2. HOW TO WRITE A
SUMMARY
THE PURPOSE OF THE SUMMARY IS TO PRESENT THE CORE IDEA OF ANYTHING IN A SEQUENTIAL MANNER
WHILE WRITING THE SUMMARY, YOU SHOULD FOCUS ON GIVING THE MAXIMUM DETAIL IN FORMAL AND
PRECISE WORDS IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE THE MESSAGE CLEARLY
PRECISION OF WORDS TAKES AWAY THE FEAR OF EXCEEDING THE SPECIFIED WORD LIMIT
THE AIM OF LIMITING THE WORD COUNT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WRITING IS WELL STRUCTURED,
ARTICULATE AND EASILY COMPREHENDIBLE, WITHOUT UNNECESSARY INFORMATION TO AVOID SHIFT OF
FOCUS
THIS WILL HELP IN NOT JUST WRITING YOUR RESEARCH PAPERS AND ARGUMENTS BETTER, BUT IT WILL ALSO
DEVELOP A HABIT OF ORGANIZING YOUR THOUGHTS BETTER IN YOUR DAILY PRACTICE
THE CONTENTS OF THE SUMMARY ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. BASIC CONTENTS OF THE SESSION
2. INTRO OF THE TOPIC-THE FIRT TWO POINTS CAN INTERCHANGE THEIR PLACEMENT DEPENDING ON THE
TOPIC
3. IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT THE TOPIC
4. DETAILS OF THE MOST IMPORTAN POINTS
5. CONCLUSION/ ENDING
3. WHAT DO WE LOOK AT
WHEN WE STUDY A CIVILIZATION
WHATS
THE
POINT
8. INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION ROSE TO PROMINENCE DURING BRONZE AGE – WE DON’T KNOW OF
ANY DIRECT PALEOLITHIC ANCESTORS BECAUSE THE PALEOLITHIC SITES HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY EXCAVATED YET
IT IS ALSO CALLED HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION BECAUSE OF HARAPPA BEING THE FIRST
CITY TO BE EXCAVATED FROM THIS CIVILIZATION
THE IVC EXTENDS FROM AFGHANIZTAN TO INDIA TILL THE BORDERS OF CHINA AND NEPAL
WITH THE CENTER IN MODERN DAY PAKISTAN
AT ITS PEAK THIS CIVILIZATION HAD 5 MILLION INHABITANTS AND 1096 CITIES - ANY IDEA
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR AN OLD WORLD CIVILIZATION 3500 YEARS AGO
THERE WERE SEVERAL GROUPS THAT CO EXISTED HENCE THE STUDY IS NOT GOING TO BE
LINEAR – WE WILL COVER THE REGIONS, REIGNS AND PEOPLE BOTH CHRONOLOGICALLY AND GEOGRAPHICALLY
11. INDIAN SUBCONTINENT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND
PEACEFUL LIFESTYLE SINCE ANCIENT TIMES
THE SETTLEMENTS HERE ARE AS OLD AS 5000 YEARS I.E. CIVILIZAED CULTURES
HAVE EXSITED HERE SINCE AT LEAST 3300 BC
INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION IS THE EARLIEST EXAMPLE OF CULTURE TAKING SHAPE
WITH RESPECT TO RELIGION. IT WAS THE TIME WHEN “SOCIETY” CAME ABOUT AS
AN ASPECT OF HUMAN LIFE
RELIGION BOTH HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM BECAME THE ROOT FROM WHICH
EMERGED THE CASTE SYSTEM THAT DIVIDED THE PEOPLE INTO SECTIONS WITH
RESPECT TO THEIR OCCUPATIONS AND FAMILY HENCE CREATING A TEMPLATE FOR
BRINGING ORDER TO A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE LIVING TOGETHER
THESE PEOPLE WERE PEACEFUL, INTERACTIVE AND LIBERAL, FOCUSED ON
EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR EVERYONE
THEIR CITIES WERE FORTIFIED YET THE LACK OF WEAPONRY AND ARMIES MADE
THEM VULNERABLE TO THE ATTACKS OF ARYANS AND OTHER FOREIGN INVADERS.
SOME HISTORIANS BELIEVE THAT THE FORTIFICATION WAS INTENDED TO OFFER
PROTECTION FROM FLOODS
THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE WE WILL NOTICE BETWEEN EGYPTIAN AND IVC IS THAT IN
EGYPTIAN CULTURE THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT THE COMMON PEOPLE AND IN
INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION THE SOCIETY IS PEOPLE-CENTRIC
12.
