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.
- 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:
Correct Answer: Option C
Here's an analysis of the statements:
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Statement 1: The Rigvedic Aryans are described as using coats of mail (varma) and helmets (sipra/sironastra) in warfare. Evidence for these is found in texts like the Ramayana. The Indus Valley Civilization has not provided archaeological evidence of such warfare equipment. Therefore, Statement 1 is correct.
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Statement 2: The Indus Valley people knew about copper, bronze, silver, and gold, but not iron. The Rigvedic Aryans also knew about gold, silver, and copper. Therefore, Statement 2 is incorrect.
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Statement 3: The Rig Veda mentions horse-drawn chariots. However, archaeological evidence for the horse in the Harappan era is limited and disputed. While some scholars argue for its presence, there's no widespread agreement. As per UPSC, Statement 3 is considered correct.
Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 are correct.
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