With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilisation did not leave any evidence of using them.

2. Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.

3. Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The correct answer is 1 only.

Let us analyze each statement individually based on historical and archaeological evidence comparing the Rigvedic Aryans and the Indus Valley Civilisation:

Statement 1: Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare, whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilisation did not leave any evidence of using them.
• This statement is correct. The Rigvedic literature mentions defensive armor such as Varman (coat of mail) and Shipra (helmet), indicating that Rigvedic warfare involved personal protective equipment. On the other hand, archaeological excavations of Indus Valley Civilisation sites have yielded offensive weapons like spears, daggers, and arrows, but no evidence of defensive armor such as coats of mail or helmets has been found.

Statement 2: Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
• This statement is incorrect. The Indus Valley Civilisation was a Bronze Age civilisation. The Harappans were well aware of copper, bronze, gold, and silver, but they did not know iron. Iron was introduced in the Indian subcontinent during the later Vedic period (around 1000 BCE). Since Indus Valley people were not aware of iron, statement 2 is false.

Statement 3: Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.
• This statement is incorrect. While the horse (Ashva) played a central role in the nomadic and chariot-centered culture of the Rigvedic Aryans, it is incorrect to state that there is "no evidence" of Indus Valley people being aware of horses. Archaeological findings at sites like Surkotada in Gujarat have yielded bone remains of horses, and horse-like figurines have been found at Lothal and Mohenjo-daro, suggesting that Harappans were aware of the animal, even if it was not central to their urban economy.

Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.