post-war, the USSR emerged as a superpower, dominating Cold War geopolitics.

Challenges Leading to Dissolution

• Economic Stagnation: By the 1970s, the economy lagged in productivity, leading to consumer shortages.
• Gorbachev’s Reforms: Policies like glasnost and perestroika weakened the Communist Party’s authority.
• Nationalist Movements: Rising nationalism in republics like Ukraine and Lithuania called for independence.
• USSR Collapse: By December 1991, the USSR dissolved into independent states, ending a bipolar global order.

Impact on Global Power Dynamics

• Emergence of a Unipolar World: The collapse of the USSR left the United States as the sole superpower.
• Capitalism’s Dominance: Western institutions promoted economic transitions in former socialist states.
• Regional Power Shifts: Countries like China and India gained prominence in global geopolitics.

Contemporary Conflicts Influenced by the Collapse

• Nationalism and Territorial Disputes: Unresolved disputes, such as Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, have led to ongoing conflicts.
• Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict: Ethnic tensions stem from historical decisions made during the Soviet era.
• NATO Expansion: Perceived by Russia as a threat, this has exacerbated geopolitical tensions.

Effects on India

• Economic Diversification: The collapse led India to liberalize its economy and seek new trade partners.
• Defense Ties: India adapted its defense strategy, engaging in joint production agreements and diversifying partners.
• Geopolitical Realignment: India balanced relations with both Russia and the US, joining various multilateral groups.

Harvest Festivals in India

Why in News?

The President of India has extended his greetings to the citizens on the occasion of Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, and Magh Bihu. These festivals are celebrated as harvest festivals in various forms across different regions of India.

Key Takeaways

• Harvest festivals mark the end of the harvesting season in India.
• They include notable celebrations such as Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu, and Lohri.

Additional Details

• Astronomical Significance: These festivals signify the transition of the Sun into the Capricorn (Makara) zodiac sign and the commencement of the Sun's northward journey known as Uttarayan. This indicates a change from winter to warmer months, symbolizing the end of dormancy.
• Cultural Practices: Rituals associated with Sankranti include bathing, offering Naivedhya (food) to Lord Surya, giving charity, performing Shraddha, and breaking fast. Devotees often bathe in sacred rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery.
• Regional Celebrations:
  • Tamil Nadu (Pongal): A four-day festival celebrating the rice harvest, where homes are adorned with traditional kolams made from rice powder.
  • Karnataka: Locals share a sesame and jaggery mixture symbolizing harmony, while farming communities adorn their cattle for a display known as ‘Kicchu Haisodu’.
  • Punjab (Lohri): Celebrated with bonfires, folk songs, and offerings like groundnuts and popcorn to the fire.
  • Bihar: Known for the ‘Khichdi’ festival, where rice and lentils are prepared, and sesame and jaggery ladoos are distributed.
  • Rajasthan and Gujarat: Marked by kite-flying competitions, including the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, and the evening is celebrated with sky lanterns.
  • Assam (Magh Bihu): Celebrates the annual harvest and the beginning of the Assamese new year.

In summary, harvest festivals in India are a vibrant celebration of the agricultural cycle, reflecting the cultural diversity and rich traditions across various regions. They not only signify the end of the harvesting period but also embody festivities that bring communities together.

Modhweth Festival

Why in News?

The Toda tribe, recognized as one of the oldest Dravidian ethnic groups residing in the Nilgiris Hills of Tamil Nadu, recently celebrated their traditional 'Modhweth' festival, marking the New Year.

Key Takeaways

• The Modhweth festival occurs annually on the last Sunday of December or the first Sunday of January.
• It is celebrated at the Moonpo temple in Muthanadu Mund village, located in the Nilgiri district.

Additional Details

• Modhweth Festival: This festival features rituals where prayers are offered to the deity, Thenkish Amman, for good health, adequate rainfall, and a prosperous harvest in the upcoming year.
• During the celebrations, participants engage in traditional dances outside the temple.
• Unique Customs: Young men of the Toda tribe demonstrate their strength by lifting a greased boulder weighing approximately 80 kg. Notably, women do not take part in the festivities as per traditional customs.
• Toda Tribe: The Todas are a pastoral tribe from the Nilgiri Hills in southern India, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Tamil Nadu. Their language is distinct and considered one of the most unique among Dravidian languages.
• Significance: The lands occupied by the Toda tribe are part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, recognized as an International Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, and their territory is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Religion and Beliefs: The religious practices of the Toda tribe involve a pantheon of gods, with Tökisy (goddess) and Ön (god of the underworld) serving as central deities.

Sanskrit Inscription Found in POK

Why in News?

Recently, a Sanskrit inscription dating back to the 4th century CE was discovered near Gilgit in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK). This inscription is written in Brahmi script and references an individual named "Pushpasingha," who installed a Mahesvaralinga for the merit of his guru, although the guru's name is partially lost.

Key Takeaways

• A significant 4th-century CE Sanskrit inscription was found in POK.
• The inscription is written in Brahmi script and mentions Pushpasingha.
• It highlights the cultural and historical relevance of inscriptions in ancient India.

Additional Details

• Importance of Historical Inscriptions: Inscriptions serve as primary historical sources, crucial for reconstructing ancient Indian history. They provide authentic evidence that is free from later alterations and biases.
• Political Insights: Inscriptions deliver valuable information about ancient rulers, dynasties, conquests, treaties, and administrative systems, allowing historians to understand political dynamics.
• Administrative Systems: Many inscriptions contain details about revenue systems, land grants, taxation, and judicial frameworks. For example, the Junagarh Inscription by Rudradaman discusses the construction and repair of the Sudarshana Lake dam, showcasing administrative priorities in water management.
• Linguistic Evolution: They document the development of languages, scripts, and literary styles. The Ashokan Edicts, inscribed in languages such as Prakrit, Greek, and Aramaic, illustrate the linguistic diversity of the time.
• Socio-Economic Structures: Inscriptions reveal insights into trade practices, societal norms, caste systems, and economic transactions, as well as details about ancient religions and temple constructions.

162nd Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

Why in News?

On National Youth Day, which marks the 162nd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the Prime Minister participated in the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025. This day is celebrated on 12 January to honor the contributions of the great spiritual leader, philosopher, and thinker Swami Vivekananda. According to the National Youth Policy 2014, youth are defined as individuals in the age group of 15-29, which constitutes nearly 40% of India's total population.

Key Takeaways

• The Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue is a platform for engaging youth in nation-building.
• It aims to involve 1 lakh youth in politics without political affiliations.
• The event selected 3,000 dynamic youth through a merit-based process called the Viksit Bharat Challenge.
• Young leaders will present ideas on ten thematic areas critical to India's development.

Additional Details

• What is the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue? It is designed to foster youth engagement in nation-building efforts, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision.
• Key Areas for Discussion: Participants will focus on themes such as technology, sustainability, women empowerment, manufacturing, and agriculture.
• Swami Vivekananda: Born as Narendra Nath Datta in January 1863, he was a monk and the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa. He took the name 'Vivekananda' in 1893 at the request of Maharaja Ajit Singh.
• Enlightenment: In 1892, Vivekananda meditated on a rock in the Indian Ocean, now called Vivekananda Rock Memorial, which led to his enlightenment.
• Philosophical Contributions: He introduced Vedanta and Yoga to the world and advocated a blend of spirituality with material progress.
• Core Values: Vivekananda stressed the importance of youth commitment, ethics, education, and rationality, encouraging self-reliance and mental strength.