Consider the following statements about the Rigvedic period: I. Irrigation from wells allowed agriculture to expand away from flood plains and strips on river margins into the present Punjab and Haryana plains having underground water levels reasonably close to the surface. II. Draught-animal power was employed to draw up water out of the wells. Which of the following information support/supports the above statements?
- There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water.
- Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu/kulisha (axe) and datra/sreni (sickle).
- There is a history of the use of ox, even before the Rigveda, for ploughing the land and pulling the carts.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Statement I (well-irrigation enabling agrarian expansion into Punjab-Haryana doab) and Statement II (use of draught animals to lift water) are best supported by the Rigvedic references to the ashma-chakra (stone pulley) and ahava (leather/wooden water-bucket) for drawing water from wells, AND by the well-attested pre-Rigvedic use of oxen for ploughing and pulling carts, which would have supplied the draught-animal power for water-lifting. Statement 2 in the list refers only to axes and sickles — harvesting implements that do not bear on irrigation. Hence 1 and 3 only. (early consensus; verify with official UPSC key when released)