Syllabus for PGDA

General

1. Antiquity of writing in old world civilizations (Pictograph, Ideogram, Syllabic and Logo-Syllabic to Alphabet)

2. Epigraphy as a source of Indian history

3. Writing materials and antiquity of writing in India

4. Origin and development of Kharoshthi and Brahmi scripts

5. Eras and Dates in Indian inscriptions

6. Symbols and Signs in Indian inscriptions

7. Early Indian numerals

8. Study of seals, sealings and copper plates

9. Study of some important inscriptions from north and south India

(i) Asokan Rock Edict XIII, Pillar Edict II
(ii) Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela
(iii) Besnagar inscription of Heliodorus
(iv) Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman I
(v) Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta
(vi) Aihole inscription of Pulakesin II
(vii) Ikshvaku inscription of Virapurushadatta
(viii) Nasik cave inscription of Gautamiputra Satakarni
(ix) Banskhera inscription of Harshavardhana
(x) Mandagapattu inscription of Mahendravarman I
(xi) Uttiramerur inscription of Parantaka I
(xii) Brihadeswara temple inscription of Rajaraja Chola I

10. Palaeography – North Indian Scripts
(i) Early Brahmi
(ii) Sunga, Kushana and Kshatrapa inscriptions
(iii) Gupta and post-Gupta inscriptions
(iv) Box-headed and Nail-headed characters
(v) Siddhamatrika
(vi) Sarada
(vii) Gaudiya
(viii) Evolution of Nagari script

11. Palaeography – South Indian Scripts
(i) Tamil-Brahmi
(ii) Satavahana, Ikshvaku and Kadamba inscriptions
(iii) Origin and development of Telugu-Kannada script
(iv) Pallava-Grantha
(v) Grantha
(vi) Tamil script
(vii) Vatteluttu

12. Developmental stages of the following Brahmi letters

a, ka, cha, na, pa, bha, ma, ya, sha, sa, ha

13. Use of diacritical marks

14. Arabic and Persian inscriptions: broad characteristics of the main varieties of Arabic and Persian inscriptions found in Indo-Islamic calligraphy

15. Arabic and Persian calligraphy with special reference to Kufic, Nask, Thulth, Nastaliq, Tughra, Shikasta, Makus

16. Arabic numerals, chronograms and eras

17. Use of diacritical marks

1. Numismatics as a source of history

2. Origin and antiquity of coinage in India

3. Coins from excavations and their significance

4. Metal content of coins, weight and shape

5. Authority of issuing coins – Janapadas, Cities, Guilds, Ganas and Dynasties
Technique of minting coins: Punch-marked, cast, die-struck and mints in the medieval period

6. Broad characteristics and identification of dynastic coins: Punch-marked, cast copper coins, Indo-Greek, Saka, Satavahana, Kushan, Gupta, Huna, Indo-Sassanian (Gadhaiya), and Rajput

7. Broad characteristics and identification of coins of Chola, Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara, Mughal, Kashmir and Ahom