The following inscriptions are found on the pillar :-

 The first six pillar edicts of Asoka

2.   A Persian inscription, dated AD 1660-61

3.   A Nagari inscription dated AD 1509

4.   A Nagari inscription referring to Raja Amar Singha, undated

5.   An English inscription of Rn Burrow, 1792

6.   Others in English recently made as seen in the photograph

In around 1880, Carllelye excavated round the base of the pillar which revealed that the pillar continues to a depth of 10 feet below and rests on a stone platform, 7’4” square, reinforced by long pieces of sal timber which were found embedded against the platform. The total height of the pillar is thus about 50 feet. Two feet below the surface Carlleyle noticed a “narrow round edged projection of the stone encircling the pillar like a ring.” Below the projection was seen by him the figure of a peacock engraved on the stone, the figure being four inches in length, which he connected with the family emblem of the Mauryas.

Reactions in historical timeline :- 
Indians have reacted in different ways to the remains of the Mauryan period and more specifically to the works of Ashoka – the Great. At the time of Feroz Shah Tughlak, he is believed to have been so enamoured by the pillars he found near Meerut, that he transported them to be placed on the top his new founded city of Feroz Shah Kotla. He tried to find Brahmins in those times who could read the engravings but could not satisfactorily find any.

The Brahmi etchings remained obscure for most scholars till James Princep, actually deciphered the script. Till Princep, we knew about the writings something similar to what we know at the present day about the Indus-Sarasvati culture, whose script is still undeciphered. As the script was gradually altered and Buddhism gradually disappeared, the general Indian populace started ascribing different legends relating to the construction of such edifices.

In several instances, the pillars were called as Bhim Sen ki Lat, based upon the Mahabharatan character who was believed to possess immense strength. Truly only a Bhim sen could lift such pillars for exercise in ignorant imagination.

To be continued....