Reviving Modi-Script - Rajendra thakre Introduction Modi-script was a Brahmi based script used primarily for writing Marathi in Maharashtra. Maharashtra Introduction Modi-script was developed by Hemadpant, during the reign of Yadava dynasty (1260- 1309). Modi script derives from Nagari family of script Due to diffuculty of printing, Modi-script gradually pushed out of its official use and was replaced by the Devanagari script, known as ‘Balbodh’. Majority of Modi documents are official records, land records and administrative documents. Modi Script Importance The growing interest in Modi makes it imperative that there are necessary digital tools and systems for using Modi-Script Modi has certain unique characteristics it requires a different approach and treatment. Lack of character-encoding standard for the script and hence use of Unicode blocks such as Devanagari limits the use of the script in the digital space. Characteristics of Modi Script Structure of Modi-Script Modi script has only single eekar ‘ I ’ and ookar ‘ u ’ which minimize grammatical mistakes. Characteristics of Modi Script Structure of Modi-Script Maximum characters of Modi-script are of Nagari. “Kana” is given upwards to join the next character. Characteristics of Modi Script Structure of Modi-Script Anuswar “.” are not written are some rules and aspects of Modi-script. Draw the complete “header line” before writing in practically to prevent lifting hand Characteristics of Modi Script Structure of Modi-Script Modi-script is highly cursive alternative to Nagari. Lift the pen only and only an essential points ga ग, za झ, dha ढ , nha ण, ta त, sha श, shya ष Characteristics of Modi Script Structure of Modi-Script Modi has no graphemes for “ru ऋ”, the phonemes “kru खृ, jru जृ” etc. cannot the correctly represented in Modi. Characteristics of Modi Script Structure of Modi-Script There are no separate signs for “aya ए, ye ऐ” in Modi. They are represented by the graphemes of “aa अ” with matra (ऄ अै). Characteristics of Modi Script Structure of Modi-Script One the distinctive features of the dissimilar letter in Balbodh and Modi is that the strokes in Balbodh are drawn from top to bottom, while those in Modi are drawn from bottom to top. 4 1 2 2 3 5 3 2 ऊ च1 त1 Early Modi Script Writing Modi has undergone a series of changes and it reflects the socio-political and cultural changes. 12th century, known as ‘Adyakalin (आद्य कालीन)’ Bahamanikalin (बहमनी कालीन)” of the 14th-16th century The well-known “Chitnis” form developed during the “Shivakalin (�शव कालीन)” of the 17th century 18th century the “Peshvekalin (पेश्वे कालीन)”, style of Modi gained prominence and had variations like “Chitnisi, Bilavalkari, Mahadevapanti, and Ranadi”. The final stage of Modi is associated with English rule and is called “Anglakalin (आंग्ल कालीन)” Early Modi Script Writing In the 20th century introduction of Modi in schools necessitated a very important shift of doing away the typical cursive style to ensure legibility and readability. Early Modi Script Writing A letter written in the Chitnisi style of Modi during the reign of Shivaji Maharaj A letter written in the Anglakal style of Modi. Early Modi Script Writing A letter from the office of Bajirava Ballal Peshave, dated December 1721 (from Diksiht and Khobarekar 1969: 71–73). The Modi is written in the clear Peshve style. A letter written by Madhavrao in the Peshve style of Modi. Early Modi Printing Printing in Modi began in the early 19th Century after ‘Charles Wilkins’ cut the first metal font in 1807 for the script in Calcutta. Specimen of Charles Wilkin’s Modi font Proofs of Charles Wilkin’s Modi font Comparison of Modi with Gujarati Script 12 characters in Gujarati which is very similar to Modi-script. Gujarati script which like “Nagari” writing system, was adapted from the Devanagari script. Comparison between Modi and Devanagari script Modi is based upon the same model as Devanagari, it differs of letterforms, rendering behaviors. 