THE PREHISTORIC CONNECTION OF JNU

It is one of the best universities in India. The institution is not only famous for its contribution to the field of education but also for its political opinions. However, there’s another thing that most of us are unaware of beyond all these aspects of the university. Let’s dig in and unearth the prehistoric connection of this prestigious institution.

Jawaharlal Nehru University or JNU; Image Credit: https://www.jnu.ac.in

Delhi has always been famous for its history and beautiful architecture. The city finds mention in the epic Mahabharata as Indraprastha. During the medieval period, it became an important centre and later the capital of India. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of its equally rich prehistoric past. Scholars have found various stone tools and artefacts from the Palaeolithic period or Old Stone Age in different parts of Delhi. According to them, these tools are almost 100,000 years old. Interestingly, one of the important sites in this context is the Jawaharlal Nehru University or JNU.

The Delhi ridge, which is the extension of Aravalli, is a well-known spot for finding prehistoric artefacts. The institution is located near the South-Central Ridge of Delhi Ridge, making it a significant site for archaeologists. In the 1950s, Delhi University faced the problem of accommodating a large population of students within the limited infrastructure. To tackle this problem, the Education Ministry suggested a new plan i.e., establishing a new university in Delhi. Thus, in 1969, the Jawaharlal Nehru University or JNU was established. Initially, meant to be named Raisina University, as suggested by the former Prime Minister of India- Jawaharlal Nehru. About 300 acres of land were allotted to the new University near the Munirka village. The land was a rocky plateau where the Gujar pastoralists lived with sheep and goats for centuries. Who knew at that time, the same site might have some archaeological wonders too?

The first instance of finding archaeological treasure came to light when BM Pande, the former Director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), visited JNU in 1983. At the Uttarakhand area of the campus, he found a hand axe. Over the years, the university campus has yielded various stone tools like hand axes, cleavers, scrapers, and cores; with their debris. Another type of stone tool called microliths was also found. A microlith was manufactured during the Mesolithic period or Middle Stone Age. These are generally a centimetre in length and breadth. These were found with their waste reduction predominantly in the Paschimabad area of the campus. At several places, cupules were seen. These are circular man-made hollows on a rock slab. Besides, carvings of board game and graffities consisting of names in Nagari script, animals, few abstract drawings are found in the campus. Interesting, the Archaeological Survey of India found pottery that belongs to the early medieval or medieval period. There were no traces of ceramic before that.

Stone tools are yielded from almost everywhere on the campus. A large number of unfinished tools, flakes, cores and debris were found buried under the School of Physical Sciences building. One of the hills inside the campus got identified as a factory site. It is a site where people from the Palaeolithic period manufactured stone tools. Who knows if this might be a site where the knowledge of stone tool manufacturing was passed from one generation to another? If this is true, then it could be suggested that the place has its roots of being into teaching since prehistoric times!

The small world of JNU has some interesting prehistoric stories buried deep inside. More research and scholarly work are required to unearth these stories. Unfortunately, very few works have been published so far. Hopefully, the next time you hear the word JNU, remember the university for its prehistoric past along with its present stories.