UNESCO ne 2021 mein Gujarat ke Kutch ke Dholavira ko World Heritage Sites ki list mein shamil kiya, jisse Gujarat ko ek baar fir World Heritage Map par chamakne ka mauka mila. Dholavira ko World Heritage Site mein shamil karne ke baad Gujarat ko chaar World Heritage Sites wala rajya hone ka garv bhi mila hai.
Location:
Hamari civilization ke charam par, jab ham technology, social aur material complexity mein unnati dekhte hain, tab hume lagta hai ki sab kuch progress ki taraf hai. Lekin, kabhi-kabhi hume apne ateet mein jhaankne ka man karta hai, apne bhavishya ko samajhne ke liye.
Dholavira Indus Valley Civilization ya Harappan culture ke do sabse mahatvapurn excavation sites mein se ek hai, jo lagbhag 4500 saal purana hai. Dusra site, Lothal, zyada accessible aur extensively studied hai, lekin Lothal ka visit sirf Dholavira ke visit ko complement karta hai, replace nahi. Dholavira, jo Great Rann of Kutch ke beech mein hai, aapko Harappan kal ke mind ki ek alag insight deta hai, jisme duniya ke sabse pehle aur best planned water conservation systems aur shayad duniya ke pehle signboards ancient Indus script mein likhe hue hain.
Excavation civilization ke 7 stages ki kahani batata hai – development, maturity aur decay tak. Sabse interesting baat yeh hai ki peak ke baad, Dholavira temporary abandon kiya gaya tha, aur phir wapas log ek simplified aur de-urbanized culture ke saath aaye. Yeh lagta hai ki unhone apne jeevan ko simple banane ka chunav kiya, apni glorified civilization ke collapse se ladne ke bajay. Yahaan aapko mauka milega yeh sochne ka ki progress aur civilization ka asli matlab kya hai, aur kya sach mein kuch bhi permanent hota hai.
Background:
Dholavira, jo locally “Kotada” (bada fort) ke naam se jaana jata hai, 100 hectares ke semi-arid area mein Khadir island ke north-west corner par hai. Yeh island Great Rann of Kutch ke beech hai, jo monsoon ke samay flood se upar rehta hai. Dholavira ke paas do seasonal nallahs hain – Mansar (north) aur Manhar (south). Dholavira ka safar bhi bahut khoobsurat hai, jo saline desert plains ke beech se guzarta hai, jahan aapko chinkara gazelle, nilgai, flamingos aur birds dekhne ko milte hain.
1967 mein Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) ne is site ko discover kiya, lekin systematic excavation 1990 ke baad shuru hua. Yahaan terracotta pottery, beads, gold aur copper ornaments, seals, fish hooks, animal figurines, tools, urns aur imported vessels mile hain, jo Mesopotamia tak ke trade links dikhate hain. Sabse important discovery 10 stone inscriptions hain, jo Indus Valley script mein likhi gayi hain, shayad duniya ka pehla signboard.
Yahaan ek bada citadel hai, jo center mein hai, middle aur lower town ke saath, jo alag se fortified hain. Town planning remarkable hai – sun-dried bricks aur stone masonry se bani lanes systematically banayi gayi hain, aur sanitation ke liye underground drainage system bhi hai. Ek bada stadium aur seating arrangement bhi excavation ka hissa hai.
Aur sabse khaas, Dholavira ka ek aisa water conservation system mila hai jo duniya ke earliest systems mein se ek hai. Satellite pictures reservoir aur rainwater harvesting system ko dikhate hain, jo iss desert mein sparse rainfall ke baad bhi settlement ko thrive karne mein madad karta tha.
Dholavira India ke do largest Harappan sites mein se ek hai, aur subcontinent ke 5th largest site ke roop mein jaana jata hai. Yeh site Harappan culture ke sabhi stages – 2900 BC se 1500 BC tak – ke saboot deta hai, jabki zyada sites sirf early ya late stages tak simit hain.
Excavation se civilization ke decline aur desertion ke baad ke signs milte hain. Late Harappan stage mein log wapas aaye, par culture simplified aur deurbanized ho gaya. Circular bhungas aur naye tarah ke pottery se yeh pata chalta hai ki civilization ke ant mein log apne future ke liye tayar the, ek gradual end ko accept karte hue.