Indian Palaeography c4: Preface to the First Edition

Indian Palaeography c4

Language: English

c4.s1 Postscript — 4 parts

Preface to the First Edition

c4.1

THE following pages attempt to trace the evolution of the scripts originating from the Indian Brāhmī and Kharoshṭhī. As these styles of writing spread beyond the subcontinent of India and Pakistan, the scope of the book has been expanded so as to trace the development of these scripts in Central and South-east Asia. We have tried to link this development with the expansion of the civilization of the subcontinent into the neighbouring areas.

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Palaeography is not confined to the study of the shapes of letters in the abstract. I have endeavoured to go beyond the mere shapes and search for the different traditions which govern a type following a set pattern on account of particular techniques. Writing is thus treated as an art resulting from a given culture. The different styles are only different traits in a cultural complex, and their analysis not only enables us to fix the type of writing that was prevalent at a particular period and in a particular place, but also provides a clue to the understanding of the culture within which the writing operated. It is only in the background of the cultural evolution that the writing styles can be properly followed and changes in them adequately explained. In the absence of this understanding the letters become mere shapes produced whimsically at random, but that is hardly true of any system of writing. The letter-forms are a part of culture, and palaeography defines them within that culture. In the following pages this concept is for the first time applied to the study of Indian palaeography.

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In the past Indian palaeography has been studied mainly in order to provide a chronometer to date otherwise undated monuments or events of history on the basis of the shapes of letters which were reduced to chronological tables. But this method can never supply infallible dates. It is vain to treat the writing styles as an indicator of time any more accurate than any other particular trait in a given culture. The styles are to be understood in a particular context and are an effective means of dating within that context, but outside this sphere they are to be treated as falling within the compass of influence and counter-influence. On this hypothesis it is possible to establish a succession within a given culture and also to relate the different cultures in time. But the link is only cultural. It is not possible to provide a mathematically precise table of dates. However, the following pages will show the value of these links, not only in understanding historical events, but also in tracing the origin of different local cultures.

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The scope of the present book is limited to the eighth century A.D., when the writing had developed into proto-regional scripts. The later growth of the regional scripts is linked up with the evolution of the provincial languages, when particular scripts became identified with the latter. Their development requires a volume by itself. A chapter on the Indus Script and the later symbols has, however, been added here in order to familiarize readers with these systems. A glossary of terms is given at the end of the book, which will enable the readers to follow the definitions given in the text.

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Finally, it is my pleasant duty to thank all those who have helped me in one way or the other in the writing of this book. I am much beholden to all my predecessors in the field whose works I have consulted with great profit, and it is on their foundation that I have built up the present edifice. I am indebted to the authorities of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, who were good enough to offer me a research associateship, financed by the Rockefeller Foundation, which enabled me to work in London and complete this book. To Professor A. L. Basham I can hardly repay my debt. He not only suggested to me that I should undertake this work but encouraged me throughout by his friendly advice and criticism. He found time to read through the manuscript line by line with me and suggest many corrections, and finally agreed to write the foreword. I am obliged to him that he has allowed me to include his name on the dedication page. It is most tragic that, just when the text had been retyped, I heard the sad news of the death of my revered teacher, Professor A. S. Altekar, who was mainly responsible for creating in me an interest in Indological studies. It is from him that I first learned Indian palaeography, when I was a student in Banaras Hindu University. I am also obliged to Mr. A. H. Christie, who not only helped me in preparing the bibliography for South-east Asia, but also managed to obtain for me a further grant to prolong my stay in London and work on the palaeography of this region. Besides these, I had the benefit of consulting a number of persons at the School of Oriental and African Studies, who ungrudgingly spared time to solve my difficulties. Among these I must mention my old teacher, Professor K. de B. Codrington, who went through my chapter on the Aśokan Brāhmī; Professor J. Brough, with whom I discussed the problem of the origin of the script; Professor C. J. Gadd, with whom I talked on the Indus Script; Dr. F. R. Allchin, who went through most of the chapters and favoured me with his criticism; Mr. Douglas Barrett, who read through my chapter on the Provincial Brāhmī; Dr. C. S. Upasak, whom I consulted on the Aśokan Brāhmī; and Dr. David Diringer, who was good enough to show me his collection on the alphabets. I am also obliged to the staff of the library at the School of Oriental and African Studies and the librarian, Royal Asiatic Society, London, for all the help that they kindly gave. In conclusion, I must record the name of Professor C. H. Philips, Director of the School of Oriental and African Studies, who not only obtained leave for me from the University of Dacca, but also took a keen interest in my work during my stay in London.

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AHMAD HASAN DANI

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*Dacca Museum, East Pakistan* *1 February 1960*

Postscript

c4.s1.1

Since the above was written, Dr. C. S. Upasak's *History and Palaeography of Mauryan Brāhmī Script*, Nalanda, 1960, referred to on page 7 of the text, has been published. It is a valuable contribution to the study of Mauryan Brāhmī. Similar monographs on other periods will prove to be highly rewarding. In the meanwhile I have left the service of the University of Dacca and joined the University of Peshawar to work for archaeology and Indology under the inspiring guidance of Mr. Mohammad Ali, the Vice-Chancellor.