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Devanagari (मराठी)
Modi Lipi
Input
0 characters
⟶
Output
Modi script will appear here…
Modi Script Reference Chart (Unicode 17.0)
Independent Vowels
Consonants
Dependent Vowel Signs (Matras)
Various Signs & Punctuation
Digits
About Modi Script
Modi Lipi (मोडी लिपी) is a historic cursive script that was used to write the Marathi language from at least the
12th century until the mid-20th century, when Devanagari became the official script of Maharashtra. The name
Modi derives from the Marathi word moḍaṇe, meaning "to bend or fold," reflecting its flowing,
connected letterforms. For centuries it was the script of governance, commerce, correspondence, and literature
across the Deccan — used in the courts of the Marathas, the Peshwas, and in vast archives of administrative
records. Millions of historical documents, land deeds, letters, and manuscripts written in Modi script remain
undeciphered today due to a shortage of people who can read it. This translator is a small step toward making
the script more accessible, preserving a vital part of Maharashtra's written heritage for future generations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Modi Lipi?
Modi Lipi is a cursive script historically used to write Marathi, the primary language of Maharashtra, India.
It was in active use from around the 12th century until the 1950s, when Devanagari was officially adopted.
Modi was especially prominent during the Maratha Empire and Peshwa periods, where it was the script of
government, trade, and everyday correspondence.
Is Modi script still used today?
Modi script is no longer used for everyday writing. However, there is a growing revival movement among
historians, archivists, linguists, and cultural enthusiasts. Several universities in Maharashtra teach Modi
script reading, and organisations like the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune are working to
digitise and decode thousands of historical Modi manuscripts. Unicode officially added Modi script in version
7.0 (2014), making digital use possible.
How do I type Modi script on my computer?
The easiest way is to use this translator — type Devanagari (Marathi) text and it will instantly convert it to
Modi Unicode characters. To display Modi correctly, install the Noto
Sans Modi font on your device. For dedicated typing, some keyboard layouts for Modi script exist but are
not yet widely standardised.
How accurate is this Devanagari to Modi converter?
This tool performs a direct Unicode character-to-character mapping based on the official Unicode Standard 17.0
for both Devanagari (U+0900–U+097F) and Modi (U+11600–U+1165F). Every consonant, vowel, vowel sign (matra),
virama, anusvara, visarga, punctuation mark, and digit is mapped correctly. It is a script converter, not a
translator — meaning it converts the written form of Marathi from one script to another without changing the
language itself.
What is the difference between Modi and Devanagari?
Both scripts are used to write Marathi, but they look very different. Devanagari is block-printed with a
characteristic horizontal line (shirorekha) running along the top of letters. Modi is cursive and flowing —
letters connect to each other, making it faster to write by hand. Devanagari is shared with Hindi, Sanskrit,
Nepali, and other languages, while Modi was uniquely developed for Marathi. Think of them like print vs.
cursive handwriting for the same language.
Can I use this tool for research or academic work?
Yes. This tool is free to use for personal, educational, and research purposes. The Unicode mappings are
sourced directly from the Unicode Standard 17.0, making the output academically reliable for script
conversion. If you are working with historical Modi manuscripts, note that older texts may use variant
letterforms not fully covered by Unicode — in such cases, specialist scholarship is recommended alongside this
tool.