Takri script
| Takri | |
|---|---|
| Script type | |
| Direction | Left-to-right  |
| Region | India, Pakistan |
| Languages | Dogri, Kishtwari, Sirmauri, Chamiyali |
| Related scripts | |
Parent systems | |
The Takri script (sometimes called Tankri) is an abugida writing system of the Brahmic family of scripts. It is closely related to, and derived from, the Sharada script employed by Kashmiri. It is also related to the Gurmukhī script used to write Punjabi. Until the late 1940s, Takri was the official script for writing the Dogri language in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Takri has historically been used by a number of Pahari and Dardic languages and dialects in the Western Himalayas, such as Gaddi or Gaddki (the language of the Gaddi ethnic group), Kashtwari (the dialect centered around the Kashtwar or Kishtwar region of Jammu and Kashmir) and Chamiyali (the language of the Chamba region of Himachal Pradesh).
Proposed Unicode Support
Along with a number of other current and historical scripts, support for the Takri script is being considered for Unicode. The code block U+11580 to U+115DF is being considered.
Revival Movements
Since Takri fell into disuse, there have been sporadic attempts to revive the script in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh states. Kashtwari and Kulluvi are two languages for which recent efforts have been made.
References
- The Takri alphabet, http://ancientscripts.com/takri.html
- Examples of Takri usage on Kashmir state stamps, http://www.kashmirstamps.ca/DogriGloss.html
- Comparative examples of Takri and related scripts (Spanish language website), http://www.proel.org/alfabetos/takri.html
- A discussion of the Gaddi, with a reference to Takri, http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5625318
- Future Unicode additions, http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1368570&lastnode_id=0
- Ancient script of the Himalayas fights for survival, http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=275913&sid=FTP