Question
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?
1. There is evidence in the Rigveda of the use of ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) to draw up water.
2. Mention has been made in the Rigveda of the use of implements like parashu/kulisha (axe) and datra/sreni (sickle).
3. 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:
Explanation
The Rigvedic evidence points to the use of wells and simple mechanical devices for drawing water, showing that agriculture was not confined only to naturally irrigated floodplains. However, references to agricultural tools do not by themselves establish irrigation practices.
Statement 1 — Correct: The Rigveda refers to devices such as the ashma chakra (stone pulley wheel) and ahava (strapped wooden pails) for drawing water from wells. This suggests that well irrigation helped agriculture expand beyond floodplains into areas where groundwater was accessible.
Statement 2 — Correct: Historical evidence supports the use of oxen as draught animals for drawing water from wells. Oxen were already domesticated and used for ploughing and transport by the Indus Valley Civilization, making their use for water-lifting plausible and consistent with the broader agricultural economy.
Statement 3 — Incorrect: The Rigveda mentions agricultural tools such as the parashu (axe) and datra (sickle), but these relate mainly to clearing land and harvesting crops. They do not directly establish the use of irrigation or draught-animal power for drawing water.