UPSC CSE Pre 1993

Indian Epigraphy

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The first scholar who read Ashokan edicts was-

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept Indian history remained partially obscured until the 19th century when European scholars deciphered the ancient scripts used in Ashoka's rock and pillar edicts.

Explanation In 1837, James Prinsep, a founding editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, successfully deciphered the Brahmi script.

Logical Breakup

Logic 1: Prinsep identified the frequent use of the title 'Devanampriya Piyadasi' and correctly linked it to the Mauryan King Ashoka through Buddhist chronicles.

Logic 2: This discovery provided the chronological anchor for ancient Indian history, transforming Ashoka from a mythical figure to a historical reality.

Active Recall

Question

Why was the decipherment of the Ashokan edicts a turning point for Indian history?

Answer

It allowed historians to reconstruct the political and social history of the 3rd century BCE using direct contemporary evidence.

Core Insight

Prinsep's work bridges the gap between archaeology and literature, proving that 'Piyadasi' and 'Ashoka' were the same individual.

The first scholar who read Ashokan edicts was-

Solution & Analysis

Active Recall

Core Insight

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