An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c25.s4.46

v1.c25.s4.46

In the n.-w. the main characters are Śāradā (for writing Kashmiri), Tākrī, Lanḍā and Gurumukhī. Tākrī, used by ordinary traders in the lower ranges of the Himalayas n. of Punjab including Simla area, was developed on the lines of Devanāgarī. It often omits medial short vowels and uses medial long vowels in their initial forms. Dogarī and Chamaulī are used respectively for the Dogri and hill dialects of the Chamba area. Mandeali Sirmauri, Junasari, Kochī, Kului and Kastawari are some of their varieties. Lanḍā is used from Punjab to Sind for the Punjabi language mainly by shopkeepers. Its varieties include Multānī, and about a dozen others for writing Sindhi. In Sindhi Lanḍā is called Baniyā or Waniko. About a hundred years ago it was used in schools and for printing books but has now been replaced by Persian-Arabic alphabet.