Q. Which of the following correctly describes the land of the Seven Rivers (Sapta Sindhu) where the initial Aryan settlements were located?
(a) The Indus Valley region
(b) The Punjab and Delhi region
(c) The region from Eastern Afghanistan to the upper valley of the Ganges
(d) The land of the Indus and its principal tributaries
Ans: (d) The land of the Indus and its principal tributaries
Explanation: The correct answer is (d) The land of the Indus and its principal tributaries.
The term “Sapta Sindhu,” which translates to “Seven Rivers,” refers to the region where the initial Aryan settlements were believed to have been located. The description of the land of the Seven Rivers corresponds to the area of the Indus River and its principal tributaries.
This region includes present-day Pakistan and parts of northwestern India, primarily the fertile plains of the Indus River and its tributaries, such as the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers. The Indus Valley region, which encompasses the ancient civilization of the Harappan or Indus Valley civilization, is a significant part of this area.
The region from Eastern Afghanistan to the upper valley of the Ganges (c) is a broader description that goes beyond the specific land of the Seven Rivers. The Punjab and Delhi region (b) is a more localized area within the broader region of the Seven Rivers, although it does not encompass the entirety of it.
Therefore, the most accurate description of the land of the Seven Rivers (Sapta Sindhu) is (d) the land of the Indus and its principal tributaries.
