Question

Which of the following statements are correct?
(A) Harappan seal was a distinctive artifact of the Harappan Civilization.
(B) Harappan seal motifs conveyed a meaning to those unable to read it.
(C) Harappan seals had Sanskrit script on them.
(D) Harappan seals had Pali and Prakrit inscriptions on them.
(E) Some Harappan seals show wider spacing of script from right and cramping on the left.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. (A) and (D) only
• B. (C), (D) and (E) only
• C. (A), (B) and (E) only
• D. (A), (C) and (D) only

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

The solution involves evaluating each statement about Harappan seals: 

• (A) Harappan seal was a distinctive artifact of the Harappan Civilization. This is correct. Harappan seals are indeed one of the most characteristic artifacts of this civilization.
• (B) Harappan seal motifs conveyed a meaning to those unable to read it. This is correct. The motifs on the seals, often depicting animals and other symbols, were meant to convey meaning beyond the script.
• (C) Harappan seals had Sanskrit script on them. This is incorrect. The Harappan script has not been deciphered yet, and Sanskrit is considered different from it.
• (D) Harappan seals had Pali and Prakrit inscriptions on them. This is incorrect. Pali and Prakrit are linguistic forms from later periods, not found on Harappan seals.
• (E) Some Harappan seals show wider spacing of script from right and cramping on the left. This is correct. It is a characteristic of certain Harappan inscriptions.

The correct answer is: (A), (B) and (E) only.

Answer 2

The correct answer is (A), (B), and (E) only. Here is a detailed explanation: 

• (A) Harappan seal was a distinctive artifact of the Harappan Civilization: This statement is correct. Harappan seals are one of the most notable and extensively studied artifacts of the Harappan Civilization. They serve as an outstanding example of the craftsmanship and were likely used for trade and identification purposes.
• (B) Harappan seal motifs conveyed a meaning to those unable to read it: This statement is plausible. The motifs on the seals, like the unicorn or bull, had symbolic meanings and conveyed important cultural or religious messages even to those who might not read the script.
• (C) Harappan seals had Sanskrit script on them: This statement is incorrect. The script on Harappan seals is known as the Indus script, which remains undeciphered. Sanskrit was not present until much later.
• (D) Harappan seals had Pali and Prakrit inscriptions on them: This statement is incorrect. Like Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit came much later in history. The Indus script is the earliest known and is independent of these later languages.
• (E) Some Harappan seals show wider spacing of script from right and cramping on the left: This statement is correct. Variations in script placement might reflect differences in the purpose or context of the seal usage.