With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. 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. 2. Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron. 3. 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:
UPSC CSE Pre. 2017
A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: 1 and 3 only
Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct. The Rig Vedic charioteers used varma (coats of mail) and sipra/sironastra (helmets). They were also equipped with asi (swords), hanas (arrows) and ilhianus (bows). But in Indus Valley civilization there is no proof of this.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Harappan men and women wore ornaments made of gold, silver, copper, bronze and semiprecious stones. Harappans did not know iron.
Statement 3 is correct. There are many prayers in the Rigveda for cattle, children (especially sons), and horses. Horses were yoked to chariots that were used in battles, which were fought to capture cattle. Whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of a horse.