Talk:James Prinsep

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Deciphering Brahmi

I found the following passage in Andrew Stirling, Orissa, Its geography, statistics, history, religion and antiquities, 1846, (Arun Prakashan, 2 Kalidas Singha Lane, Kolkata - 9, published in 2010), p 130 - 131:

(About the Udayagiri inscription of Kharavela)

"Further up the same hill, on the overhanging brow of a large cavern, we met with an ancient inscription cut out of the sandstone rock, in the very identical character which occurs on the pillars of Delhi, and which as yet has been only very partially decyphered (sic)... A portion of the Ellore and Salsette inscription written in the above character has been decyphered by the learning and ingenuity of Major Wilford, aided by the discovery of a key to the unravelling of ancient inscriptions in the possession of a learned Brahmin, vide the eleventh article of Vol. v. Asiatic Researches;.... The brahmins refer the inscription with shuddering and disgust. to the Budh Ka Amel, or time when the Buddhist doctrines prevailed... I cannot however divest myself of the notion that the character has some connection with ancient Pracrit..."

From the above, it is seen that a brahmin scholar (of Vidisha, I remember faintly) had a key to the deciphering of Brahmi script; and Major Wilford used that key. Perhaps Prinsep also was aware of the said key. Any further details on the above?