Modi alphabet

Modi (Marathi: मोडी, Mōḍī, IPA: [moːɖiː]) is a script used to write the Marathi language, which is the primary language spoken in the state of Maharashtra in western India. There are at least two different theories concerning its origin. Modi was an official script used to write Marathi until the 20th century when the Balbodh style of the Devanagari script was promoted as the standard writing system for Marathi. Although Modi was primarily used to write Marathi, other languages such as Urdu, Kannada, Gujarati, Hindi and Tamil are also known to have been written in Modi.

Etymology

The name ‘Modi’ perhaps derives from the Marathi verb moḍaṇe (Marathi: मोडणे), which means “to bend or break”. Modi is believed to be derived from broken Devanagari characters, which lends support to that particular etymology.

Origin Theories

Hemāḍpant Origin Theory

Hemāḍpant was a minister during the reign of Mahadeva (ruled 1261–1271) and the initial years of the reign of Rāmachandra (ruled 1271 to 1309) of the Yadava Dynasty.