Bilaspur/Raipur, 26 April (H.S.):

A nearly 2,000‑year‑old copper plate weighing about three kilograms has been discovered in the Malhar area of Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh. The rare artefact, known as a tamrapatra, came to light during the ongoing ‘Gyan Bharatam’ national manuscript and heritage survey launched by the Union Ministry of Culture.

The copper plate was found in the possession of Sanjeev Pandey, a local resident of Malhar. The campaign aims to locate ancient manuscripts and historical documents hidden in private homes and institutions across India and to ensure their scientific preservation.

The inscription is written in Pali language using the Brahmi script, both of which are closely linked to the Mauryan and post‑Mauryan periods. Brahmi is one of the oldest Indian scripts from which later scripts like Devanagari and several regional scripts evolved.

Preliminary assessment by archaeologists suggests that the shape and style of the characters place the plate in or shortly after the 1st century BCE, making it roughly 2,000 years old. Experts believe it likely records a land grant, royal order, or religious proclamation from the Mauryan or early Satavahana era.

Historian Dr. L.S. Nigam has long described Malhar (ancient Prasannapura) as a major centre of art and culture in Dakshina Kosala. The region was a key commercial and religious hub, and this copper plate is expected to shed new light on the social, administrative, and religious structures of the Mauryan or post‑Mauryan period.

Because Brahmi script and Pali language were widely used in Mauryan times and in early Buddhist texts, the find carries not only historical value, but also deep religious and cultural importance.

The Archaeological Survey of India and specialists attached to the ‘Gyan Bharatam’ mission are now cleaning the copper plate and carefully reading each character. A full scholarly translation is expected to reveal which ruler—possibly a Mauryan emperor or a Satavahana king—is mentioned in the inscription.

If subjected to detailed scientific analysis, experts say the plate may reveal crucial details about governance systems, land‑grant practices, and religious traditions of the time.

The discovery strengthens the understanding that the Malhar region was a politically and culturally significant centre during the Mauryan and Satavahana periods. It also highlights Chhattisgarh’s rich archaeological and cultural heritage, which is gradually being rediscovered through surveys like ‘Gyan Bharatam’.

As part of the national mission, authorities are also digitising such heritage items so that India’s knowledge traditions can be preserved and made accessible for future generations. The Bilaspur copper plate is seen as one of the most important recent additions to this effort.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar