Inscriptions are engraved writings that can be observed in stones, coins, and buildings, among many others. These have played an important role in helping historians understand the political, social, as well as economic conditions that have existed in ancient times. Not only this, they help find, and decipher scripts of early times that have influenced language. Some scripts used in early times have been identified and deciphered through engravings and inscriptions. They also help confirm certain facts and incidents in ancient times. 

Deciphering Brahmi

• Brahmi was the main script used in India since the 3rd century
• According to scholars, a majority of Indian scripts have been borrowed from Brahmi script, the content is utilized in Asokan engravings
• It is the earliest writing system in India
• European researchers, with the help of Indian pandits, analyzed contemporary Bengali and Devanagari original copies, with the letters of more established examples
• James Prinsep was responsible for deciphering Brahmi in 1838

How Kharosthi was read:

• The Kharosthi script was deciphered by James Prinsep as well through coins in the 19th century
• Indo-Greek coins contain the names of lords written in Greek and Kharosthi scripts
• European researchers observed the letters
• James Prinsep identified Kharosthi script as the Prakrit language, which helped in the understanding of the script
• This helped researchers interpret the meanings of other engravings and inscriptions written in Kharosthi script
• For instance, the Apollodotus coin has inscriptions in Kharosthi

Historical evidence from inscriptions:

• Name of Asoka is not mentioned in the inscription (Source 10), titles adopted by the ruler, Devanampiya, and Piyadassi are used instead
• The name of Asoka was mentioned in other inscriptions along with these titles
• Asokan engraving (Source 11), has been deciphered as mirroring the torment of the ruler, just as denoting an adjustment of his mentality towards fighting
• Asokan engravings have been found in present-day Orissa, nonetheless, the one portraying his agony is absent

The Limitations of Inscriptional Evidence:

• There are technical limitations: 

• Letters are very faintly engraved; thus reconstructions are uncertain. 
• Inscriptions may be damaged or letters missing. 
• It isn’t in every case simple to make certain in regard to the specific importance of the words utilized in engravings, some of which might be explicit to a specific spot or time

• A few thousand engravings have been found however not all have been unravelled, distributed and interpreted
• Many more inscriptions must have existed but didn’t survive the ravages of time, only a fraction remains of what was inscribed
• Not everything that we consider politically or economically significant was necessarily recorded in inscriptions, for example, joys and sorrows of daily existence don’t find mention

Timeline 1: Major Political and Economic Developments

• 600-500 BCE saw the growth of Paddy transplantation, urbanization in the Ganga valley; mahajanapadas, as well as the use of punch-stepped coins
• 500-400 BCE: Rulers of Magadha solidify power
• 327-325 BCE: Invasion of Alexander of Macedon
• 321 BCE: Accession of Chandragupta Maurya
• 272/268-231: BCE Reign of Asoka
• 185 BCE: End of the Mauryan realm.
• 200-100 BCE: Indo-Greek norm in the northwest; Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas in South India; Satavahanas in the Deccan.
• 100 BCE-200 CE: Shaka (social classes from Central Asia) rulers in the northwest; Roman trade; gold cash
• 78 CE: Accession of Kanishka
• 100-200 CE: Earliest inscriptional proof of land conceded by Satavahana and Shaka rulers
• 320 CE: Beginning of Gupta rule
• 335-375 CE: Samudragupta 
• 375-415 CE: Chandragupta II; Vakatakas in the Deccan
• 500-600 CE: Rise of the Chalukyas in Karnataka and of the Pallavas in Tamil Nadu
• 606-647 CE: Harshavardhana ruler of Kanauj; Chinese pioneer Xuan Zang comes looking for Buddhist texts
• 712: Arabs conquer Sindh

Timeline 2: Major Advances in Epigraphy

Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions. James Prinsep is known as the father of Indian epigraphy. It is important to understand the events of ancient history in India. Epigraphic documents can be trusted due to the scientific method. The 19th century saw a growing interest in documenting inscriptions and cataloguing these. Megalithic Graffiti Symbols and punch-marked coins were two of the symbols that were important to scholars in India. Following is the timeline of epigraphy in the country: 

Eighteenth century:

• 1784: Founding of the Asiatic Society (Bengal).

Nineteenth century:

• 1810s: Colin Mackenzie gathers more than 8,000 engravings in Sanskrit and Dravidian dialects
• 1838: Decipherment of Asokan Brahmi by James Prinsep
• 1877: Alexander Cunningham distributed a bunch of Asokan engravings
• 1886: First issue of Epigraphia Carnatica, a diary of South Indian engravings
• 1888: First issue of Epigraphia Indica

Twentieth century:

• 1965-66: D.C. Sircar publishes Indian Epigraphy and Indian Epigraphical Glossary.

Conclusion

Inscriptions have existed reportedly since the 3rd century BCE. These have been useful sources of information, especially in recognising the languages of ancient times. The Brahmi script was the first to have existed in India. This was deciphered by James Prinsep in 1838. Along with this, the Kharosthi script was identified through coinage. Inscriptions have also been important in providing evidence for historical events. The study of inscriptions is known as epigraphy. Indian epigraphy saw its beginnings in the eighteenth century, with the establishment of the Asiatic Society in Bengal. Inscriptions, despite their limitations, are of much importance.