Indian Epigraphy: A Guide to the Study of Inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and the Other Indo-Aryan Languages c11.s1.t1.78

c11.s1.t1.78

Thus while it is undoubtedly true that Cunningham did discover several of the letters which he claimed (e.g., *ga*, correctly read on the coins of Gondophernes and in the Māṇikiāla bronze casket inscription), his sketchy presentations and questionable interpretations make it difficult to confirm many of his claims. One therefore cannot help but suspect that his repeated claims to a major role in the decipherment of Kharoṣṭhī are somewhat inflated. Surely he played a significant part, for which he has been accorded due credit in subsequent publications (e.g., BIP, 18), but he cannot be said to have equaled the brilliant insights and fundamental contributions of Prinsep and his other predecessors. In balance it may be fairest to say that the decipherment of Kharoṣṭhī was a combined effort in which Prinsep again takes the place of honor, with Lassen and Norris making important contributions and Cunningham, Grotefend, and Masson playing significant secondary roles.