The script was invented by
Ong Kommadam, a leader in the rebellion against the French colonizers. He began using the script as early as 1924, but its use did not continue after his death in 1936. Ong Kommadam claimed supernatural titles, including “King of the Khom”, “God of the Khom”, “Sky God of the Khom” (Sidwell 2008:17). The script was linked to his divine claims, messages written in this script carried mystical power as well as meaning. The script was invented by
Ong Kommandam for conveying secret messages that could not be deciphered by the French or Siamese forces that had divided Laos. He had taken over as leader after the death of
Ong Kèo during the Holy Man's Rebellion. As Ong Kommandam and many of his closest followers were speakers of
Bahnaric languages spoken in southern Laos, most of the known texts in the language were written in
Alak—Ong Kommandam's native language—and the Bahnaric Loven languages of
Juk,
Su' and
Jru', and some in Lao. The script was revealed to outsiders by old, dying insiders on two occasions (Sidwell 2008:18). Although the word
Khom originally referred to the Khmer, it was later applied to related Austroasiatic peoples such as the
Lao Theung, many of which had supported Ong Kammandam. ==Characteristics==