Kharoshthi Alphabet

The Kharoshthi Alphabet is an ancient script that was used in northwestern India and parts of Central Asia from around the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. It was mainly used to write the Gandhari language, a form of Prakrit, and is closely linked to the early spread of Buddhism. The script was derived from the Aramaic alphabet, which came to the region during Persian rule. Kharoshthi was found in many inscriptions, manuscripts, and coins, especially in areas that are now Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Kharoshthi script was written from right to left and contained distinct letters for consonants and vowels. It was one of the first writing systems used to record Buddhist texts, playing a key role in preserving religious and cultural history. Although it eventually disappeared, replaced by the Brahmi-based scripts, the Kharoshthi Alphabet remains an important part of early South Asian writing traditions and continues to be studied by linguists and historians worldwide.