We wanted to understand the civilisation we come from: Thangam Thenarasu

On September 20, 2024, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said the State government planned to hold an international conference and install a life-size statue of the archaeologist John Marshall, who announced the discovery of the Indus Valley Civilisation through excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro exactly a century ago. In January 2025, CM Stalin announced a $1 million prize for experts or organisations that succeed in deciphering the scripts of the Indus Valley civilisation for everyone to understand. In this exclusive interview, Minister Thenarasu explains its implications for Dravidian history, how artificial intelligence can be used to decrypt meanings, and more.