LUDHIANA: Providing an important missing link in Indian history, two brothers, Jaideep Singh and Anamdeep Singh, are that the Greeks came to Phullanwal village in Ludhiana and stayed there between 300 and 200 BC. On the basis of a research study conducted on a barren mound in the village from which the brothers collected two copper coins and a lot of terra cotta items, they claim that successors of Seleucus, who took over after the deaths of Alexander the Great and Antiochus came, here. Alexander the Great, the king of Macedonia, died in 323 BC in Babylon.
Although many history books including ‘The Cambridge History of India’ and the latest Madhubala’s Archaeology of Punjab’ have references that the Greeks did come to India but there is no mention of Phullanwal village, the brothers contended. The earlier books say that the Greeks came to a place beyond the Jhelum only. According to the Gazetteer of Punjab: “The area of Amritsar district also came under Greek influence when in about 326 BC, the area of Punjab up to the banks of River Beas was conquered by Alexander.”
Speaking about the historical background of the city, Jaideep said that during excavations carried out at a mound at Sunet village in Ludhiana, it was also established that three tribal civilizations, early Kushanas, Yaudhayas, and late Kushanas, lived here from 1st century AD to 3rd century AD. The archaeological department, after taking over the area, stopped further excavations. This mound of historical importance is now crying for upkeep. Except for a board of the archaeological department displayed in a comer in the nearby colony, the department has not taken any initiative to conduct further studies. However, the brothers are hopeful that if more excavations are carried out, the theory that the Greeks did come here, could be confirmed.
Jaideep said that the mound at Phullanwal which spread over acres, had been reduced to just a few hundred square yards. When the ENS team visited the spot, tractor loads of soil from this mound were being lifted to be supplied to various construction sites. He said that if no steps were taken to protect this price less spot, it will be razed to the ground within a couple of months. Elaborating further, the brothers said that the civilization passed into oblivion probably Bee severe floods hit the area. This was also the reason for the formation of this mound. “The layers of animal bones and sandy terrain establish the theory that floods caused havoc and resulted in the end of the civilization,” says Jaideep. The brothers disclosed that some of the old residents claimed to have found some terracotta sculptures and carryings of gods and goddesses, probably Zeus, the Indo Greek god. Unfortunately, the villagers said that they had destroyed these idols as they were in bad shape. Explaining the location of various artifacts in the mound, Jiadeep said that regular layers of broken terracotta were found at a height of 5ft above the ground level and ash of human and animal bones were found at a height of 6 ft. Besides, shells, kaudies and other articles, including a weapon, were also recovered from the mound. Talking about the com munities that might have inhabited this area, the brothers said that they were probably non vegetarians and health conscious. This was based on their findings of pieces of animal bones in terracotta pots and drinking jars.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 18, 1996
