Development of Nagari Script

Author(s): A K Singh
Publisher: Parimal Publication

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Development of Nagari Script
upon the age of the Sasanas, but on individual qualities of the writers, their learning and their carefulness.53
Writing materials, too, affected the course of development of the Brahmi script. For earlier period, we find stone and copper-plate as more popular base materials. As a result of several destructive agencies, including both man and nature, we do not possess manuscripts of more early periods. But from the Kurud Plates of Narendra (6th Cent. A.D.),54 and Tiruvalangaḍu Inscription55 it has become clear that some of the royal charters were first written on palm-leaf or birch-bark and then were copied to more permanent materials, mainly stone or metal. Obviously, it is easier to write in cursive form on the raw materials while in engraving angular shape of letters with chisel on the stone drawing is easier. Scratching the letters on the stone is difficult, but when it was done straight line was transformed into curved.56 Verma observes, in connection with the Piprahvā Vase inscription that "the device of scratching on a spherical object tended to make the letters long and slanting."57 The small space on the coins compelled the writers to form the shape of the letters to suit the available space. As a result, the length of the letters was reduced and the medial signs were simplified on most of the coins.
Writing tools also effect the course of development. The uniform thickness of the body of the letters in the inscriptions of Aśoka is only due to the simplest writing tool, a rod-like object. From the first century A.D., thickness of the lines varied in the different part of the letter. Dani58 and Verma59 ascribe this feature to the edged reed pen. Practice with this new pen and skilful twisting subsequently developed several forms of the letters. For example, swift handling of the pen made letters more cursive. Dani60 reconstructs eight types of head-marks which are the outcome of the different styles of handling the pen. The peculiar twisting of the pen made thin and thick lines in the flourished medial signs and letter forms. And it is the distinctive type of twisting the pen which is mainly responsible for the development of the Kutila script. The writing material in the South, i.e., the stylus and the palm-leaves, was the cause of developing more rounded and wavy characters in numerous South Indian inscriptions.