Opinion: Ashoka’s vision and how India diverged
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Rohan Manoj argues that Patrick Olivelle’s book, Ashoka: Portrait of a Philosopher King, reveals how much later Indian history reacted to the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, even when Brahmanical writers didn’t directly address him. Olivelle’s work centers on Ashoka’s inscriptions, which show a king unlike his successors, one who actively wrote and lectured on Buddhist principles shortly after adopting the faith. Ashoka attempted to create a universal moral code for his subjects, extending beyond Buddhism to include all religious groups.
Manoj suggests that Ashoka’s inclusive vision faced opposition from Brahmanas, who prioritized a caste-based social order. These Brahmanas articulated their ideals in texts like the Apastamba Dharmasutra, potentially as a response to Ashoka’s policies. Later, the epic heroes Rama and Yudhishthira were presented as ideal kings devoted to Brahmanas, with some scholars believing Yudhishthira was specifically created to counter Ashoka’s example.
The influence of these Brahmanical texts on the development of caste is significant, as they were historically consulted and implemented. Manoj concludes by noting the ongoing controversy surrounding the Manusmriti, and invites readers to consider what India might have been like if Ashoka’s vision had prevailed instead.
