Hindi Language Scripts

Writing Script of Hindi Language

The Hindi language is written using two main scripts—the Devanagari and Kaithi scripts. Both originated from the early Brahmi script used by ancient Indians over a thousand years ago. Here's a closer look at these scripts.

Devanagari Script

Devanagari, also known as Nagari, is the primary script used for writing modern Standard Hindi. It consists of 11 vowels, which can be short or long depending on their position within the word, and 36 consonants. Each letter has four forms—initial, medial, final, and isolated positions. This script originates from the Gupta period (circa 3rd century) when it was originally developed to record Sanskrit. Over time, modifications were made to suit other Indo-Aryan languages like Hindi and Marathi. Today, Devanagari serves as the official script for many Indian languages including Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Oriya, and Konkani.

Kaithi Script

Kaithi is another script used for Hindi and is popular mainly in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states. Initially, this script was used only in North India. Eventually, the British introduced Romanized scripts into the area during the colonial era, which led to changes in how people wrote. By the end of the Raj, most of the population had adopted one of three styles - Devanagari, Urdu, or English-like. However, there are still some families who continue to use the Kaithi script today, even though it is now considered archaic.

Conclusion

In summary, the Hindu language uses two main scripts – Devanagari and Kaithi. These scripts have evolved over centuries to serve various purposes, with Devanagari being the dominant script for standard Hindi while Kaithi remains more regionally specific.