Kharoshthi

(“ass-lip”) Name for one of the ancient
scripts used in the inscriptions of the
emperor Ashoka (r. 269–232 B.C.E.), the
greatest figure in the Maurya dynasty.
Ashoka’s empire encompassed all of the
subcontinent (except the deepest parts
of southern India) and parts of modern
Afghanistan. Ashoka’s Rock Edicts and
Pillar Edicts are the earliest significant
Indian written documents, giving
invaluable information about contemporary social, political, and religious life.
The Kharoshthi script was used exclusively in the northwestern part of
Ashoka’s empire and was clearly derived
from the Aramaic alphabet used in
Achaeminid Persia. Although the script
was modified to adapt it to the sounds of
Indian languages, it clearly shows
Persian cultural influence. It was far less
pervasive than Brahmi script and had
virtually disappeared from India by the
early centuries of the common era.