World · India Bureau
ASI Official Explores Possible Link Between Mahabharata and Harappan Civilisation
A former senior archaeologist with India's Archaeological Survey has suggested potential connections between the epic Mahabharata and the decline of the Harappan civilisation, pointing to the emergence of kingdoms mentioned in the ancient text.
LSN India ·
Dr Sanjay Manjul, former Additional Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), has proposed a possible historical link between the Mahabharata epic and the Harappan civilisation during a recent podcast discussion.
According to Manjul, the later phases of the Harappan civilisation witnessed the development of major kingdoms including Kuru and Panchala—polities that feature prominently in the narrative of the Mahabharata. The observation suggests a potential chronological and geographical overlap between the archaeological record and the events described in India's foundational epic.
The theory adds to ongoing academic discourse about the historicity of the Mahabharata and its relationship to documented ancient Indian societies. Scholars have long debated whether the epic, traditionally considered a literary work, contains kernels of historical events or reflects the social and political landscape of its period.
Manjul's remarks during the podcast contribute to efforts by some researchers to contextualize major Sanskrit texts within the framework of archaeological evidence and ancient Indian history. The discussion reflects the continued scholarly interest in reconciling textual traditions with material remains from India's pre-historical and proto-historical periods.