Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions to understand writing systems and gain insights about the writers and time periods. However, epigraphy faces many challenges. Only a fraction of inscriptions have been found, and many are damaged or incomplete. The meanings of words can be specific to time and place. Additionally, inscriptions often exaggerate rulers' achievements and omit defeats. They may claim control over large territories or descend from prestigious lineages, but some facts seem implausible or contradict other sources. Multiple interpretations are possible due to fading scripts, missing text, undated inscriptions, and the biases of royal courts. Epigraphy provides valuable historical information but must be analyzed critically considering these issues.

1. EPIGRAPHY
ChallengesAnd Prospects

2. Concept Of Epigraphy
• Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions, or epigraphs, as writing; it
is the science of identifying graphemes, clarifying their
meanings, classifying their uses according to dates and cultural
contexts, and drawing conclusions about the writing and the
writers.
• Although several thousand inscriptions have been discovered,
not all have been deciphered, published and translated.
• many more inscriptions must have existed, which have not
survived the ravages of time.
• At present probably only a fraction of what was inscribed is
available.

3. Fundamental issues with epigraphy.
• Letters AreVery Faintly Engraved, ImpossibleTo Reconstruct.
• Words Damaged Or Letters Are Missing.
• Meaning OfWords May Be SpecificTo Particular Place OrTime.
• Routine Practices AreVery Less Engraved. farming, amusement etc.
• Development Of Scripts Are Debatable.
• Most OfThe Articles Are DeliberateWork.
• Genealogical Section QuotesThe Name With Bares Details.
• Different Dating Techniques And Eras Creates Ambiguity ( Large No. Of
Inscriptions Are Undated).

4. • Can only be approximately referred to a period not to a definite date.
• In Early Medieval Phase:- Term Gotra Used To Define Genealogy. (
Pallavas- Kanchi-bhardwaja),
• Claims Descent From The Solar, Lunar , Yadav & Other such extinct
clans.
• In Some Cases FabricatedGenealogy Can Be Easily Detected:
For Example. Vajrahasta 3rd (1038-70 A.D.) Of Ganga Dynasty Claims
Descent Of Aitrey Gotra (Descent Of Sage Atri ),While his grand son
Anantvarman ChodgangadevaTraces OriginTo GodVishnu.

5. • Prasasti Composers Are The Part Of Royal Court & Intentionally Or
Unintentionally Exaggerated The Achievements Of Their Patron.
Example: Mahakut Inscription Claims: Chalukya King Kirtivarman
1st Subjugated, Vanga, Anga, Klinga, Vattura, Magadha, Madraka,
Kerala, Ganga, Pandya, Dramila, Choliya, Aluka &Vaijyanti.
• It Seems Impossible Because His Son’s (Pulkesin 2nd ) Aihole
Inscription Fails To Express The Concealed Territory And Limited
Between Narmada And Cauvery.
• Khajuraho Inscription Of Chandella King Dhanga (950-1002a.D.)
Also Claims Such Victory That Looks Superfluous. It Claims “ He
Crushed The Rulers Of Kanchi, Andhra, Radha & Anga Captured
The Queens And PutThem In Jail”
• Collision-Victory-queens-prison.

6. • Unpalatable Facts Like Defeats or subjugation Were Often
Completely Supressed, And At Times They Were Only Vaguely
Described Deliberately In Ambiguous Language That Can Be
Interpreted As Applicable Both To A Paramount Sovereign And To
A Sub-ordinate Rulers.
• Early Mediaeval Period Has Morally Downfall Period, Indecisive
Battle And Even Defeats Are Presented As Victory. e.g. Rana
Kumbha Fought An Indecisive Battle Against Malwa sultan and
Described AsVictor At Commemoration Pillar Raised At Chittor.
• Rana uday singh of chittor claimed to overshadowed the akbar
while in fact his capital was ceased.

7. •Prasastis Often Claims Conventional Things and less
historical facts.
•Devpala (9th Cen. A.D.) Ruled Over Bengal & Bihar Claims
Ruler Of The Entire Land Bounded ByThe Himalaya.
•Nagpur Prasasti , Of Lakshmanvarman (Parmars) Claims
Control Upto River Oxus. ( Seems Motivated From
Kalidasa’s Raghuvansham In Which Raghu Advanced
UptoThe Same RiverTo Stop Chaos Created By Huns)

8. • Mere Present From The Neighbour Kings Pompously
Represented By The Court Poet As Tribute & Contact Of Any Kind
As Sub-ordination.
• Often Illiterate Or Semi-literate Gold Smiths And Stone Cuters
Were Entrusted For The Task That Led To The Numerous Errors
and multiple interpretations.
• There Are Often Discrepancies In The Same Account Quoted In
Different Records Of A Family.
• “ In War Every Commander Claims The Credit Of Victory, But
None AdmitsThe Blame For Defeat” ~Richard Solomon

9. • I owe my thanks to
-Dr. D.C. Sircar, Indian Epigraphy, University Of Calcutta,
Published By Motilal Banarsidas, 1965.
-Dr. Richard Solomon, Indian Epigraphy, Oxford University Press,
1998.
SpecialThanksTo- Anjana Guleria (M.A. , M.Phil., SET)
THANKYOU FOR LISTENING PATIENTLY.