Source: Indian Express
Context
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has announced that it will replace a retouched image of the iconic Mohenjo-daro Dancing Girl in its new Class 9 Art textbook. The Dancing Girl is a bronze statuette from the Indus Valley Civilisation (Harappan Civilisation), unearthed in 1926 by British archaeologist John Marshall during excavations at Mohenjo-daro (in present-day Sindh, Pakistan). The figurine is approximately 4 inches (10.5 cm) tall and dates back to about 2500 BCE. It is permanently housed in the Pre-History and Archaeology collection at the National Museum, New Delhi. The artefact demonstrates Harappan expertise in the lost-wax casting technique and advanced bronze metallurgy.
What is the Dancing Girl?
- A bronze statuette from the Indus Valley Civilisation.
- Height: Approximately 4 inches (10.5 cm).
- Material: Bronze (copper-tin alloy).
- Period: About 2500 BCE (broader period: 2700-2100 BCE).
- Cultural status: One of the most recognisable symbols of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Discovery and History
- Discovered: 1926 by John Marshall.
- Location: Mohenjo-daro (in present-day Sindh, Pakistan).
- Marshall was British archaeologist and Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (1902-1928).
Naming Origin
- John Marshall coined the term “Dancing Girl” because:
- Her asymmetrical stance reminded him of contemporary nautch girls (female dancers in traditional Indian courts).
Current Repository
- National Museum, New Delhi.
- Pre-History and Archaeology collection.
- Permanently displayed.
Physical Characteristics
Contrapposto Stance
- Feet apart, body weight distributed unevenly, resting on right leg.
- Natural, fluid posture known in art history as contrapposto.
Arm Placement
- Right arm: Bent at elbow, clenched fist propped against back of hip.
- Left arm: Elongated, hangs loosely, holding a small vessel.
Asymmetrical Ornamentation
- Left arm: Almost completely covered with 24 bangles.
- Right arm: Only 4 bangles + 1 bracelet.
- Cowry-shell necklace.
Facial Features and Hair
- Tight bun at the nape of neck.
- High forehead, large eyes, wide nose, full lips.
- Face tilted upward with confident, defiant demeanour.
About the Indus Valley Civilisation (Harappan Civilisation)
- One of the world’s oldest urban civilisations.
- Period: about 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE.
- Mature phase: 2600-1900 BCE.
- Spread: From Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwest India.
- Key sites:
- Harappa (Punjab, Pakistan): First excavated, gives the name Harappan.
- Mohenjo-daro (Sindh, Pakistan): Largest site.
- Dholavira (Gujarat, India).
- Lothal (Gujarat, India).
- Rakhigarhi (Haryana, India).
- Kalibangan (Rajasthan, India).
- Banawali (Haryana, India).
- Surkotada (Gujarat, India).
Mohenjo-daro
- Means “Mound of the Dead Men” in Sindhi.
- Located in Larkana District, Sindh, Pakistan.
- Excavated primarily in the 1920s by John Marshall, Ernest Mackay, Rakhal Das Banerji.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.
- Key features:
- Great Bath.
- Granary.
- Citadel area.
- Lower town.
- Sophisticated drainage system.
Famous Indus Valley Artefacts
- Dancing Girl (Mohenjo-daro, bronze).
- Pashupati Seal (Mohenjo-daro, depicting Shiva-like figure).
- Priest-King (Mohenjo-daro, soapstone).
- Mother Goddess figurines (terracotta).
- Unicorn seals.
- Steatite seals with Indus script.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to the Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro, consider the following statements:
- The Dancing Girl is a bronze statuette discovered at Mohenjo-daro in 1926 by John Marshall.
- It dates back to approximately 2500 BCE.
- It is approximately 4 inches (10.5 cm) tall.
- The original artefact is housed in the British Museum, London.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; the original artefact is at the National Museum, New Delhi, NOT the British Museum.)
Q2. With reference to the physical characteristics of the Dancing Girl, consider the following statements:
- The figure stands in a contrapposto stance.
- Her left arm is covered with 24 bangles, while her right arm has only 4 bangles and 1 bracelet.
- The statuette is made of bronze using lost-wax casting technique.
- The Dancing Girl is made of terracotta, like most other Harappan figures.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; the Dancing Girl is made of BRONZE, NOT terracotta. Most Harappan figures are terracotta, but the Dancing Girl is a notable exception.)
Q3. With reference to the Indus Valley Civilisation, consider the following statements:
- The Indus Valley Civilisation flourished from about 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE.
- Mohenjo-daro and Harappa are the two largest known sites.
- Indian sites include Dholavira, Lothal, Rakhigarhi, Kalibangan, and Banawali.
- The Indus script has been fully deciphered.
Which of the above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
(Statement 4 is wrong; the Indus script remains undeciphered.)
Q4. With reference to NCERT, consider the following statements:
- NCERT was founded in 1961.
- NCERT is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education.
- NCERT develops school curriculum and textbooks.
- NCERT is a private foundation with no government affiliation.
Which of the above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1 and 4 only (e) All four
(Statement 4 is wrong; NCERT is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education.)
Answer Key
- (c), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because the original is at the National Museum, New Delhi.
- (c), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because the Dancing Girl is bronze, not terracotta.
- (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because the Indus script remains undeciphered.
- (a), Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct; Statement 4 is wrong because NCERT is under the Ministry of Education.
