Alphabetic Scripts and Other Forms of Literacy in Post- Harappan India: A Logical Assessment and Inquiry as to the Origin and Extent of Literacy in Post-harappan India

Abstract

This paper brings together all available evidence for literacy in Post-Harappan India, still popularly known as Iron age Vedic India, most of which have been endorsed by mainstream researchers in some way or the other in the recent past and brings into attention the need to revise all earlier models dealing with literacy in Post-Harappan India to bring them in line with latest acculturation models and mainstream models of the development of alphabetic scripts. More importantly we refute the thesis that the Archaemenids introduced the alphabetic script into India. This theory has always been controversial and has been challenged by several mainstream researchers, both Western and Indian, for several decades. It is hopelessly antiquated now and a complete non-starter when all recent evidence and data is taken into account and no mainstream researcher will even be able to consider such a theory in view of the evidence, reasoning, logic and views of other scholars presented in the paper. The theory that Brahmi was a derivative of the earlier Aramaic script has been somewhat more popular, though still controversial, and we refute this theory as well. We also explain why updating theories based on latest research can have a bearing on research on alphabetic systems in general. All conclusions reached in this paper are presented using a figure-it-out-for-yourself approach and only the views of mainstream researchers are presented. Readers are strongly advised to exercise their own judgment as usual.

Keywords: Sujay Rao Mandavilli, Brahmi