Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka?
- (a) Georg Bühler
- (b) James Prinsep ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) Max Müller
- (d) William Jones
Why the answer is (b)
• James Prinsep, an officer of the Calcutta Mint and secretary of the Asiatic Society, deciphered the Brahmi script in 1837 and read Ashoka's edicts, identifying 'Devanampiya Piyadasi' with Ashoka — option (b).
• William Jones (d) founded the Asiatic Society (1784); Max Müller (c) edited the Rigveda; Georg Bühler (a) later worked on Indian palaeography.
• Hence option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Georg Bühler
- Bühler worked on palaeography later, after Prinsep.
- (c) Max Müller
- Max Müller was a Vedic scholar, not the decipherer.
- (d) William Jones
- Jones founded the Asiatic Society but did not decipher Brahmi.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2016, held on 7 August 2016. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.