BOOK REVIEW

Title: The Sarasvati flows on: The continuity of Indian culture

Author: B.B Lal
Publisher: Aryan Books International,New Delhi (2002)

The mystery of the lost river of Indian subcontinent- the Sarasvati, as it is popularly known,
have perplexed scholars and has given rise to a lot of debate regarding its identity, origin,
hydrogeology and continuity in the academic circles. B.B Lal, noted archaeologist, in his
book The Sarasvati flows on : the continuity of Indian Culture tries to bring in the image of
the continuous flow of this ancient river as a motif to show the continuity of the culture
which is associated with this river- the culture of Harappan civilization.
In the preface, the author lays down his intentions in writing this book to counter arguments
regarding the identity of Rigvedic Sarasvati and to establish the continuity of the culture of
the Indus valley civilization in our daily lives. This book has been divided into five chapters.
The first two chapters deal with the issue of the identity of Sarasvati as a Rigvedic river
different from the Helmand of Afganistan. The later chapters explain about the prominent
archaeological sites associated with river Sarasvati and how the ancient culture along the
Indus and the Sarasvati has lived on in the modern times. Thus, the establishment of the roots
of many customs and traditions in the modern era to the ancient civilization along the Indus-
Sarasvati basin forms the crux of authors argument in this book.
In the first chapter the author introduces the concept of Sarasvati mentioned in the Rigveda.
Using various verses in the Rigveda, the author potrays the multiple identities of Sarasvati in
the vedas- as a holy river, river-deity, Goddess, an Apri- deity,and the idea of
Sarasvatias Vak(pp.1).Sarasvati has a special place in the Rigveda. Some of the Rigvedic
hymns are exclusively devoted to her(pp.1).The author utilizes the well-known Nadi-stuti
hymn in the Rigveda to establish about the geographical position of Sarasvati river as in
between the Yamuna and the Sutlej(pp.3).Using other verses in the Rigveda, the author
identifies Sarasvati of the vedic times as mighty river originating in the mountains and
flowing all the way to the ocean(pp.3).Thus it can be deduced that Sarasvati as a river as
well as a deity was revered as the lan vital of the civilization and the incarnation of speech
and intellect in the Vedic times. These references in the Rigveda are used by the author in the
later chapters to identify Sarasvati on the terra firma.
In the second chapter the author identifies Rigvedic Sarasvati as a river located in between
Yamuna and Sutlej. He has emphatically argued that Sarasvati cannot be identical with the
Harakhvati in Afganistan which is mentioned in the ancient Iranian text, vest. The
Rigveda clearly mentions that Sarasvati is sandwiched between Yamuna and Sutlej. The
author argues that there is no such rivers in Afganistan to sandwich the supposed
Sarasvati(Harakhvati)(pp.9). B.B Lal ,using the information obtained from various scholars ,
links the existence of the Rigvedic Sarasvati ,the fourth century BC mighty river with the
modern Sarasvati, a small and dry stream variously known as Ghaggar, Hakra, Raini,
Wahinda and Nara(pp.16).The author then discusses on the possible reasons for drying up of
the Sarasvati. It is estimated that the river dried up some time at the beginning of second
millennium BC as the mature Harappan settlement of Kalibhangan,located on the banks of
the river seemed to be abandoned due to the drying up of the life-giving river.(pp.22). The
drying up of the river is presumed to be due to the seismic activity around the region, which
created the Bata-Markanda Divide, which in turn forced Sarasvati to change its course and
drain into the Yamuna Tear.(pp.24). Thus the author logically tries to pieces the parts of the
puzzle of Sarasvati and brings in a coherent picture of the mighty Sarasvati being reduced to
a small stream.
In the third chapter the author discusses the prominent archaeological sites in the Sarasvati
valley and the implications of the desiccation of Sarasvati on them. The author discusses
various sites of early, mature and late Harappan phases. Based on the evidences of material
culture obtained from these sites in researches conducted by various scholars, the author
argues that there was considerable expanse of Early Harappan culture along the basins of
Saraswati and its tributaries and this cultural complex was heading towards the Mature
Harappan phase.(pp.45).So the early phase of Harappan civilization can be called as
regionalization era during which villages developed and underwent a process of cultural
convergence culminating in the urban phase.(Danino,2010). The author then discusses about
the mature phase of Harappan civilization characterized by full-fledged system of writing,
elaborate town-planning, inscribed seals, thriving trade, etc.(pp. 47). There are considerable
