Engraving New Horizons: Romila Thapar and Inscriptions

On 15 July 2020, epigraphists working at the Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protested in front of their office in Mysore. The cause of their anger was the fact that during the recent restructuring of the ASI by the Government of India, while 758 new posts had been created, none were for epigraphists. In fact, epigraphists lamented that there are currently only five epigraphist assistants to survey areas, collect inscriptions and decipher the records (‘Epigraphists to stage protest today’, The Hindu, 15 July 2020).