Historical Development of Indian Language Scripts and Their Regional Influence

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63345/ijrhs.net.v13.i6.2

Mehak Jain

Independent Researcher

India

Abstract
The evolution of Indian language scripts represents a complex tapestry of cultural exchange, political authority, and technological innovation. From the enigmatic marks of the Indus Valley civilization to the diverse alphabets that adorn contemporary India, this manuscript explores how scripts emerged, transformed, and diffused across regions. By tracing the lineage of major writing systems––including Brahmi, Kharosthi, Gupta, Nagari, and various southern scripts––it uncovers the interplay between religious patronage, administrative need, and artistic expression. The study employs a comparative-historical methodology, analyzing epigraphic evidence, literary inscriptions, and paleographic scholarship to map trajectories of change. Findings reveal that regional polities and trade networks played pivotal roles in script adaptation, leading to the rich mosaic of Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali–Assamese, and other systems in use today. These results illuminate not only the mechanical evolution of characters but also the socio-cultural forces shaping literacy, identity, and interregional communication.

Key words

Indus script, Brahmi, regional diffusion, epigraphy, script evolution, South Asian paleography

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