13. IVC HAD DEVELOPED A DEFINED HIERARCHY SYSTEM WHERE USUALLY A PRIEST WAS THE LEADER AND
PROTECTOR OF THE CITY
THEY PLANNED THEIR CITIES AROUND THE INHERENT NATURE OF THE LAND THAT THEY OCCUPIED AND THE
CURRENT OF THE RIVER IN ORDER TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE SITUATION
THEY HAD PROPER HOUSING, SANITATION AND MAPPING SYSTEMS
OFFICES, SINGLE AND DOUBLE STOREY HOUSES, COLLEGES, GRANARIES AND BATHS ARE THE COMMON
ARCHTECTURAL ELEMENTS FOUND IN MOST IVC SITES
THEIR CITIES WERE FORTIFIED BUT BESIDES THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER MEASURES OR POLICIES IN PLACE TO
DEFEND AGAINST INVADERS (THEY WERE USED TO HAVING ANY AGGRESSIVE VISITORS AS SUCH BECAUSE THEY WERE PROTECTED BY THE
MOUNTAINS FROM OTHER CIVILIZATIONS AND THEY DIDN’T FIGHT MUCH AGAINST THEMSELVES AT ALL)
LIFESTYLE WAS MOLDED MAINLY AROUND RELIGION, SOME HISTORIANS SUGGEST THAT EDUCATION AND
ENTERTAINMENT WERE EITHER PART OF THEIR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OR EMANATED FROM THEM
THE REASON WHY THE HISTORIANS BELIEVE THEM TO BE RELIGIOUS IS BECAUSE ALL THEIR SYSTEMS HIGHLIGHT
THEIR INCLINATION TOWARDS ORGANIZATION, CLEANLINESS, EQUALITY AND OTHER ATTRIBUTES THAT NO
OTHER CIVILIZATION WAS CONSIDERING BACK THEN. FOR INSTANCE THEIR SANITATION SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS
THEIR TENDENCY TOWARS CLEANLIESS AND HYGIENCE, THE SCULPTURES SHOW PEOPLE IN MUNDANE POSES
RAHTER THAN JUST KINGS AND GODS, AND OF ALL THE THINGS THERE ARE TOYS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
OBSERVED ANYWHERE ELSE.
THE COLLEGE AND OFFICE BUILDINGS INSTEAD OF A COURT ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR DEMOCRATIC
SYSTEMS
14. IN IVC THERE WERE NO KINGS AND GODS BUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE MANAGED AND LEAD BY A
PRIEST THAT REGULATED ALL RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL, URBAN AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
THE PEOPLE OF IVC WERE NOT ONLY FAMOUS FOR THEIR URBAN PLANNING,THEY WERE ALSO
KNOWN FOR CREDIBLE TRADING. THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES FOUND DURING EXCAVATIONS
PROVE THE ADVANCEMENT IN THE FIELD. THESE PEOPLE WERE ALSO FIRST TO MAKE SOUND
DOCKS BY MEASURING TIDES AND CURRENTS THAT ALLOWED STEADY OPERATIONS AT THE PORT
HINDUISM IS THE FIRST ORGANIZED RELIGION OF THE WORLD THAT WE KNOW OF FROM ANCIENT
WORLD (WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT PREHISTORY OVER HERE AT ALL) WHICH STARTED IN IVC
THE REASON THIS CIVILIZATION BECAME THE ROOT FOR AN ORGANIZED RELIGION IS BECAUSE OF
ITS PEOPLE CENTRIC SYSTEMS
TO UNDERSTAND THE RATE OF PROGRESS OF INDIAN
SUBCONTINENT, IMAGINE AN EMPIRE WITH AN INCLINATION
TOWARDS EDUCATE IN CONSTANT TRADE WITH THE LARGEST
NUMBER OF CULTURES ENJOYING A STABLE, STEADY AND
UNITERRUPTED STATE OF PROGRESS FOR 5000 YEARS
15. IF WE HAD SUCH AN
ADVANCED CIVILIZATION
HERE
5000 YEARS
AGO
HOW COME WE ARE NOT AS FAMOUS AS
EGYPTIANS
AND HOW COME IT DID NOT SURVIVE
16. PROJECTION OF A CULTURAL IMAGE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN IMPORTANT POLITICAL TRAIT OF
CIVILIZED CULTURES THROUGH OUT HISTORY
EGYPTIANS AND CLASSICAL CULTURES USED THIS TOOL AS A PART OF THEIR EVERYDAY HABIT
BECAUSE OF THE EXPRESSIVE NATURE OF THEIR LIFESTYLES AND CONSTANT THREAT OF WAR
CITIES OF INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION WERE HARMONIOUS IN NATURE AND NO SIGNIFICANT
