Gandhinagar: Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India (GoI), in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi, are going to host a three-day International Colloquium on “Emerging Perspectives of Harappan Civilisation” from February 10 to 12, 2023, focusing on the genesis, material culture, climatic scenario, and theoretical perspectives of the proto-historic era. The event will also witness the establishment of the ‘Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Archaeology Chair’ at IITGN to support and promote research in archaeological sciences.

The inauguration of the International Colloquium and the Chair will be held at 10 am on February 10, 2023, in the presence of Shri Govind Mohan, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, GoI, as the Chief Guest; Dr Alok Tripathi, Additional Director General, ASI; and Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IITGN. This will be followed by a keynote address by Prof Ajithprasad, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, and an erudite scholar of archaeology, on the topic “Harappan Civilisation: Perspectives from Gujarat”.

Even though field investigations for well over a century have contributed enormously to a better understanding of the Harappan Civilisation, several facets require further research with coordination between research institutions and government organisations. This international conference thus aims to (i) bring together the scholarly community engaged in those themes; (ii) deliberate on the various facets and unresolved issues of this civilisation; (iii) arrive at a consensus on terminologies used in this context; (iv) foster future collaborations in fieldwork and research; (v) propose a national centre for Harappan studies; and (vi) bring together various state governments and research institutions to evolve a mechanism for the protection, preservation of this rich cultural heritage with the help of Government of India.

The three-day colloquium, planned to be held in hybrid mode, will bring together more than 65 archaeologists, scientists, and research scholars from India and abroad to speak and present their research on the Harappan Civilisation during different thematic sessions, including Genesis of the Harappan / Indus / Indus-Saraswati Civilisation, terminologies; State and polity during the Harappan Civilisation; Trade contacts with other regions; Technology during the Harappan Civilisation; Climate and environmental studies; Bio-archaeological perspectives (floral, faunal, and other related studies); Bio-anthropological / DNA studies and the composition of the Harappan population; The Indus script: inputs from archaeology and statistical studies; De-urbanisation processes of the Harappan Civilisation; Harappan Civilisation vs Vedic Culture: possible points of contact/transmission; among others.