Indian Epigraphy c6.s1.52

c6.s1.52

The practice of engraving eulogies on pillars or tablets of stone and charters on copper plates was not popular with the foreigners professing Islam, who conquered wide areas of India during the medieval period. They were used to the writing of books on history and issued their many farmāns generally on paper. It was the Muhammadans who were responsible for the popularity of paper in India as a writing material. The increase in the popularity of the practice of writing on paper gradually led to the decline of the custom of engraving inscriptions on stone and copper. Another factor contributing to the decline is that the number of independent Hindu rulers, who would have followed the old convention, gradually became fewer and fewer. Indeed we have copper-plate charters issued by the kings of Tripura and Assam as late as the 18th century⁹ and the engraving of pilgrims' records at holy places is popular even today in accordance with the old custom. The final blow to the practice of incising eulogies on stone was delivered by the introduction of the printing press and to that of engraving charters on copper plates by the system of registering documents introduced by the British administration.