The document discusses the origins and development of the Brahmi script, noting its emergence around the 6th century BCE following the disappearance of the Indus script. It explores various theories regarding Brahmi's connection to Indus script, including indigenous development and foreign influences like Phoenician and Aramaic. The need for deciphering the Indus script is emphasized, as well as the distinction between Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts.

1. Brahmi script and
its origin
: Monika kargeti

2. • 1900– Indus script disappeared
• 6th
century BCE – Brahmi emerges
• Question – Gap of approx. 1000 years?
• Brahmi script related to Indus Script?

3. DIFFERENT EXPLANATION
• Indigenous
• From IV script
• Mostly by Indian scholars
• Proponent – BB Lal
• Graffiti from western- southern
India represents proto-Brahmi
• Vikramkhol cave inscription –
linkage between Indus script and
Brahmi script

4. • Similarities between Indus script and Brahmi
• But certain problems:
• No concrete evidence whether they are script
• BB Lal accepted
• Without deciphering Indus script can’t say certain similarity.

5. FOREIGN ORIGIN
• Phoenician, Greek to Aramaic – ancestor
script
• Aramaic script:
• Popular in nearest and Iran region.
• Also official language of Achaemenid empire.
• During 6th
century BCE – controlled some part
of Indian subcontinent.

6. • Problem –
• To know this first know Kharosthi.
• Popular in north-western India
• Kharosthi older than Brahmi

7. • Kharosthi derived from Aramaic
• Why need to develop another script if already there was one?
• Aramaic not ancestor script
• But there is no similarity between Kharosthi and Brahmi.

8. • Need to decipher Indus script.

9. REFERENCE
• World history encyclopaedia
• Brahmi script : origin- Decipherment-features-theories; Epg pathsHala

10. Thank you