16 characters in Devanagari which is very similar to Modi-script. Devanagari Modi Similar Character of Modi and Devanagari Comparison between Modi and Devanagari script ‘ha H’, ‘da d’ looks very similar, there is major difference is ‘ha H’ is placed in 90 degree whereas ‘da d’ placed in 45 degree. In ‘ja J’ and ‘na N’ case, the knot of ‘ja J’ is open and knot of ‘na N’ is closed. Some similar group of letter have small differences Devanagari Modi Comparison between Modi and Devanagari script ‘ca S’ is just like of “Devanagari’ numeral ‘seven’, takes the mirror image of ‘ca’ it becomes ‘ya Y’ Devanagari Modi Comparison between Modi and Devanagari script Modi-script ‘a A’ character and ‘;’ character is totally different Some similar group of letter have small differences Devanagari Modi Comparison between Modi and Devanagari script vowels in Modi A A AA ; E E U W AE Ao AI AO O ;o OU ;O AM A AH A Comparison between Modi and Devanagari script Vowels signs Modi a SIGN AA o SIGN E i SIGN I O SIGN AI I SIGN II ao SIGN O u SIGN UU aO SIGN AU r SIGN Vocalic R Consonants with vowel sign combination G + u = Gu K + u = ! g + u = gu S + u = ) D + u = Du J + u = % c + u = cu M + u = Mu Z + u = Zu N + u = + Comparison between Modi and Devanagari script Joining matra and eekar in Modi-script G + a = Ga K + a = ' g + a = ga p + a = h D + a = Da j + a = © Y + a = > S + a = s g + i = gi D + i = Di S + i = Si Q + i = Qi While joining matra all character form does not change, except one character “lu �” Revival of Modi Script Proposal for new font Developing the new font will be based on the following pointers 1) Studying the social and cultural context of Modi-script 2) Identifying the major influencing factors that led to the formal changes in the characters 3) Comparison with the existing Devanagari fonts 4) Standardizing the Modi-script characters Revival of Modi Script Proposal for new font the styles the “Peshwa” era “Chitnisi” writing style has highly refined aesthetic elements and the paper will use this style as the reference Aesthetic Parameters of Modi font designing writing style of one letter in various ways in Modi and its standardization There are many letter form can be write in various or different ways Writing one character in various ways in Modi-script and marked yellow color I’ve standardize for font design Proposed Modi font design process Structure Proposed Modi font design process Initial sketches Proposed Modi font design process Designing Key Character set Parameters for structuring and developing proportions, kana height, negative and positive space, open loop beginning, close loop ending, open loop join, block loop joint, stroke connection, and acute loop were guided by an understanding and alignment to humanistic writing style. Proposed Modi font design process Correction Proposed Modi font design process Refiningअ अ ज ज Done correction on the basis of structure, grey अ अ ज ज value, consistency, writing style and weight. In ‘aa’ top oval overlappingई on ई ल ल shirolekha (head ई ई ल ल line). Knot of ‘ka’ refined, in ‘ga’ knot refined to bring more clarity. उ उउ उ ततत त ग ग य य ग गङ ङ �य� य ङ ङ � � Proposed Modi font design process अ आ इ उ क ख ग घ ङ च छ ज झ ञ ट ठ ड ढ ण त थ द ध न प फ ब भ म य र ल ळ व श ष स ह � � ा ी ॉ े ै ि ु ृ Comparison with existing font in Modi ढग य� �ड झरकन झडप चढण छगन उठ मदन अ�र वळव �� � न� �� A D E H W Y Z R मग � घ�त �व अ�र ��न �भब �� � न� �� मग � घ�त �व अ�र ��न �भब झरकन झडप चढण छगन Hemadree Font ढग य� �ड झरकन झडप चढण छगन उठ मदन अ�र वळव �� � न� �� मग � घ�त �व अ�र ��न �भब �� � न� �� मग � घ�त �व अ�र ��न �भब झरकन झडप चढण छगन अ ड इ ध उ य ढ र ढग य� �ड झरकन झडप चढण छगन ModiGhate Font उठ मदन अ�र वळव �� � न� �� मग � घ�त �व अ�र ��न �भब �� � न� �� मग � घ�त �व अ�र ��न �भब झरकन झडप चढण छगन ढग य� �ड झरकन झडप चढण छगन उठ मदन अ�र वळव �� � न� �� अ ड ई ध उ य ढ र मग � घ�त �व अ�र ��न �भब �� Proposed New Modi Font 'Sayee" � न� �� मग � घ�त �व अ�र ��न �भब झरकन झडप चढण छगन ComparisonVowels with existingConsonants font in Modi �ेडी�पी ही �ेडुन T V A अ ट व �कउन �हीली z ] ; आ ठ श D y E ई ड ष Z S W उ ढ स n d Ao अे ण ह t l AO अ त � q X ;o आे थ � d ;O आ द ० Q K क ध १ N k ख न २ p G ग प ३ F g घ फ ४ B D ङ ब ५ b C च भ ६ M c छ म ७ Y J ज य ८ R j झ र ९ L ¡ ञ ल Proposed New Modi Font 'Sayee" comparison with 'Hemadree font' Modi-Script learning through digital medium in progress thank you .