The Development of Kharosthi Script (Review)

Summary

This review summarises Dr C.C. Das Gupta’s study of the development of the Kharoṣṭhī script. The book traces variations in the script from the 3rd century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D., showing how the form of letters changed over time and across regions. It also provides a political history of the period, linking script changes to the reigns of specific Indo‑Greek and Indo‑Scythian rulersfile:///home/oai/share/563034_compressed-243-389.pdf. The reviewer notes that the work includes appendices containing a list of known rulers and genealogies, as well as numerous plates and charts illustrating letter forms. He praises the author’s critical analysis of palaeographic evidence and his efforts to date inscriptions. The review concludes that the book is an important contribution to Indian epigraphy and will be indispensable for scholars studying early scripts.