Public Administration System in Indus–sarsvati Civilization- A Study

The Indus Valley Civilization was a cultural and political entity which flourished in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent between c. 7000 - c. 600 BCE. Its modern name derives from its location in the valley of the Indus River, but it is also commonly referred to as the Indus-Sarasvati Civilization and the Harrapan Civilization. The first signs of an administrative system in Indian history are found in the archaeological material remains that are known for its cities based in urban settings that must have surely required a network of public administration system. Anthropological studies of ancient societies suggest that the story of urbanization is one of increasing cultural complexity, a widening food resource base, greater technological sophistication, expanding craft production, social stratification, and the emergence of a level of political organization that can be described as a state. Even a century after the discovery of Indus-Sarasvati civilization, no clear evidence of a ruling class has been recovered in spite of considerable growth in our knowledge of this civilization and its technologies. This led to the emergence of the “stateless” paradigm,[10] according to which, the absence of any substantial evidence of priest-kings, slaves, standing armies, or court officials does not qualify Indus-Sarasvati civilization to be put into the category of State or Empire.