The person who first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka was James Prinsep. James Prinsep (1799-1840) was an English philologist, antiquary and administrator who served in the British East India Company. He played a crucial role in deciphering and interpreting the inscriptions and edicts of Emperor Ashoka, which were written in the Brahmi script. In the 1830s, Prinsep was able to decipher the Brahmi script and translate Ashoka's inscriptions, which provided valuable insights into the reign and policies of the Mauryan emperor. His groundbreaking work helped establish the historical significance of Ashoka and the Mauryan empire.