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It is nothing short of awe-inspiration and
an imagination controlled only by the results of archaeological
excavation to visit the city in its prime, two or three: centuries
prior to 2000 B.C., long before time the Indus floods had bitten
into its derelict streets and houses.
We find that the city falls into two somewhat distinct parts,
a lower and an upper. The latter, towards the western outskirts:
in an oblong mound, 400 yards from north to south and 200
yards from east to west, and massively fortified.
Within the walls stands a series of remarkable structures,
which we assume to be connected with the civic administration
whether secular, or religious or both. One of these buildings
contains a well-built tank, which probably serves a ritual
function. Another, with solid walls and cloistered court,
is seemingly the residence of an high official, possibly the
high priest himself, or perhaps rather a college of priests.
Yet another is a large pillared hall, designed obviously for
ceremonies or conferences. It is clear enough that this assemblance
of unique and monumental structures, frowning from its pedestal
upon the town below, represents the stern, masterful rule
of which the "lower city" also constantly reminds
us, Before descending from the citadel, however, let us climb
upon the eastern battlements and survey the lower city from
above.
At our feet, we see the houses and shops stretching for a
mile towards the broad Indus, where a bund seeks to ward off
the river that at the same time serves the city and threatens
it. From beneath the two ends of the citadel, parallel streets,
some 30 feet broad, stretch away from us and are crossed by
other straight streets, which divide tile town-plan into great
oblong blocks, each 400 yards in length and 200 or 300 yards
in width. Within these blocks, purposeful lanes sub-divide
the groups of buildings and maintain the general rectangularity
of the plan. It is clear that the city is no chance-growth.
It is drilled and regimented by a civic architect whose will
is law.
Even from where we stand, we can see that the streets are
lined with a remarkable system of brick-covered drains, In
the nearer distance one of these is being cleaned out by a
uni-formed municipal sanitary-squad, at a point where a manhole
has been built for the purpose (Two thousand years later,
archaeologists will find the heap of debris still lying beside
the manhole). But it is 1he "hour of cow-dust",
when the children are driving in the humped cattle and the
short-horns and the buffaloes from the countryside for the
night, along streets which, though well-drained, are unpaved;
carts and an occasional elephant that wend amongst them rises
high amongst the houses and obscures detail. In the main streets
there are few doors and fewer windows, most of the houses
are entered from the side-lanes, where pie-dogs lurk and chase
occasional cats, and children play with marbles and with little
terracotta carts and dolls Here and there a chute in an outside
well discharges waste and sewerage into a brick-built soil-tank
or into a large jar, pending the attention of the busy sanitary-squad,
Meanwhile, at the shop behind us, another municipal squad
the Inspector of Weights and Measures is rigorously checking
the shopkeeper's cubic stone weights against a standard set.
All is orderly and regulated.
The epoch of discovering the remains at Moenjodorro, and
hence preserving it, was made in 1922. This world famous site
is now being threatened with salinity and river erosion with
the result that the structural ruins are fast deteriorating.
The preservation and protection of this unique heritage is
the responsibility of the entire world. Pakistan in collaboration
with UNESCO has taken immediate measures to meet the challenge.
If steps had not been taken, the existing remains at Moenjodorro
would have crumbled to pieces within the coming 20 to 30 years
and this marvel of human progress would disappear from the
surface of the planet.
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