Chanakya keyboard: type Hindi, get Unicode

01 · How the layout works

How the Chanakya layout works.

1. 01

   Type the keys, get the word

   Most letters are one key. For example, Chanakya spells भारत with the keys shown here.

   Hkkjr→भारत

2. 02

   ◌ि is typed before the letter

   Some vowel signs are typed first and the letter after, the way they look on paper. The converter puts them after the letter in Unicode.

   fd→कि

3. 03

   Reph (र्) is typed after the letter

   Type the letter, then Z; the converter moves the reph in front of the letter in Unicode.

   dZ→र्क

4. 04

   Shift gives half letters

   Many shifted keys give the half form used in conjuncts. E on its own is म्, so Ed makes a conjunct.

   Ed→म्क

5. 05

   49 characters are off the keyboard

   The font also uses characters outside the plain keys: conjunct glyphs and extra signs, typed with Alt codes or a keyboard driver in the real font. Open “more characters” under the keys to add them.

   ½→ऋ