This graphic novel takes a unique view of Indus Valley

History is one of those topics which many of us find boring in school, but as we mature, the same topic starts getting interesting for some. And, if that history is ancient, then it gets even more fascinating.

For writer and illustrator, Nikhil Gulati, it was the history of the Indus Valley Civilisation that dates back to 3200 BCE. This fascination translated into his second graphic novel, The People of the Indus and the Birth of Civilisation in South Asia (2022).

ABOUT THE BOOK

The research on this topic is based on the work done by archaeologist, Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, who is considered one of the foremost authorities of Indus archaeology.

Gulati, who will be speaking about this book with writer, Aniruddh Sen Gupta, on May 18, 2024 at Champaca Bookstore, Anjuna, asserts that the Indus Valley is a one of kind civilisation compared to other ancient civilisations of the time, such as that in Egypt and Mesopotamia.

“It (Indus Valley) had no kings, no warfare, and yet, was materially far richer on the whole. It didn’t build pyramids and the like, but it did build city-wide drainage structures that served one and all (to maintain a clean water supply). And, I wondered why we don’t know more about these people,” states Gulati who spent around five years on research and then illustrating the book.

Indus Valley, which is a Bronze Age civilisation, in the north-western regions of South Asia is considered one of the oldest in the world. However, most of the information about it is mainly restricted to academic literature.

Thus, this graphic novel is an attempt to bridge the gap between academics and lay people. “I wanted to know what it would have looked like if I was standing on a rooftop in Mohenjo-daro in 2600 BCE. I wanted to visualise the daily life,” elaborates Gulati.

Along with Indus Valley, the graphic novel also mentions the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilisations, which also featured large cities. He decided to compare these civilisations since history is always inter-connected.

“The Indus didn’t stand alone. It was sharing and exchanging not only goods, but also ideas and people,” he says.

Gulati also draws out a major difference between other civilisations and Indus. “Egyptian and Mesopotamian cities were highly centralised, with kings and Pharaohs ruling from the top, and with regular warfare to expand their empires,” says Gulati.

“In the Indus Valley, the situation is turned on its head. There is no warfare at all. The routes to power are not war and violence, but trade. As a result, they achieved a very high standard of living at that time. Not only that, but they were the major sailors of that time, something we don’t associate much with the Indian subcontinent (apart from the Cholas),” elaborates Gulati.

“They were routinely travelling over the open oceans all the way to the ports of Mesopotamia to trade,” he shares.

Gulati started his journey with graphic novels by publishing his first book on Golconda Fort, while the next is based on 19 Mughal emperors.

When asked what it is about history that intrigues him, he states, “History makes me reflect on my own life. It makes me question the things that I take for granted — my beliefs, my practices, my sense of dress, my food, my home and work, etc.”

“In the past, people used to live differently, believe different things, and think differently. And yet, somewhere deep down, they were the same as us. The same motivations drove them — the desire to create, security, family, entertainment and novelty. It makes me understand humanity — and therefore, myself — through a very different lens.”

Nikhil Gulati will discuss his book ‘The People of The Indus’ with Aniruddh Sen Gupta on May 18, 2024 (at 5.30 pm) at Champaca Bookstore, Anjuna. The event is open to the general public.

(Arti Das is a freelance journalist based in Goa. She loves writing about art, culture and the ecology of Goa).