Social Life at Indus Valley Civilization
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Language
Regarding the language of the Indus Valley Civilization, we don't have a great deal of knowledge because the Harappa script has not been deciphered. The script was written from right to left (←←←) and this is something on which almost all scholars agree. Here are some more guess works done:
- The language might be proto-Sanskrit or proto-Dravidian, nobody knows.
- The harappan inscriptions are on Seals, copper tablets, bone, ivory but NOT on Bricks.
Religion
Most prominent religious figures of the Indus Valley Civilization are Unicorn, Pashupatinath, Seven mothers (sapta matrika) and compound creatures. The later three are now inculcated in Hindu religion. The mother goddess was dominant shows that the society was predominantly matriarchal. There was a division of labour and society was diversified and stratified. The people were scholars, artisans, traders, warriors and businessmen.
Protoshiva or Pashupati
The Pashupati is the only possibly male deity of Indus Valley Civilization, as depicted on various seals. This deity is surrounded by 4 wild animals and this 
gives an indication that it is Pashupatinath or a prototype of Lord Shiva. The deity is surrounded by 4 animals viz. an elephant, a tiger, a buffalo and a rhinoceros. Apart from this there 2 deer's beneath the seat of the deity. The headdress of the deity has two horns. It wears as number of bangles and has a pectoral round the neck, and an inscription of seven letters appears at the top.
This representation has at least three concepts which are usually associated with Shiva viz., that he is
- Trimukha (three-faced)
- Pashupati (Lord of animals)
- Yogisvara or Mahayogi.
The first two aspects are apparent from the seal itself. The deity is sitting cross-legged in a Padmasana posture with eyes turned towards the tip of the nose which evidence the Yogisvara aspect of the deity. The deity is always nude save for a cincture round the waist.
Linga Worship
Stone symbols of both male and female sex organs found at Indus Valley Civilization gives in indication that Phallus or Linga worship was in practice.
Tree Worship and other rituals
The peepal tree has been depicted on many seals which gives a sense that it might be a sacred tree. Humped bull was a venerated animal and there are evidences of snake worship and snake charmers. No temples, No special places of worship, no castes. The people had a sense of arts and crafts and it is proved by the toys, figurines, bangles, stone statues, metal statues, etc. The people were expert in making seals.
Talisman
On a seal is depicted a six-rayed motif which may signify the sun. Swastiks and cross signs were harbingers of good luck. A shell inlay, shaped like a heart, was probably used as a Talisman in the Indus Valley.
Food:
The evidences of both veg and nonveg life have been found at Indus Valley Civilization. There are evidences of cultivation of Wheat, Barley, Rice, Date, melon, lemon etc. people were cattle herders and used milk and milk products. There are evidences that people made sweets. Half burnt bones give evidence of nonveg life.
Dress:
A figure of a bearded man has been found in Mohenjo-Daro which indicated that they used sewn clothing's. The cloth used to cover the torso in the upper part of the body in such as way that it kept right hand Free. There are evidences that they people took interest in cosmetics and had great aesthetic sense. Men kept long hair and kept bread or also shaven beard. The people of Indus valley civilization were aware of Bronze mirrors, Ivory Combs, antimony rods but NOT hair dyes.
Sports and Entertainments:
The large number of terracotta figurines and toys such as cart, bull, elephant, monkeys, chariots; whistles etc. indicate that the children entertained themselves. There are no clear evidences of Music in the civilization; however, the finding of a dance girl bronze figurine gives some insight about the social entertainment.
Tools, arms and weapons:
They are made up of Copper and Bronze. They were unaware of the use of Iron.
Science & Technology
The Harappan civilization was the womb of mathematics from where both the concept of numbers and the numerical system originated. The numerical system developed by the Harappan included symbols for most numbers and several innovations for mathematical manipulations such as addition and multiplication. The Harappan numerical system is decimal and additive multiplicative in usage. There are symbols for numerical for 4 to 100, 1000 and their derivatives. The numerical system which was first used by the Harappan later found its way into other ancient civilization. These people are known to have constructed the world's first tidal port at Lothal at the head of the gulf company. They possessed a high degree of knowledge relating to the ebb and flow of tides and carried on brisk overseas trade with other civilizations.
They were also conversant with the medical sciences and used various herbs and drugs to treat diseases. The people of Indus valley Civilization practiced Trephination which is kind of medical intervention making a burr hole in the skull to treat migraines and mental disorders. The evidences of Trephination have been found at Lothal, Kalibangan and Burzahom but not at Harappa or most other sites.
Burial Practice
Surkotda and Dholavira are two sites of Indus Valley Civilization where the burial practice resembled the megalithic burial practice. Burzhahom is a Neolithic site and here practice of burying dogs with the masters was common.
Why Indus Valley Civilization is known as “Terracotta Civilization”?
Because most of the items found there are of terra cotta such as utensils, toys etc. Indus Valley Civilization is also known as Terracotta civilization. These people are known to have used the ornamental terracotta utensils, decorated with human figures, birds and animals and geometrical pattern. Some utensils have been decorated with lines, angles, and circles; some have been decorated with birds, animals, leaves and flowers. These terra cotta utensils are smooth and shining and it has amazed what kind of base or varnish was used by those artists that even after thousands of years the shine is still there. The base is generally red with decorative lines in black.
