Who among the following deciphered the Brahmi Script of the Mauryan period?
AJames Mill
BJames Prinsep
CRakhal Das Banerji
DHerbert Hope Risley
Answer:
B. James Prinsep
Read Explanation:
James Prinsep: Decipherer of Brahmi Script
- James Prinsep (1799–1840) was an English antiquarian and colonial administrator in India.
- He is most famous for his role in deciphering the Brahmi script, an ancient Indian abugida used in the earliest decipherable inscriptions and manuscripts of India, dating from the 3rd century BCE.
- Prinsep's work was crucial in understanding the inscriptions found on the pillars and edicts of Emperor Ashoka, the third ruler of the Mauryan dynasty.
- In 1837, James Prinsep successfully deciphered the Brahmi script, unlocking the secrets of Ashoka's edicts, which provided invaluable historical information about the Mauryan Empire, its administration, religious policies, and the spread of Buddhism.
- His groundbreaking work allowed historians to gain a much clearer picture of ancient Indian history and society during the Mauryan period.
- Prinsep also contributed significantly to numismatics (the study of coins) and archaeology in India.
- The Prinsep Ghat in Kolkata, a memorial built in his honor, stands as a testament to his contributions to Indian heritage and history.