Today's thread
Once upon a time Hindi's Devanagari script was written in 2 different ways...
Then a few missionaries in Danish colony in Bengal and their rival press in Bombay changed it forever !
Read on.
#CBG_Thread
1/n
If you read old manuscripts of Sanskrit / Hindi you would notice many strange characters in them. Characters no longer used in modern Hindi.
They were called the Calcutta style of Hindi. While the modern form is called Bombay style.
Why these names? Herein hangs a tale.
2/n
In late 18th century, Baptist missionaries led by William Carey wanted to setup a press in Bengal for printing church literature locally. Denied permission by East India company who feared a backlash, they found haven in Danish colony of Serampore. 3/n
"Serampore Mission Press" produced many English works. But didn't have a "typeset" (wooden engraved block letters) for Hindi. They hired Panchanan Karmakar from Wilikins' press in Calcutta who created Bengali and later Devanagari script typeset. 4/n
Panchanan Karmakar was an ex blacksmith and the Hindi typeset created by him (called Calcutta style ) at Serampore press became popular as the press produced thousands of books .
Carey's book on Sanskrit Grammar was the 1st book printed in 1803 with this typeset.
5/n
Marathi was originally written in two scripts - Balbodh and Modi scripts.
Modi was more popular for business and other day to day works.
Balbodh was a slight variation of Devanagari. This difference is what is now called Calcutta vs Bombay style of writing Devanagari. 6/n
Some letters like अ, ण, झ in Bal bodh script etc are similar to Modi script than Devanagari
Economic need to have a common Devanagari typeset that could serve both Marathi and Hindi led to popularization of Bombay style Devanagari especially among printing presses in Bombay.
The demise of Calcutta style Hindi script was precipitated by three more events. Arrival of Hindi typewriters, computer fonts of Bombay type and eventually keyboard used in mobile for Bombay typeset.
Languages and scripts like living beings evolve, adpat or die out. Modi script, Calcutta style Hindi script are testament to that. The need to connect with people doesn't die out however. So keep the language wars in check
End.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.