Directorate of Epigraphy in Hebbal to digitise 75,000 rare inscriptions under BharatSHRI

Inscriptions of various kinds are vital sources for the creation and study of history. The Directorate of Epigraphy of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Hebbal Second Stage in Mysuru houses a vast repository of estampages — inked impressions of inscriptions — which is now being given a digital makeover.

Under the Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions (BharatSHRI), a digital epigraphy museum project, the process of digitising estampages has commenced at the Mysuru ASI Epigraphy section.

The digitised estampages are scheduled to be uploaded to the ASI website by the last week of January. The BharatSHRI project was approved in the Union Government’s 2023-24 Budget.

Epigraphical documentation

The digitisation initiative underway at the Directorate of Epigraphy is also being considered for extension to the regional epigraphy branches in  Chennai and Lucknow.

Estampages, which are replicas of original inscriptions created using inked paper, form a crucial part of epigraphical documentation. The Mysuru ASI Directorate of Epigraphy, the main branch, houses around 75,000 estampages.

The collection includes stone inscriptions, copper plate inscriptions and others, sourced from different regions of the country and representing a variety of languages and scripts.

Among them are estampages of the famed Brahmagiri inscription of Emperor Ashoka found in Chitradurga district, the Jatinga Rameshwara inscription and the Siddapura inscription. The digitisation of estampages was formally launched on Dec. 17, 2025.

Easy access

According to Dr. K. Munirathnam Reddy, Director (Epigraphy), ASI, the BharatSHRI project aims to create a comprehensive digital repository of India’s inscriptions.

Once the material is digitised and uploaded, scholars, researchers and the general public will be able to access inscriptional data remotely, doing away with the need for physical visits to the Directorate of Epigraphy.

Highlighting the benefits of the project, Dr. Reddy said that digitisation would significantly enhance inscription-related research, reduce the need for visits to museums and heritage sites, and help preserve the original estampages.

He added that Tamil estampages, earlier housed at the Mysuru main branch, have already been shifted to the Chennai branch.

The digitisation work has been entrusted to Crystal Infosystems and Services Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru. The firm is using specialised high-resolution scanners to produce images at a 1:1 ratio, ensuring faithful reproduction of the original dimensions. Some estampages measure up to 20 feet in length. The project is targeted for completion within six months, with the uploading of digitised estampages to the ASI website set to begin by the last week of January.

ASI appeals to public…

Information derived from inscriptions forms the primary framework for the writing and rewriting of India’s history.

Therefore, whenever inscriptions, copper plates or coins are discovered, the public should inform the ASI Epigraphy Branch in Mysuru (Phone: 0821-2304211 or 2304367), said Dr. K. Munirathnam Reddy, Director (Epigraphy), ASI.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, he said that the process of digitising the 75,000 estampages — inked impressions of inscriptions — housed at the Mysuru branch has already begun under the BharatSHRI project.

The initiative, he added, will significantly ease the study of inscriptions for scholars and researchers, which is the primary objective of the project.