“Harappan Script” explores the enduring mystery of the Harappan writing system, a still-undeciphered script from the Indus Valley Civilization. Understanding this Bronze Age script is crucial, as its decipherment could unlock insights into the civilization's social structure and potential linguistic connections to later South Asian populations. The book delves into the script's characteristics, considering its visual aspects and frequency of certain symbols, while also evaluating past attempts to break the code. Intriguingly, the directionality of the script has been determined, and inscriptions have been found on various materials, offering clues to its purpose. The book presents a comprehensive overview in three parts, beginning with an introduction to the script and its physical attributes. It then moves into a critical assessment of past decipherment attempts, categorizing them to highlight their limitations. Finally, the book explores whether there are links between the Harappan script and later South Asian scripts, such as Brahmi, analyzing linguistic and archaeological evidence. Ultimately, “Harappan Script” emphasizes a rigorous, evidence-based approach to decipherment, encouraging disciplined research grounded in verifiable data, moving beyond speculative interpretations.
