Kharosthi Script
This variety of Indian writing is also known under the names "Bactrian", "Kabuli", "Indo-Bactrian". Kharosthi was invented at the same time as the Brahmi Alphabet, and both systems were used in different regions of India for several centuries (from the 4rd century BC until the 3th century AD), but then Brahmi appeared more suitable for the languages of India, and Kharosthi, though widespread mainly in north-west India and Pakistan, gradually fell out of use and was replaced by Brahmi.

The first historically known inscription in Kharosthi dates back to 251 BC (Pakistan). However, different sources claim that the script was invented and existed much earlier. Kharosthi was written from the right to the left and that is why, as some believe, Indic language-speakers preferred Brahmi, which reads from the left. Other regions where Kharosthi was spread include Afghanistan, Central Asia, north-east China, kingdoms of Bactria and Scythians in India. The script died out completely in the 5th century AD.

Kharosthi is a syllabary: basic signs are consonant, all vowels which follow them (except a) are written by additional small symbols above or below the consonant. As we can now suppose, Kharosthi was a modification of the Aramaic script and was invented in offices of Achaemenide Indic satrapies. We do not know whether Brahmi or Kharosthi was the first script in India, but Kharosthi sometimes shows the influence of Brahmi.

Languages which used the script: Indic (Sanskrit, Prakrits), Iranian (Bactrian, Sacian, Scythian), non-Indo-European.


Images:

Sample inscription:

 
Reads from the right:
Ci-th.a ma-sa di-va-se pra-d.ha-me

In the first day of the month Chaitra...

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