Hiphop Tamizha - #Tamizhi | Episode 5 | Indus Valley Civilization

HiphopTamizha

31 Oct 201920:06

Summary

TLDRThe video explores the origins and evolution of the Tamizhi script, tracing its connection to ancient graffiti symbols found across regions like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Sri Lanka. It delves into the relationship between Indus Valley civilization's graffiti and the later development of the Tamizhi script. Archaeological findings suggest a link between the Dravidian language and these ancient symbols, indicating that Tamil civilization could date back over 5000 years. The video also touches on the influence of Southern Brahmi and Grandham scripts on modern Tamil writing, showcasing the cultural and historical significance of Tamizhi.

Takeaways

📜 The discovery of Tamizhi (Tamizh Brahmi letters) has helped uncover information about ancient Tamizh kings, traditions, and way of life dating back 2600 years.
🗺️ Tamizhi's origins might trace back thousands of years and across vast distances, pointing to a deep-rooted connection with ancient civilizations.
📝 Graffiti-like symbols were found across a large region, from Gujarat to Sri Lanka, and are believed to be an undeciphered script rather than random symbols.
🏺 The archaeological layers in Tamizh Nadu reveal a progression from unmarked pots to pots with Graffiti, and later to pots with both Graffiti and Tamizhi inscriptions.
🔍 Graffiti symbols have been found on various items such as pot sherds, coins, and stamp seals, suggesting it was a form of script used before Tamizhi.
🏛️ The Indus Valley civilization used a script with Graffiti, and researchers believe there is a strong connection between the Indus Valley script and Tamizh Nadu's ancient script.
🔡 More than 60% of Tamizh Nadu's Graffiti closely resembles those from the Indus Valley, supporting the theory that Indus Valley Graffiti evolved into Tamizh Graffiti.
🌍 Linguistic and place-name studies reveal significant connections between place names in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tamizh Nadu, indicating possible migration of Dravidian-speaking people from the Indus Valley to the South.
🧬 The Dravidian language, still spoken in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, suggests a linguistic link between the ancient Indus Valley civilization and modern-day Tamizh people.
📚 Further archaeological research and Graffiti deciphering could push the history of the Tamizh language and people back to 5000 years, highlighting Tamizhi's critical role in cultural continuity.

Q & A

What is Tamizhi, and why is it significant?
-Tamizhi refers to the ancient Tamizh Brahmi script, considered the earliest script used to write the Tamizh language. It is significant because it provides historical evidence about the Tamizh people, their kings, traditions, and way of life dating back 2600 years.
What are Graffiti symbols, and how are they related to Tamizhi?
-Graffiti symbols were found across a large region, from Gujarat to Sri Lanka, and are believed to be an undeciphered script. These symbols are similar to those found in ancient civilizations like the Indus Valley, and they are seen as a precursor to the Tamizh Brahmi (Tamizhi) script.
What role did archaeological excavations in Tamizh Nadu play in the discovery of Graffiti?
-Excavations in places like Kodumanal, Vallam, and Korkai revealed layers of pot sherds with Graffiti, some of which were found below the Tamizh Brahmi inscriptions, suggesting that Graffiti was used before Tamizhi. These findings provide evidence of a connection between the Graffiti and the development of Tamizhi.
Why can't Graffiti symbols be considered just pot maker's marks?
-The Graffiti symbols were found on tableware and inscribed after the pots were made, not during their production. Additionally, the symbols were found over a vast region, making it unlikely that they were marks from a single pot maker. They appear to have been deliberately inscribed, indicating that they had a significant meaning or script-like function.
How are the Graffiti symbols found in Tamizh Nadu related to those from the Indus Valley civilization?
-More than 60% of the Graffiti symbols found in Tamizh Nadu resemble those from the Indus Valley civilization. This suggests a possible cultural and linguistic connection, with the Graffiti evolving into the Tamizh script (Tamizhi).
What evidence suggests that the language of the Indus Valley civilization might have been a Dravidian language?
-Researchers like Asko Parpola and Heras, along with Iravatham Mahadevan, have suggested that the Indus Valley people may have spoken a Dravidian language, potentially an ancient form of Tamizh. This is supported by linguistic evidence, such as the presence of Dravidian suffixes in Indus Valley Graffiti.
What is the significance of the discovery of a stamp seal in Annaicoddai, Sri Lanka?
-The stamp seal found in Annaicoddai featured both Graffiti symbols and Tamizhi inscriptions. This suggests that Graffiti might have been an early script used in the region and indicates continuity between Graffiti and Tamizhi in representing the Tamizh language.
How did place names provide evidence of a connection between the Indus Valley civilization and Tamizh Nadu?
-Place names from the Indus Valley region, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, are similar to those in Tamizh Nadu, such as Korkai, Vanji, and Thondi. This linguistic evidence, along with migratory patterns, suggests that people from the Indus Valley may have migrated to the south and influenced Tamizh culture.
What are the possible reasons for the extinction of the Indus Valley civilization, and where did the people go?
-The exact reasons for the decline of the Indus Valley civilization are unknown, but many scholars believe that its people migrated southward, eventually influencing the cultures and languages of regions like Tamizh Nadu. This is supported by archaeological and linguistic evidence, including the continuity of Graffiti symbols.
How did the Tamizhi script evolve into the present-day Tamizh script?
-The Tamizhi script, which originated from Southern Brahmi or Andhra Brahmi, eventually evolved into the present-day Tamizh script, influenced by Grantha script. This transformation occurred after the era of King Narasimhan, marking a new phase in the development of Tamizh writing.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Discovering the Origins and History of Tamizhi

