Article:
He deciphered India’s past.
By Kanwarjit Singh Kang
The Tribune - 2010

Besides unlocking the mystery of the Brahmi and Kharoshti scripts, JAMES PRINSEP deciphered numerous inscriptions, including those used during Emperor Ashoka’s reign, writes Kanwarjit Singh Kang.

WHEN James Prinsep died in 1840, Dr Huge Falconer’s obituary, published in the Colonial Magazine, said, "Of his intellectual character, the most prominent feature was enthusiasm — one of the prime elements of genius; a burning, irrepressible enthusiasm, to which nothing could set bounds. His powers of perception were impressed with genius — they were clear, vigorous and instantaneous. The extent of his capacity was wonderful, and the number and variety of his acquirements no less remarkable."

He got training in assaying and was apprenticed to the assay-master of the Royal Mint, London. On his arrival in India in 1819, he was appointed assistant assay-master at the Kolkata mint and was soon promoted as assay-master of the Benares Mint.

On reaching Benares, James Prinsep reformed the building of the mint. In addition to his official duties, he improved the drainage of the city by constructing an arched tunnel, restored the dilapidating minarets of the mosque built by Aurangzeb, conducted the city’s first census, erected a church there and prepared a balance of extraordinary precision as to indicate the 3/1000th part of a grain. He also made a series of sketches related to Benares in pencil and ink drawings that were later reproduced as lithographs under the title of Views and Illustrations of Benares.

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Image:
James Prinsep
by William Wyon
Bronze medal, 1840 or later
1 7/8 in. (48 mm) diameter

© National Portrait Gallery, London