2) With reference to the difference between
the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following
statements is/are correct?
- Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them.
- Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
- Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution: (a) 1 only
Justification: Statement 2: The Indus valley people knew the use of copper, bronze, silver and gold but not iron. It was in the invention on iron that allowed the civilization to push deeper into the gangetic delta by clearing the thick vegetation. So, 2 is wrong.
Statement 1: The Ramayana mentions Kshatriyas went to combat on the chariots chariots covered with leather. The Rig Vedic charioteers used varma (coats of mail) and sipra/sironastra (helmets). They were equipped with asi (swords), hanas (arrows) and ilhianus (bows).
Since statement 2 is wrong, hence among the given options (A) must be correct.
Statement 3 is a disputed. There has been evidence of skeletal remains unearthed near Surkotada , Gujarat. But there is controversy that it might have been of any horse like animal, eg. donkey.