Hiphop Tamizha - #Tamizhi | Episode 5 | Indus Valley Civilization
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
- π The discovery of Tamizhi (Tamizh Brahmi letters) has helped uncover information about ancient Tamizh kings, traditions, and way of life dating back 2600 years.
- πΊοΈ Tamizhi's origins might trace back thousands of years and across vast distances, pointing to a deep-rooted connection with ancient civilizations.
- π 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.
- πΊ 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.
- π 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.
- ποΈ 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.
- π‘ 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.
- π 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.
- 𧬠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.
- π 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
π 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.
πΏ 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.
π 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.
πΊ 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.
π§ The Need for Further Research and Tamizhiβs 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
π‘Tamizhi
π‘Sangam Era
π‘Graffiti
π‘Indus Valley Civilization
π‘Brahmi Script
π‘Stratigraphy
π‘Archaeological Excavations
π‘Adichanallur
π‘Stamp Seals
π‘Dravidian Languages
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.
Transcripts
Through discovering and deciphering Tamizh Brahmi letters known as Tamizhi...
the information about the kings from Sangam era, who are mentioned in Sangam literatures...
the ancient Tamizh people, their traditions and way of living...
were proved and retrieved with strong evidences
The most important thing above all this...
it was found that history of Tamizh people dated back to 2600 years
Question the fact, if Tamizhi was indeed originated as first script for Tamizh language...
then the answer takes us thousands of years back and thousands of kms way far away
Come, let's continue this journey
Tamizhi
The history might divide us by religion, caste and race
But Tamizh has never paved for any division
You are our heart, mind and soul; hail Tamizhi!
The fire that lights up our creativity;Tamizhi
Right from North India...
Deccan plateau which is Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamizh Nadu
Including Sri Lanka
In this region, during what they call it as the 'Iron age' or...
the 'Copper age', as it was called in the Central India...
a script was found everywhere which is called as 'Graffiti'
This graffiti...
was exactly the same from Gujarat till Sri Lanka
Hence, instead of calling it 'Graffiti'...
it was believed by people and historians that it is an undeciphered script
The reason being that it was found over a large landscape
This is called as 'Graffiti' because...
it is in contrast to Tamizhi letter i.e a letter for every sound variation...
and is a representation of Graffiti
The ancient civilizations that existed 5000 years ago...
like the Egyptian, Mesopotamian and Indus valley, the people who lived during then...
had used such graffiti to write their language
Evidences that prove similar kind of 'Graffiti' existed before Tamizhi...
was found all across South India
So, when you look at it, could it be that after a new script had arrived...
the old graffiti was discarded?
Or was the old graffiti developed and became the new Brahmi script?
It could only be decided later
But while predicting the era of this Graffiti...
it is believed that it could be in existence before Brahmi's era
The evidences that this Graffiti must have been in use in Tamizh Nadu before Tamizhi...
are found in exact same manner in archaeological excavations carried all over Tamizh Nadu
We use Stratigraphy analysis while carrying out the excavation
Based on the color change of the soil and the materials found in them we predict their age
Below the layer where Tamizh Brahmi was found...
in Kodumanal, the pot sherds found in that below layer...
had Graffiti in it
We haven't deciphered this Graffiti yet
Further below pot sherds without Graffiti were found
Which means there was a time when people were not educated
In the layer above pot sherds with Graffiti are found and...
in the layer further above we find pot sherds with Graffiti along with Tamizhi inscriptions
And in the immediate layer above, only Tamizhi inscriptions are found
In last year's excavation we got more than 350 Graffiti
350 Graffiti with different variations
We got one with an Arrow mark Graffiti
One with Ladder
One with Swastik design and many more such variations
We are still left with many to be classified yet
We have to classify all these 350 Graffiti (Keezhadi 2014 - 16 excavation result)
And now, this year too we have retrieved around 300 - 400 Graffiti
Some are found above the layer where Brahmi inscriptions were found
Some along the layer of Brahmi inscriptions
And some below the layer where Brahmi inscriptions were found
We have to examine the percentage of these Graffiti got from each layer
Only after we examine and get a result...
we can predict the actual growth of Tamizhi from Graffiti
Apart from this, in excavations carried out in other places like Vallam, Korkai...
pot sherds with similar kinds of Graffiti...
were found in the layer below where Brahmi inscriptions were found
A question raised, whether to consider it as script or as scratches
Some said these are just symbols scratched by the pot maker while making the pot
The reason why it can't be a symbol scratched by the pot maker...
From Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamizh Nadu and Sri Lanka...
all over we found the exact kind of Graffiti
So there is no way a single pot maker could have travelled all over and sold it
So it can't be the pot maker's symbol
There is also another evidence that it is not pot maker's symbol. The pot makers...
the symbol can be scratched while the pot maker is making the pot
But these Graffiti were inscribed on pot that was already made
So, it could be inscribed by those who brought these pots
Another point here...
If it was the pot maker's trademark symbol then you'd find the symbols in all pots
This was not so
Only the pot materials which we call 'Tablewares' had them
Like those you'll find in a dining table i.e a plate, a tumbler or a cup...
Only these pot materials had those Graffiti
The Brahmi inscriptions were inscribed on the pots where it was visible to everyone
It was inscribed on the shoulder portion of the pots
These Graffiti too were inscribed in the same manner
Since these Graffiti were inscribed just like Brahmi then it must be an important script
Then this was not just found on pot sherds...
Graffiti found in pot sherds were also found in inscriptions containing Tamizhi writings
It was also found in coins
Also in stamp seals
For example a stamp seal that was found and retrieved in Annaicoddai, Sri Lanka...
On the top there was script which was written in Graffiti
And on the bottom it is written as 'Ko-ve-tha' in Tamizhi
Everyone believes the Graffiti above must be same as what's written on the bottom
But a similar Graffiti...
was found in a inscription in Edakkal, Kerala that read 'Kadummi pudachera'
So that Graffiti was found everywhere when 'Cheiftains' were mentioned
So everybody believes that these are no ordinary symbols but some kind of script
Also, in the end of many Brahmi inscriptions these Graffiti are found
It was found in lot of pot sherds but why so?
If it's not a script then why inscribe it?
Also why should it be found in Brahmi inscriptions?
It was based on this, it was confirmed that this Graffiti was indeed a script
Based on the recent excavations that took place in other places, it was confirmed
Before the era of Tamizhi scripts which is the 6th century BC...
as the excavation results proved that this Graffiti was used to write Tamizh...
and it is the same one found everywhere up to Gujarat
It establishes a strong relationship with Indus Valley civilization Graffiti
Almost 5000 years ago, in the North West India...
from Gujarat, Pakistan up to Afghanistan...
from 2500 BC to 1600 BC...
a civilization existed by the river Sindhu and it was found via archaeological excavations
(Lothal, Gujarat)
(Dholavira, Gujarat)
This was considered to be in contemporary with Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilization
Also a lot of evidences were got that proved it was a huge trade oriented civilization
Cities with tall brick constructions with a planned urban architecture...
and they had a unique script to exchange messages...
and carry out trade exchanges among themselves
This script called Sindhu is not alphabetic...
but contained lot of Graffiti
What was the language used by people in Indus Valley civilization?
How did they write script?
No one has an assured answer by just looking at those evidences
Still a lot of research is going on that
But...
within few days after Marshall announced this discovery in 1924...
many researchers looked at it and said it could be Dravidian language
Though these Graffiti are yet to be deciphered...
but the language spoken back then could be a type of Dravidian language and...
they could have used the Graffiti to write it
Many researchers like Asko Parpola and Heras predicted so
Collecting the cluster of stamp seals and their Graffiti...
then examining them using Statistical analysis..
it forms a structure
Tamizh has more of suffixes
In 'Munda' language there are infixes which comes in between the words
Indo-Aryan languages have prefixes
One attribute that just belongs to Dravidian languages are the suffixes
So the Indus Valley civilization Graffiti seemed to have suffixes...
which we get to know from the concordance and computer analysis
Even when Iravatham Mahadevan did his research and published in his hypothesis that...
Rig veda itself has a lot of Tamizh words
So, Rig veda was compiled in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which is Western part of South Asia
In that case...
when Rig veda has lot of Tamizh words then what language could've been spoken there?
