GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ARCHAOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA CENTRAL ARCHOLOGICAL LIBRARY ACCESSION NO. “jagse OAL No. HIT: ae INDIAN PALZOGRAPHY 4 areewaty xat fefed syeemm | ames gteee arafieer, aT fae ae [[Plad noe the Creaoe ievented che at of writing, the bestuf eyes, the world could have never attained to its happy condition. } WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR, Hindu Sarisktras (A Socto-Religions Study of Hindu Sacraments) Ks, 25)- Viksamidicya of Uljayint (he Founder of the Vikrana Era) Rs 15/- History of Gorikhpur-Janapada (With Special Reference to Puranic & Buddhise Perini) 25. Groumd-Work of Indita History (Aacient Period) Rs. 5/- ‘A Short History of the World Re 3p Atharvavedic Civilization [In the press] 7. Republics i Ancient India [In preparation] : sab ke oD ock j INDIAN PALZOGRAPHY 412858 ¢ RAJ BALI PANDEY, 1.4, 0.10 Prefesion of Aacins Tndion History c= Crltare, Dares Hina University BANARAS MOTILAL BANARAS! DAS ‘NEPALL KHAPRA 1952 LIBRALY, 1 boo. No. 12658 Date on det Ga No. 4077+ 9 Parzen Pri smith ae Dare ety Ps re a PREFACE “The palsogmpay oF 4 country is one of the most facine acing and instructive studies, It deals with che att of writing, Which, dusiog the march of cvilizition, distinguished man from animal and provided che formes with an instrument for conservation, augmensation and transmission of racial traditions from generation to genesacioa, The art of writing was one ff the momentous iaventions which hive shaped the destiny fof man, because it has proved che mast sable medium of the propagation of knowledge and the difusion of human culture, Ik is highy desisble that 4 history of such an art, dealing with its Grigin and evolution, should be made available for the proper appreciation of human struggle for knowledge. |A book oa Tndian paleography ineorporsting recent reseacches and giving a sew orientation ro the subject in thei light was long overdue and Kenes the present venture hardly needs an apology. Since the sime of G, Babe (1896) and Mm, Pt. Guusishasiae Hizachaod Ojha (1918) a large dumber of aew discoveries have taken place. Excavations at Nahsojodato and Harapps were of a cevolutionary character and the specimens of palmography unearthed there have greatly aeeted the problems of the antqulty and be origin of writ- ing in India. Several other iseoverics, though less revalu- tionary, have also influenced vatious notions bout the art of ‘writing in India, Aluge mass of additional materials have ecumuleed in coutse of time through the Department of “Archenlogy ia Tndla and private effors. This has necessitated the revision and completion of the subject of Indian paleo raphy as a whole, ‘Since the time of Ojha 00 serioas endea- Gour has beca made for writing a comprebersive book on Todian paleogeaphy. A gp of sore cham thirty years ia this dircerion hax really become intolerable, The present work is jase an humble atieape towards ling this gxp with an earnest hope that itil be improved upon in near Furue,