Origin of Indus Valley Script

Summary

The origins of the Indus Valley script have long been debated. This short article reviews prevailing hypotheses, noting that while most scripts of north India derive from Brahmi, the ultimate origin of Brahmi itself is uncertain. Scholars once argued that Brahmi was adapted from a Semitic script, but recent discoveries suggest that an indigenous script preceded Brahmi. The author considers whether the Indus script, used around 2500–1900 B.C., could be ancestral to Brahmi. He cautions that decipherment remains elusive and that current evidence cannot establish a direct line of development. The article advocates a cautious approach, urging scholars to wait for further discoveries before drawing conclusions.