To what extent has the urban planning and culture in the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to the present day urbanization? Discuss.
The Indus Valley Civilization was ahead of its time in multiple ways of organised forms of living, which has been well depicted in the forms of urbanization and culture it possessed. So, the modern day urban planners have considered Indus Valley Civilization as a fine source of various inputs in larger perspectives.
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As far as the architecture of urban system is concerned, present day's layout of streets and well established drainage systems can very well be attributed to the perpendicular alignments of roads and large-scale drainage system of Indus Valley Civilization. The twin cities of Mohenjodaro and Harappa were center to all activities. Both cities were a mile square, with defensive outer walls. Cities were divided into lower dwellings and the citadel housed important buildings. The size of bricks remained the same everywhere. The ratio of brick size was 1: 2.: 4. Till today we are using the same proportion in brick making.
Segregation of city areas of modern times looks highly motivated from Indus Valley Civilization. In those times, town was divided in protected areas of ruling class, dwelling houses of common men, great baths and so on. These have undoubtedly acted as inputs for today's city centers, residential areas, state buildings and so on. Trading areas, granaries, dockyards, can be perceived to give inputs for the planning of today's business centers.
Arts and crafts, seals, pottery, religion, ornament and amulets have been transformed into fashion designing, currency, ceramics, jewellery, etc in modern times acting as the continuum of this ancient civilization. Pottery (Ochre Colored Pottery) excavated from Indus Valley Civilization enables us to understand gradual evolution of various designs, shapes and styles, which are prevalent in the modern time. The connections and inspirations discussed above assert the larger extent of Indus Valley Civilization influencing today's urbanization and culture.
One of the significant features of the urban planning system of Indus Valley Civilization was, no building was allowed to be constructed arbitrarily and encroaching upon a public highway. A well planned and inclined drainage system was present in Indus Valley. Indus Valley Civilization is considered as the first urbanization wave of India. Without doubt Indus Valley Civilization has had a great impact on Urban planning and culture in India.
