Category Social Sciences

          Did you know that the national emblem of India has been taken from the Ashoka pillar at Sarnath, and that the Ashoka chakra on the Indian flag was Ashoka’s symbol for the wheel of Dharma?

          Ashoka spread the teachings of Buddha and his own messages by engraving them on stone pillars throughout his kingdom. Since he wanted his words to be everlasting, he chose a medium that would never rust or decay.

          The Ashoka pillars, as they are now called, were over forty feet high and extremely heavy. They are found from Afghanistan in the north to Karnataka in the south. The messages on these pillars were written in Pali, a simple form of Sanskrit, which the common people spoke during Ashoka’s time.

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          The great Indian emperor, Ashoka was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya. At his birth, his mother is believed to have said, “Now I am Ashoka”, which means ‘Now I am without sorrow.’ Therefore, the child was named ‘Ashoka’. In 268 BC, Ashoka was crowned king of Magadha, and he proved himself very courageous and a good administrator. He ruled over and empire that covered two-thirds of the Indian continent! He was the most famous of the Mauryan kings, and was one of the greatest rulers of India.

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          Chanakya, also known as Kautilya, became Chandragupta’s prime minister, and legend describes him as being the author of a book titled Arthashastra. ‘Arthashastra’ means the science of property and material success. This success includes political and diplomatic strategy aimed at uniting India.

          According to Kautilya, a ruler should use any means to attain his goal, and his actions required no moral sanction. The only problems discussed are of the most practical kind. Though kings were allowed a free rein, the citizens were subject to a rigid set of rules. Much of our knowledge about the state policy of the Mauryas comes from the Arthashastra, which is a treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy.

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            Chandragupta was the founder of the Maurya dynasty, which ruled ancient India for about 140 years. He was not born a prince. He came from an ordinary family and it is believed that Chandragupta was raised by peacock trainers.

           Some say, he came from a land of peacocks, and that is why he was called ‘Maurya’, a word that comes from ‘mayura’, which means peacock. Chandragupta was the pupil of a brilliant Brahmin called Chanakya. Under his guidance, he started taking over the small villages on the outskirts of the kingdom ruled by King Dhanananda. Finally, in 321 BC, he conquered the capital, Pataliputra, and overthrew King Dhanananda. Chandragupta’s troops conquered many north Indian kingdoms and claimed lands that stretched as far west as Afghanistan. In this way, Chandragupta united northern India under one ruler for the first time in history, and established the Mauryan Empire.

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          Alexander’s invasion resulted in the establishment of Greek settlements in India. It taught the Indian kings the need to be more united among themselves in order to fight off invaders. The skill and discipline of the Greek army inspired the need for a better army.

          Many small kingdoms were destroyed, leading to the establishment of a new empire. India thus came into contact with the European world, and land and sea routes to India became well known. The Greek influence on Indian art can be seen in the Gandhara sculptures, as well as in architecture and science. In short, the Greek influence restructured the Indian states and society, and changed the fabric of the North Indian artistic and scientific world.

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          As Alexander marched through India he fought battles, built altars, and founded cities. One city he called Boukephala in honour of his favourite horse Bucephalus, which died and was buried there.

          Other cities he called Alexandria in honour of his own name. As they journeyed, Alexander and his soldiers saw many new and strange sights. At last, Alexander reached the city of Lahore, and marched on to the banks of the river Sutlej beyond. He was eager to reach the holy river Ganges, and conquer the people there. However, his men had grown weary of fighting under the burning sun and torrential rains of India, and they begged him to go no further. Therefore, greatly against his own will, Alexander turned back.

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