EFFORT OR INVESTMENT WAS ASSIGNED TO WAR EFFORTS, HENCE THE LACK OF PROPAGATORY
OR “PROPAGANDA” BASED DOCUMENTATION
A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IS THAT THESE SETTLEMENTS WERE NOT RULED BY A KING OR A GOD
WHO BUILT A HOUSE OR A SANCTUARY TO HONOUR ONE’S OWN LINEAGE OR POWER
HENCE WHEN THE TRAVELLERS VISITED THESE SITES THEY FOUND TRADABLE GOODS AND SOUVENIRS
INSTEAD OF ANY SIGNS OF GRANDEUR OR POWER TO TELL STORIES ABOUT LATER ON IN THEIR VOYAGE
DOCUMENTATION WAS FOR RELIGIOUS AND ACADEMIC PURPOSES MOSTLY
17. SO WHAT EXACTLY DID THEY
WEAR
AND
WHY
ANY IDEA ABOUT THE DICTUM
“FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION”
18. THEY HAD COTTON, FLAX AND WOOL ALONG WITH WEEDS AND HERBS TO DYE
SILK AND SAFFRON WERE RESERVED FOR THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE AND
OCCASIONS,
WHERE AS INDIGO AND MADDER WERE COMMONLY USED TO DYE AND PRINT
CLOTHIN
G
WE DON’T KNOW IF CLOTHING WAS A MEANS OF PROTECTION
OR MODESTY IN PALEOLITHIC PEOPLE OF THIS REGION BUT IN
BRONZE AGE AT THE PRIME OF IVC IT WAS A NECESSARY PART
OF CIVIC LIFESTYLE
IN MAHABHARATA, THERE ARE SEVERAL MENTIONS OF A DHOTI
LIKE FORM BEING USED BY MEN AND WOMEN TO PRESERVE
THEIR DIGNITY – (MAHABHARATA WAS COMPILED BETWEEN 4000 AND 3000 BC)
THE ARTICLES OF CLOTHING FROM THE IVC THAT WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT ARE DHOTI, SARI
AND UTTARIYA
19. A DHOTI IS A RECTANGULAR PIECE OF FABRIC
RANGING FROM 2 YARDS TO 4 YARDS IN LENGTH
WITH VARYING WIDTH DEPENDING ON THE REGION
THE LONGER SIDE OF THE FABRIC IS TIED AT THE
WAIST SOMETIMES SECURED WITH A BELT
DHOTI WAS WORN BY BOTH MEN AND WOMEN IN
INDIAN SUB CONTINENT
THERE WERE SEVERAL VARIATIONS FOUND AROUND
THE REGION. IN SCULPTURES FROM THE VEDIC
PERIOD DHOTI IS SEEN WRAPPED AND DRAPED IN A
LOOSE UNSTITCHED AND PLEATED FORM THAT MANY
BELIEVE TO BE THE EARLIEST FORM OF SHALWAR
DHOT
I
20. SARI MEANS “A STRIP OF CLOTH” IN SANSKRIT, IT
IS A SIX TO NINE YARD LONG FABRIC
IN WHICH ONE END IS TIED AROUND THE WAIST
AND THE OTHER IS DRAPED ON THE SHOULDER
SARI IS WORN WITH A TOP CALLED AN UTTARIYA
OR CHOLI IN RECENT TERMS
IN THIS ATTIRE THE MID RIFF IS BARRED OWING TO
THE HINDU BELIEF THAT THE NAVEL OF THE
SUPREMEN BEING IS THE SOURCE OF CREATION
IN CERTAIN AREAS SARI WAS JUST ONE PIECE
CLOTHING WITH ONE PART TIED AT THE WAIST
AND THE OTHER HALF COVERED THE TORSO
WHICH WAS THEN SECURED AT UPPER WAIST WITH
A BELT
SAR
I
21. THE LENGTH OF THE SARI VARIED FROM REGION TO
REGION, IN CERTAIN AREAS IT WAS TILL MID THIGH AND
IN SOME AREAS THERE WERE FLOOR LENGTH SARIS WITH
ACESS FABRIC TRAILING AT THE FRONT OR SIDES
IN WHAT NOW IS SOUTHERN INDIA SARI WAS WORN OVER
A DHOTI
THIS GARMENT HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN SEVERAL HINDU
AND BUDDHIST TEXTS FROM FOURTH AND THIRD
MILLENIUM BC, HOWEVER, IT HAS NOT BEEN SEEN ON
THE SCULPTURES IN A WAY THAT MATCHES THE
DESCRIPTION
SOME RESEARCHERS SUGGEST THAT THE CURRENT FORM
THAT WE SEE IS A RESULT OF THE AMALGAMATION OF
THE INDIAN DHOTI AND GREEK CHITON AND HIMATION
THAT SURFACED SOMETIME AROUND 5TH
OR 6TH
CENTURY
BC AFTER THE CONQUEST OF ALEXANDER
UNLIKE OTHER REGIONS THERE WAS NO TUNIC OR
TROUSER WORN HERE IN IVC EVEN UPTILL MID FIRST
MILLENIUM
22. JEWELLE
RY
THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT WAS RICH IN TERMS OF RESOURCES DUE TO TRADE AND EVER
FLOURISHING EMPIRES.