indications showing that this phase relied heavily on the waters of the Sarasvati. For instance,
the existence of a moat in Banawali , which was filled with the waters of Sarasvati.(pp.62). In
this chapter, the author argues against the myth of the Aryan invasion and the destruction of
the Harappan civilization. Using the archaeological evidences of skeletons and Terracotta
figures of horses ,wheels etc., he argues that there was no extinction of Harappan
civilization and in the entire area of Harappan civilization, we have a scenario of continuity
and not of any break.(pp.76). The author argues that the desiccation of Harappan civilization
occurred due to the drying up of the Sarasvati, which forced people to migrate to the North-
eastern parts of the country.(pp.77). Such a migration resulted in the spread of Harappan
cultural traits, some of which still forms the core of Indian culture today.
In the last chapter, the author deals with continuity in Indian culture, which forms the core
subject of the book. He explains that various aspects of the culture of the Harappan
civilization are still followed, juxtaposing current day images with that of the material
evidences from Harappan sites. For instance, there is an image of women wearing a conical
ornament on the head which is similar to the gold cones discovered at Mohenjo-
daro.(pp.84).He elucidates the various material and non-material aspects of the Harappan
people to show that there is a link between modern India and ancient India, even after
revolutionary changes created by forces of modernization and westernisation. He
examines almost every aspect of everyday life of the Harappan people like Ornaments, games
and recreation ,house and town-planning, cooking, agriculture and water
management,transport,crafts, folktales, religion,social hierarchyetc. and connects it to the
customs and practises of people in modern India. However, the author admits that the jury is
still out in the case of continuity of the script of Harappan civilization. There is need for
further research to determine the relationship between Brahmi and Harappan
script.(pp.134).Interestingly, the author notes the existence of writing tables in
Mohenjodaro which is very similar to the takhtis used by children.
B.B Lal has illustrated the idea of continuity of Harappan culture in the modern times, using
the material evidence of a still flowing Rigvedic Sarasvati. This book has more than 100
beautiful illustrations which alone are a detail in itself.He has given logical explanations
regarding the origin, course and the desiccation of the Rigvedic Sarasvati. He has clearly
explained how Sarasvati was the life-giver of the Harappan civilization and has convinced
the readers that Harappan civilization still lives on and is a vital organ of our socio-cultural
fabric.(pp.136). He engages the reader in his arguments by asking questions and has
emphasised his main arguments in bold letters.
However, the reviewer feels that the author has utilized only the Rigveda in explaining the
course of Saraswatiriver. The Brahmanas, Ramayana and Mahabharatha ,the Puranas and a
plethora of other texts also validate the existence and disappearance of the
Sarasvati.(Danino,2010).These are not mentioned in the book. He has also ignored the current
implications of salvaging the lost Sarasvati which pertains to the reclamation of water
logged areas of Punjab and Haryana.(Athavale,2008).Even though the author has logically
argued that the cultural traits of Harappan civilization continues in the present generation, he
has not been able to explain the breaks between early and mature Harappan
civilization(pp.50) and how such cultural transmission was made possible in a country which
was razed and ruled by several leaders belonging to different ethos over several centuries.
To sum up, this book traces how the customs of modern India have a conclusive link with one
of the most ancient civilizations of the world. He has effectively portrayed the all-
embracing character of Indian culture,which has managed to retain its own identity even
after interaction with so many other cultures, which could not be said about other ancient
civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia (pp.136).Such lasting permanence of culture is
something that is unique to India and it must be considered as one of our greatest strengths.

References
1. Lal, B. B. The Sarasvati Flows On: The Continuity of Indian Culture. New Delhi:
Aryan Books International, 2002.
2. Danino, Michel. The Lost River: On the Trail of the Sarasvati. New Delhi: Penguin
Books India, 2010.
3. "Use of SarasvatiPalaeo Channels in Reclamation of Water Logged Areas of Punjab
and Haryana." In Vedic River Sarasvati and Hindu Civilization, edited by S.
Kalyanaraman, by R.N Athavale, 88. New Delhi: Aryan Books International in
Association with Sarasvati Research and Educational Trust, 2008.




BOOK REVIEW
THE SARASVATI FLOWS ON: THE CONTINUITY OF
INDIAN CULTURE
AUTHOR: B.B LAL
PUBLISHER: ARYAN BOOKS INTERNATIONAL, NEW DELHI(2001)