This is one of the evidences
Ancient people who lived during Indus Valley civilization...
could have spoken ancient Tamizh, for which evidences kept rising and at the same time...
most of the Graffiti found in Tamizh Nadu...
were same as Graffiti found in Indus Valley civilization
And researchers were awestruck by this fact
([L]Tamizh Nadu Graffiti - [R] Indus Valley Graffiti)
The Graffiti in Indus Valley civilization and...
the Graffiti in Tamizh Nadu...
both are almost same
More than 60% of Tamizh Graffiti resemble the Indus Valley Graffiti
Since both are almost same...
then Indus Valley Graffiti would've been transformed into Tamizh Graffiti
This was already stated by Dr. BB Lal in 1960
The findings that came after his statement...
only complimented his statement
Indus Valley Graffiti must have developed as Tamizh Graffiti...
Then Tamizh Nadu Graffiti must have developed into Tamizhi. This is what everyone believes
Tamizh Nadu Graffiti was obtained as the continuation of Indus Valley Graffiti
Not just that, in the archaeological excavations that took place in Tamizh Nadu...
continuity and links to Indus Valley civilization were found
Researchers were even more awestruck by this
The first thing we did was measure up this archaeological mount
So when we measured it last year...
we found it to be 80 acres in land and 3.5 kilometers radius sized mount
This year while carrying out the excavation we examined the mount completely...
that's when we found that...
like in Harappa and Indus it was a twin mount system
For example the excavation in Adichanallur...
The skull that was obtained from Adichanallur excavation...
it was examined using chemical analysis
And it was found to be buried in 1750 BC
That means it had a link to Indus valley civilization
The Indus Valley civilization ended in 1500 BC
And since this was found in 1750 BC then chances are there must have been a link
When the civilization went extinct, where did the people go?
Most of the evidences point that people moved towards South
Even Migratory studies and place name studies might be helpful in script research
In Place name studies done by Mr. R. Balakrishnan, he delivers many strong evidences...
If you see the comparison made in it...
Like the names of places in Pakistan and in Sangam literature...
The names of the places in present day Tamizh Nadu...
they are all the same
For eg. places like Korkai, Vanji and Thondi. He finds places with same name in Pakistan
He also found a place called Tamizh!
So, even today if you search in Google...
you can get information about those places
When you see the names of those places...
you'll find lot of evidences i.e. the names will be a series gradually moving to the south
The same names will keep repeating
Finally it ends up in Tamizh Nadu as a cluster of names
So when you compare the names of the places in Tamizh Nadu and Pakistan...
they are the same
Especially in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Baluchistan, the Brahui language...
is a Dravidian language and is still in use in modern day
The distance between these two places is 2500 kilometers...
but they speak almost the same language group...
This is one of the strong evidences (Dravidian language group)
People from Indus Valley civilization...
could be Dravidian people who spoke proto Dravidian language and...
they could have been migrated to South after the extinction of the civilization...
Using Linguistic Population Distribution study...
DD Kosambi and others historians supported the statement
The research findings of Mr. Balakrishnan IAS...
strongly support those evidences
But since the Indus valley Graffiti are yet to be deciphered...
to prove this with more evidences, we needs more researches...
and more archaeological excavations must be carried out
If more excavations are done and these Graffiti are deciphered...
then Tamizh language's script and history of Tamizh people could date back to 5000 years
On one hand as the research about the script that existed before Tamizhi continues...
the question of how this Tamizhi script transformed into the present day Tamizh script...
is one of the most important question
When the reason behind why it transformed into the present day script was analyzed...
there were shocking historical events behind it
Let's continue this journey...
Tamizhi
All religions are welcome here
The Tamizh boon! The Tamizh bond!
We all are the children of this world
Hail Tamizhi! For it's our way, our life and our bond
Long live Tamizh
All religions are welcome here
The Tamizh boon! The Tamizh bond!
We all are the children of this world
Hail Tamizhi! For it's our way, our life and our bond
Long live Tamizh
Our mother tongue is what unites us
Our mother tongue is our life
Oh my dear Tamizh, you are my strength
Grandham was developed from Southern Brahmi or Andhra Brahmi
They created new Tamizh script with Grandham's influence on it
That is the present day Tamizh script which we are using
So, after the era of King Narasimhan a new Tamizh script is established
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