GS PrelimsHistory (Ancient India)Maurya Age2016

Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?

A

Georg Bühler

B

James Prinsep

C

Max Müller

D

William Jones

Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation

1. The question asks who first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka. 2. Ashoka's edicts, primarily inscribed in the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts, remained unread for centuries. 3. James Prinsep, an English scholar working with the Asiatic Society of Bengal, successfully deciphered the Brahmi script in 1837. This was the key to understanding most of Ashoka's edicts. 4. While other scholars like Georg Bühler, Max Müller, and William Jones made significant contributions to Indology, James Prinsep is credited with the first major breakthrough in reading these inscriptions.

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