Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin Announces USD 1 Million Prize for Decoding Indus Valley Script
During the inauguration of a three-day international conference marking the centenary of the discovery of the Indus Civilization, he announced a remarkable incentive: a prize of $1 million for any individual or organization that successfully deciphers the script. This move underscores the importance of unraveling the secrets of the past to enrich our comprehension of ancient human societies.
The Indus Valley Civilization, dating back to 2600–1900 BCE, is renowned for its advanced urban planning, sophisticated drainage systems, and thriving trade networks. However, the inability to interpret its script has left many aspects of its culture, governance, and social structure shrouded in mystery. Scholars have hypothedata-sized that the script, comprising over 400 distinct symbols, could represent a proto-writing system, an early form of Dravidian language, or an entirely unique linguistic construct. Despite the use of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and computer modeling, the script remains an unsolved puzzle, serving as both a testament to the civilization's complexity and a challenge to modern-day linguistics and archaeology.