He was the founding editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Be...
Learning: As a result of Prinsep's work as an editor of the Asiatic Society's journal, coins and copies of inscriptionswere transmitted to him from all over India, to be deciphered, translated, and published.
In a series of results that he published between 1836–38 he was able to decipher the inscriptions on rock edicts found around India.
The edicts in Brahmi scriptmentioned a King Devanampriya Piyadasi which Prinsep initially assumed was a Sri Lankan king.
He was then able to associate this title with Asoka on the basis of Pali script from Sri Lanka communicated to him by George Turnour.
Q Source: Improvisation:Fig 6:Page 6: Class 8th NCERT History: Our Pasts-III – Part I UPSC CSP 2016
View all questions of this test
He was the founding editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Be...
James Prinsep is the correct answer for the question. Here's the detailed explanation:
Introduction:
James Prinsep was an English scholar and antiquary who made significant contributions to the field of Indian archaeology and numismatics. He was the founding editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and is best remembered for his work in deciphering the Kharosthi and Brahmi scripts of ancient India.
Deciphering the Kharosthi and Brahmi scripts:
One of James Prinsep's most important achievements was his successful decipherment of the Kharosthi and Brahmi scripts. These scripts were used in ancient India and had remained undeciphered for centuries. Prinsep's breakthrough came in the early 19th century when he made a connection between the inscriptions on ancient Indian coins and the scripts used in those inscriptions.
Contributions to the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal:
James Prinsep played a crucial role in the establishment of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. He served as its founding editor and made significant contributions to the publication. The journal became a prominent platform for the dissemination of knowledge and research on various subjects related to Asia, including history, archaeology, linguistics, and culture.
Other contributions:
Apart from his work on deciphering ancient scripts and his involvement with the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, James Prinsep made several other notable contributions to the field of Indian archaeology and numismatics. He conducted extensive research on ancient Indian coins and inscriptions, providing valuable insights into the history, culture, and economic systems of ancient India.
Legacy:
James Prinsep's contributions to the field of Indian archaeology and numismatics were highly significant. His decipherment of the Kharosthi and Brahmi scripts opened up new avenues of research and greatly enhanced our understanding of ancient Indian history and culture. His work continues to be influential in the field, and he is remembered as a pioneering scholar in the study of ancient India.
In conclusion, James Prinsep was the founding editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and is best remembered for his decipherment of the Kharosthi and Brahmi scripts of ancient India. His contributions to the field of Indian archaeology and numismatics have had a lasting impact on our understanding of ancient Indian history and culture.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed UPSC study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in UPSC.