Delivering the first Prof RC Gaur Memorial Lecture at AMU's department of History, Sathe said "because of the interconnections with the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations, the Harappans introduced certain new methods and techniques in the field of architecture, art and commerce. The Great bath of Mohenjodaro is the first ever known evidence of swimming pool. The first evidence of dockyard has been traced out at Lothal and the first ever known furrowed field for the cultivation of crops has been found at Kalibangan."

 He said that Dholavira in Cutch is a site of distinct nature as being divided in three parts named as castle, middle town and lower town, unlike the other Harappan cities, divided only in two parts i.e. citadel complex and lower town. As the site was located in the dry zone of Cutch the Harappans applied new techniques by making underground tanks and wells for depositing the water of rain. The site has also exhibited the building structures made of blocks of stones unlike the other Harappan sites, where the structures are found of mud and burnt bricks. The commode system of latrines, which is usually considered a western innovative style was originally a contribution of Harappans as noticed at Dholavira.

Prof. Shinde also highlighted the reasons for the decline of Harappan culture. The drying up of Ghaggar-Hakra valleys leading to the environmental degradation and the decline of foreign trade are dealt with as the more reasonable factors of decline than the older views of sudden Aryan encroachment and floods.