Dr. Gangesh Shah Gondwana*

Ph. D. from Department of History, Faculty of Social Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh-221005. Deputy Registrar, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) Varanasi, U.P.-221005, Republic of India.

ORCID No.: 0000-0003-4285-6416

Received Date: May 11, 2026; Accepted Date: June 12, 2026; Published Date: November 05, 2026;

^*Corresponding author: Dr. Gangesh Shah Gondwana, Deputy Registrar, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh-221005, Republic of India, Email: gangesh.indusscript@gmail.com

Citation: Gondwana GS (2026) Learning Indus Script via Proto-Dravidian Gondi, Clan-Totem Correlation, and Socio-Cultural Context. Educational Development in Various Fields: EDIVF-149.

DOI: 10.37722/EDIVF.2026201

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Abstract

     The Indus pictographic script is considered enigmatic; its language is not clear and has baffled scholars around the world to determine it. Internal legends and studies indicate egalitarian, socio-cultural and linguistic parallels between Indus people and Pre-Dravidian Koitoors/Gonds, revealing shared grammatical structures and root morphemes that differentiate them from dominant south Dravidian languages, and attracts the attention of global researchers. Research delves into the clan-totemism and complex socio-cultural structure of the pre-Dravidian Koitoors, an indigenous larger community with a societal organization predating the Indus civilization, organized into 12 Saga (phratries), 750 Paaring (clans) and 2250 Pari Hindaan (totems), established by the natural philosopher and preceptor Koya Pari Pahandi Kupar Lingo whose image is illustrated by the scribe on seal M-1937-304, thus disproves the earlier assertion that it represents Pashupatinath. Conclusion drawn by Walter A. Fairservis and methodology rooted in Kangali’s groundbreaking research, who identified 225 basic signs as logos and syllabic, consistently deciphered 257 inscriptions in Gondi (2002). Underlying language is Gondi and findings offer substantial insights into the prehistoric linguistic foundation of the Indus Civilization, corroborated by consistent decipherment results more than 90 percent of the texts. Key seals M-260a: Gondola Ta Naalsaga Muthawapoy Annal (four phratry chief preceptor, leader of the community), H-89a: Potugal Kalta Aandi Murapoy Muthawapoytakarek (the first prime chief of the Potugal dynasty, follower of the chief preceptor), M-1181 reveals “Sukkom Kalta Pahandi Muthawapoyta Sarri Aand” (Pahandi chief preceptor’s marg is for the happy life), M-1937-304: Aal Koya Pari Pahandi Muthwapoy Aand (this/person is Koya Pari Pahandi chief preceptor).