Volume II,Special Issue, April 10, 2026
Volume-II, Special Issue, April, 2026 |
Received: 04.04.2026 | Accepted: 08.04.2026 | ||
Published Online: 10.04.2026 | Page No: | ||
DOI: 10.69655/atmadeep.vol.2.specialissue.W. | |||
স্থপতির নির্দেশনা ও বন্ধকনামা: প্রাচীন ও মধ্যযুগীয় ভারতীয় ইষ্টক লেখমালা ভিত্তিক পর্যালোচনা পিঙ্কি জানা, গবেষক, প্রাচীন ভারতীয় ইতিহাস ও সংস্কৃতি বিভাগ, কলিকাতা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Architect’s Instructions and Mortgage Deeds: A
Review Based on Ancient and Medieval Indian Brick Inscriptions
Pinki Jana, Research Scholar, Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture,
University of Calcutta, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
The history of ancient and medieval India is not merely a narrative of wars fought by kings and emperors, but rather a living document of the socio-economic transactions and architectural traditions of ordinary people. A careful examination of contemporary brick inscriptions (iṣṭaka-lekha), stone inscriptions, and copper plates reveals striking information about house construction guidelines and the evolution of mortgage deeds or systems of lending. The architect’s instructions refer to directional guidelines for the proper construction of houses or buildings. A mortgage deed refers to a contractual agreement in which property is pledged as security during the taking or granting of a loan. The main objective of this research paper is to study brick inscriptions that contain such architectural instructions and mortgage-related records. However, scholarly engagement with ancient Indian brick inscriptions remains very limited, and further discussion on this subject is necessary. Bricks (iṣṭaka) are one of the most important archaeological artifacts for understanding the technological knowledge of ancient people. Archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of numerous brick-built structures, which undoubtedly indicate an urban civilization. Among these remains, some inscribed bricks serve as crucial archaeological evidence for reconstructing ancient Indian history. The tradition of engraving inscriptions on bricks in ancient India began during the post-Mauryan Shunga period and continued for a long time thereafter. These relatively fragile and decorative bricks, despite being exposed and unprotected in nature for centuries, are still legible today. This remarkable combination of technological knowledge and artistic skill in ancient Indian society truly evokes wonder. A comprehensive study of brick inscriptions discovered in India has not yet been undertaken, though the subject demands further scholarly attention. I find this topic highly fascinating and have therefore pursued research in this field. Brick inscriptions related to architectural instructions and mortgage deeds have been discovered at Shorkot and Jaunpur. Discussion of these inscriptions outside their archaeological context is irrelevant; hence, it is essential to examine the nature of the archaeological sites in order to understand the true character of the inscriptions. The inscriptions found at the above-mentioned sites will be analyzed in detail, and their content will be compared with other relevant archaeological and literary sources, prioritizing authentic evidence in the search for historical truth. This study will also explore the extent to which brick inscriptions contribute to understanding the socio-economic, political, religious, and cultural history of ancient India. | ||
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