Tirhuta

Tirhuta, also known as Mithilakshar, is a Brahmi- derived script used to write Maithili, primarily in the Mithila region of India and Nepal. It is one of several regional scripts associated with the Maithili language and is distinct from Devanagari, though related in origin and structure. Tirhuta is written left to right and traditionally features a horizontal headstroke, with a set of rounded consonants and diacritics that indicate vowels.

As an abugida, each consonant carries an inherent vowel, and other vowels are indicated by diacritic marks or separate letters. The script has its own distinctive letter shapes and ligature conventions to render Maithili phonology, including aspirated and retroflex sounds.

Historically, Tirhuta developed in the Mithila region and has a long literary tradition, visible in medieval manuscripts and regionally produced texts. Its use declined in everyday life as Devanagari and other scripts gained prominence, but it has seen revival efforts since the late 20th century, aided by cultural organizations, Maithili publications, and education in some schools.

In contemporary times, Tirhuta is one of the scripts used to write Maithili in Nepal, where Maithili enjoys official status, and in parts of India where Maithili is spoken. The script is encoded in Unicode, enabling digital typesetting and online publishing, and it is supported by various fonts and input methods to facilitate modern usage.