This paragraph introduces Tamizhi, an ancient Tamizh script. Through archaeological evidence, it is revealed that the Tamizh people's history dates back 2600 years. The paragraph suggests that Tamizhi originated thousands of years ago and spanned regions from North India to Sri Lanka. It highlights the discovery of graffiti-like symbols, predating Tamizhi, which were used over a vast region and may have influenced the Brahmi script. These findings establish that Tamizhi has deep historical and cultural significance, uniting the Tamizh people beyond divisions of religion, caste, or race.

05:00

🗿 Graffiti and Its Role in Ancient Tamizh Culture

This section explores the role of graffiti in early Tamizh culture. Archaeological excavations in Vallam and Korkai reveal pot sherds with graffiti, challenging the notion that they were merely potter's marks. The widespread appearance of similar graffiti across regions like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Sri Lanka suggests they were part of a larger symbolic system. The paragraph also points out that only certain pottery, such as tableware, featured these markings. Furthermore, graffiti appeared alongside Brahmi inscriptions, indicating their importance as a form of communication before the development of Tamizhi.

10:09

🌍 Connections Between Indus Valley and Tamizh Graffiti

The third paragraph delves into the links between the Indus Valley civilization and Tamizh Nadu graffiti. It highlights similarities between the graffiti found in the Indus Valley and those in Tamizh Nadu, indicating a shared cultural heritage. Researchers suggest that the language spoken in the Indus Valley could have been Dravidian, possibly an early form of Tamizh. The paragraph references prominent scholars like Asko Parpola and Iravatham Mahadevan, who argue that the Indus Valley script might have had Dravidian roots. Further archaeological evidence strengthens the argument that Tamizh Nadu's graffiti developed from the Indus Valley script.

15:15

🏺 Links to Indus Valley Through Archaeological Finds

This paragraph discusses findings from the Adichanallur excavation, where a skull dating back to 1750 BC was unearthed, establishing a connection to the Indus Valley civilization, which ended around 1500 BC. The paragraph raises questions about where the people from the Indus Valley migrated after the civilization's decline, suggesting that they moved south, possibly to Tamizh Nadu. Linguistic studies and place-name research, particularly by R. Balakrishnan, provide further evidence of this migration, showing that place names in present-day Tamizh Nadu and Pakistan share striking similarities, supporting the theory of a Dravidian migration.

🧠 The Need for Further Research and Tamizhi’s Evolution

The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of further research and archaeological excavations to fully understand the origins of Tamizhi and its connections to earlier scripts like the Indus Valley graffiti. It highlights the necessity of deciphering the undecoded graffiti to trace Tamizh's historical roots, potentially dating back 5000 years. The paragraph also discusses how Tamizhi evolved into the modern Tamizh script, influenced by Grandham, and how this transformation occurred during the reign of King Narasimhan. The continuation of this journey through Tamizh history is vital for uncovering the full story of the Tamizh language and script.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Tamizhi

Tamizhi is the ancient script from which modern Tamil evolved. It is a script that was used during the Sangam era and is closely linked to the identity and heritage of the Tamil people. The video explains the importance of Tamizhi in preserving Tamil culture, history, and its connection to earlier forms of writing like graffiti found across the region.

💡Sangam Era

The Sangam Era refers to a period in ancient Tamil history known for its rich literary output and the flourishing of Tamil culture. It is mentioned in the script as the time when kings and traditions were documented, and it plays a crucial role in the understanding of Tamil heritage. The deciphering of Tamizhi letters has helped retrieve information about this era.

💡Graffiti

Graffiti, in this context, refers to ancient symbols and marks found on pottery and other materials across regions like Gujarat, Sri Lanka, and Tamil Nadu. The video suggests that these symbols could have been an early script that predates Tamizhi, and links it to the Indus Valley Civilization, showing the cultural and historical continuity between the two.

💡Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization was a highly developed ancient society that existed in parts of modern-day India and Pakistan. The video draws parallels between the graffiti found in Tamil Nadu and those in the Indus Valley, suggesting that the language and script from this civilization might have influenced the development of Tamizhi and Tamil culture.

💡Brahmi Script

The Brahmi script is one of the oldest writing systems in South Asia and served as the foundation for many later scripts, including Tamizhi. The script mentions that Tamil Brahmi inscriptions were found in different layers during archaeological excavations, marking an important stage in the evolution of Tamil writing.

💡Stratigraphy

Stratigraphy is an archaeological technique used to analyze different layers of soil to determine the age and sequence of artifacts. In the video, stratigraphy is used to date the layers of soil containing Tamizh Brahmi inscriptions, graffiti, and other pottery, providing evidence of the historical development of Tamil writing systems.

💡Archaeological Excavations

Excavations in places like Kodumanal, Vallam, and Korkai have provided crucial evidence of the evolution of Tamil writing, with findings of both graffiti and Brahmi inscriptions. These excavations are central to understanding how the graffiti might have evolved into Tamizhi and offer insights into the ancient Tamil way of life.

💡Adichanallur

Adichanallur is an archaeological site in Tamil Nadu where a skull dating back to 1750 BC was discovered, establishing a link between the Indus Valley Civilization and early Tamil history. This finding supports the theory that people from the Indus Valley migrated south and influenced Tamil culture and language.

💡Stamp Seals

Stamp seals were used in ancient civilizations to mark ownership or trade goods, often containing scripts. The video mentions a stamp seal found in Annaicoddai, Sri Lanka, that had both graffiti and Tamizhi inscriptions, highlighting the importance of these artifacts in understanding the development of Tamil writing.

💡Dravidian Languages

Dravidian languages form a family of languages spoken primarily in Southern India, with Tamil being one of the most prominent. The video suggests that the language spoken in the Indus Valley could have been a form of ancient Dravidian, supporting the idea that early Tamil speakers were connected to this civilization. The continuity of these languages is key to understanding Tamil’s ancient roots.

Highlights

Discovery and deciphering of Tamizhi, the ancient Tamizh script, provided strong evidence about the Sangam era and Tamizh people's traditions and way of living.

The Tamizh people's history dates back over 2600 years, with Tamizhi potentially being the first script for the Tamizh language.

Tamizhi's connection extends beyond geographical boundaries, from North India, Deccan plateau, and Sri Lanka, emphasizing its widespread historical significance.

Graffiti found across regions from Gujarat to Sri Lanka, matching in pattern, raised the possibility of it being an undeciphered script rather than just symbols.

Stratigraphy analysis from Kodumanal excavations revealed layers of pot sherds with graffiti, indicating a transition period before the use of Tamizh Brahmi script.

More than 350 different variations of graffiti, including symbols like an arrow mark and ladder, were discovered, awaiting further classification and study.

Graffiti inscriptions were not the work of pot makers, as these symbols were found only on specific types of pottery (tableware) and were inscribed after the pots were made.

Graffiti symbols were often found alongside Brahmi inscriptions and on coins and seals, indicating they held important linguistic or cultural meaning.

The continuity between Tamizh Nadu graffiti and the Indus Valley civilization's graffiti suggests a historical and linguistic link between these ancient cultures.

Around 60% of Tamizh Nadu's graffiti symbols resemble those from the Indus Valley civilization, leading to the theory that Tamizh graffiti evolved from the Indus script.

Archaeological findings in Adichanallur and other regions of Tamizh Nadu, dating to 1750 BC, establish a link between the Indus Valley civilization and South India.

Migratory studies and place name comparisons indicate that people from the Indus Valley moved south after the civilization's decline, bringing language and culture with them.

Place name studies by R. Balakrishnan identified locations in Pakistan and Tamizh Nadu with identical names, suggesting a shared historical and linguistic heritage.

The Brahui language spoken in modern-day Pakistan is a Dravidian language, offering further evidence of the migration and cultural exchange between the Indus Valley and Tamizh Nadu.

If the undeciphered Indus Valley graffiti is proven to be a script, it could push the history of the Tamizh language back to 5000 years, highlighting the ancient origins of the Dravidian people.