BY 5500 BC, THE INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION (MEHERGARH) WAS KNOWN FOR ITS TRADE OF
“BEADS”
THE IDEA OF ADORNMENT WITH JEWELLERY BECAME
MUCH MORE CELEBRATED IN THIS REGION THROUGH
RELIGION
IN HINDUISM, GOLD REPRESENTS SUN AND SILVER
REPRESENTS MOON.
DUE TO ITS NON CORROSIVE NATURE, GOLD IS
ASSOCIATED WITH IMMORTALITY AND IS USED OFTEN
TO HONOUR THE DIETIES
IT IS AN ANCIENT HINDU BELIEF THAT HUMAN LIFE
ORIGINATED FROM A GOLDEN EGG, A METAPHOR FOR
THE SUN, WHOSE LIGHT RISES FROM THE PREMORDIAL
WATERS
THE STONES ALSO HAVE MEANINGS, THEY REPRESENT
DIFFERENT POWERS OR AVATARS OF THE GODS.
23. A HEADBAND “SARPECH” WAS ONE OF THE COMMON
PIECE OF JEWELLERY THAT WAS WORN AT FESTIVITIES
BY BOTH MEN AND WOMEN
THE PRIEST KING AND THE DANCING GIRL ARE FIRST
FOUND EVIDENCES OF THIS PRACTICE
IN LATER KINGDOMS IN FIRST MILLENIUM BC, THE
SARPECH AND SPECIALLY THE TURBAN ORNAMENT
WAS RESERVED FOR ROYALTY ONLY
IN THE EARLIEST PHASES OF IVC, BEADS
WERE MADE BY BAKING AND MELTING
STONES, WHICH WERE THEN CUT AND
POLISHED AND AT TIMES PAINTED INTO
THE DESIRED SHAPES AND SYMBOLS
JEWELLERY WAS WORN MOSTLY BY
WOMEN BUT THERE WERE CERTAIN
FORMS WITH STONES THAT WERE ALSO
WORN BY MEN
24. A NAVARATANA, NOW KNOWS AS NAURATAN IS
ORIGINALLY A SEVEN OR NINE STONE PIECE OF
JEWELLERY THAT IS WORN AS A SYMBOL OF
ASSEMBLANCE OF ALL POWERS, ITS SIGNIFICANCE HAVE
BEEN MENTIONED IN THE TEXTS FROM SECOND
MILLENIUM BC (BACK THEN IT DID NOT NECESSARILY
HAVE NINE STONES)
EACH STONE REPRESENTS AN ASPECT OR ELEMENT OF THE HINDU
UNIVERSE. THE STONES AND GEMS USED ARE DIAMOND, PEARL, RUBY,
SAPPHIRE, EMERALD, TOPAZ, CAT’S EYE, CORAL, AND HYACINTH. BEFORE
DIAMONDS THERE WERE PROBABLY OTHER GEMS THAT WERE USED
BECAUSE DIAMOND MINING STARTED SOMETIME BETWEEN 800 AND 250 BC
AND NAVARATANA HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN SEVERAL ANCIENT TEXTS THAT
WERE COMPILED WAY BEFORE THESE DATES
