UPSC CSE Pre 1997

Ancient Indian Paleography

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept In ancient India, scripts like Brahmi and Kharoshti were the primary modes of recording edicts and inscriptions. Their direction of writing serves as a key identifying cultural and regional marker.

Explanation Kharoshti is an ancient Indo-Iranian script used primarily in the northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent. Unlike Brahmi, which is written left to right, Kharoshti is predominantly written from right to left.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Kharoshti was introduced around the 3rd century BCE and was heavily influenced by the Aramaic script, which explains its right-to-left direction.
Logic 2: Brahmi is the ancestor of most modern Indian scripts and is written from left to right. Nandnagari and Sharada are later derivatives of Brahmi-based scripts.

Active Recall

Question

How did the geographical location influence the use of Kharoshti?

Answer

Its usage was concentrated in the Gandhara region (Northwest), reflecting cultural interactions between India, Persia, and Central Asia.

Core Insight

Kharoshti's disappearance by the 3rd or 4th century CE in favor of Brahmi marks a significant shift in the linguistic dominance of the Indian subcontinent.