Between the years 3000 BC and 1500 BC, a unique civilization flourished in the Indus Valley that covered an area larger than modern Pakistan.  This was an empire called the Harappan Empire whose people were called Dravidians.  The major cities were Harappa and Mohanjodaro whose features were unique for those days because they included well- planned brick streets, drainage and large baths for ritual cleaning.  Housing varied from two-room structures to large two-storied houses with courtyards.

The Harappan Empire was matriarchal with an emphasis on harmonious, creative, and peaceful ways of living.  To keep the empire prosperous, trade was promoted in and outside the empire, and this tended to enrich other countries and cultures with the matriarchal system of harmonious, creative and peaceful living. The Dravidans sent their merchant ships to Sumeria, to the island of Tilmur, and to Egypt and Mesopotamia.This matriarchal empire was one of the most peaceful and successful cultures in the world and it was blessed with peaceful values, talents, and feelings.

Their religion was pagan and animistic, which included the worship of trees and animals as well as the use of fertility symbols.  Animal and tree worship kept them very close to nature and this instilled them with peaceful qualities such as not eating animals, although they ate fish. Their animal and tree gods did not teach them violence.

The male and female were equal in the Dravidian matriarchal empire.  It was basically an agricultural society, and the women were very close to farms and nature.  Their love and attachment to nature could be seen from their way of living in peace. They domesticated humped cattle,short-horned cattle, buffalo, and perhaps pigs, camels, horses, and donkeys. They were the first to turn cotton into yarn and then they turned yarn into cloth. They invested their talents and energy in domestication of animals, trade, and agriculture.

The emphasis on trade  and prosperous living was probably their downfall, because they did not invent weapons of destruction.  When the Aryans, fighters and traders, invaded the Indus Valley, the Dravidians were not match for them.

Even though this matriarchal empire of long ago floundered, it is a marvelous vision for society where men and women are equal and where equality, harmony, and peace are uppermost in importance. Today there are thousands of societies that do not enjoy equal rights and peace.  Perhaps the matriarchal vision of long ago should be brought forward to help make our world of societies a peaceful place to live.

Naeem Harry
M.Div, M.Th
New Jersey, United States of America 

Other articles by Naeem Harry

Psychology of Persecuted Christians in Pakistan (Naeem Harry)

Pakistan is going through a serious moral turmoil, and Pakistani Christians are being targeted in this moral and spiritual turmoil. The continuous persecution of Christians in Pakistan is making them suffer from many psychological dis-eases. This moral turmoil is also making them suffer from spiritual distress. Their questions needs to be answered, if not answered they need to be listened, so that they are able to explore their emotional and spiritual pains.
Read full detail ...

New Articles

Psychology of Persecuted Christians in Pakistan (Naeem Harry)

Pakistan is going through a serious moral turmoil, and Pakistani Christians are being targeted in this moral and spiritual turmoil. The continuous persecution of Christians in Pakistan is making them suffer from many psychological dis-eases. This moral turmoil is also making them suffer from spiritual distress. Their questions needs to be answered, if not answered they need to be listened, so that they are able to explore their emotional and spiritual pains.
Read full detail ...

Reflection: - Empowering the Youth (Friar Bernard Y Bhatti OFM)

I firmly believe that the youth have a great role to play in any country, nation. It does not matter what they are, what language, color, or geographical background they come from. They have the power, energy, and potential to change and to transform their world for better or for worse.
Read full detail ...

Divided we fall (Nasir Saeed)

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said recently that relations between the US and Pakistan had reached a turning point after the killing of Osama bin Laden and that Pakistan needed to take “decisive” steps in the days ahead to fight terrorism. As always, Pakistan is confused and divided on this and many other issues which need our urgent attention as we seek to take solid steps to resolve them. These issues have become a chronic disease but unfortunately, almost without realising, we have become involved in a blame-game and the rest of the world is looking at us amid increasing trust deficit.
Read full detail ...

Governor's murder deepens fears of Pakistani Christians (Michael Georgy)

To understand why Pakistani Christians feel so threatened by growing Muslim extremism in their country, speak to the uniformed police guard at the jail where a Christian woman is on death row, accused of blasphemy.
Read full detail ...

Shape of things to come (Nasir Saeed)

IF the murder of Salman Taseer is an omen to go by, our minorities are increasingly being left defenceless. What now for religious freedom and human rights?
Read full detail ...