Tamil Nadu Offers $1 Million Prize for Indus Script Deciphering

During the inauguration of a three-day international seminar marking the centenary of the Indus Valley Civilisation's discovery, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a $1 million reward for anyone who can decipher the ancient Indus Valley script, which remains unsolved after a century. Stalin emphasized the significant similarities between symbols found in Indus Valley artifacts and those uncovered in Tamil Nadu, with 60% of pottery symbols aligning closely and nearly 90% for some mud pot symbols. He also announced a ₹2 crore grant to establish a research chair named after renowned archaeologist Iravatham Mahadevan to further explore these connections. Recent archaeological discoveries from Sivakalai in Tuticorin suggest the existence of an Iron Age civilization in Tamil Nadu that ran parallel to the Indus Valley Civilisation. This initiative aims to deepen understanding of both cultures and combat narratives that attempt to reframe the Indus Valley as solely Vedic. Stalin’s remarks highlight the ongoing importance of these ancient civilizations in understanding Tamil cultural heritage.