1. Brahmi: The ancient script of India Chetan Vaity Nov 2009

2. Its a script... ●... not a language – Was used to write Sanskrit as well as many of Prakrit languages ● Period from 4 th century BC to 4 th century AD ● Survives only in rock-cut inscriptions, on pottery and on copper plates ● James Princep – deciphered Brahmi (1838) – Coins of the Bactrian Greek kings – Greek on one face and Brahmi on the other

3. Indian Script family

4. The Brahmi alphabet - 1

5. The Brahmi alphabet - 2

6. Some examples

7. Ashokan inscriptions

8. Ashoka's 1 st inscription

9. The first line

10. Some more...

12. References ● Purabhilekha Vidya – Shobhana Gokhale ● www.ancientscripts.com