It was a powerful symbol, and a successful identity was created with the Ashokan story. Since the 1950s, historians have uncovered a more layered and nuanced picture of Ashoka’s life, yet our textbooks have scarcely been updated to reflect that knowledge.
Today, with Modi, whose legacy is inseparably tied to the Gujarat riots, his hostility to Nehru, and the RSS ideology that schooled him, the old symbols of non-violence and secularism are being deliberately erased. The lathis, the “bunch of thoughts,” the blunt tongues: these are the new instruments of nation-making. If Ashoka, Gandhi, and Nehru are declared irrelevant, the question is not just what replaces the pillar, but what kind of India emerges when violence and exclusion, rather than restraint and pluralism, become the pillars of the nation.
I completely agree with your thoughts & I want to clarify - I didn't write this post with any intention of declaring Ashoka, Gandhi or Nehru irrelevant. Far from it.
I wrote this because I found the complexity of Ashoka's story baffling.
My goal wasn't to diminish what Gandhi and Nehru did or to suggest the symbols they chose were wrong. My goal was to explore the messy reality behind those symbols because I think understanding that complexity makes the story even more interesting.
The simplified Ashoka serves an important purpose. The real Ashoka teaches us something valuable too. Both matter.
Thank you so much! I loved reading this. Will read it again at night. I look forward to your series on Indian kings. I wonder if you’re including hindu kings only or both Hindu and muslim?
This is such important work, btw, writing about history without agenda, without picking a side.
Please read my ten letter series to India, the first one has a bit about Asoka. Would really like to hear your thoughts on it.
Such a beautiful perspective!! I love how you consider all perspectives, cause with Ashoka I see two camps, either — he instantly changed after Kalinga or he never changed, it was all political white-washing. But are not true and truth as usual lie in the grey zones, inbetween.
Great writing, narration, research and perspective. Subscribed!
Also could you recommend some books pertaining to the Mauryan empire history, especially that of Ashoka??
Sounds good and solid in its content and evaluation of the historical character Ashoka the Mauryan Emperor who was able to hold a mighty Empire that was earlier founded by Chandragupta .
Conversion to Buddhism no doubt is a debatable one whether it is prior to Kalinga war 261B.C. or earlier yet it has made the ruler to divert his resources in such a way that his edicts portray him as a ruler with a broader concept of social welfare .
The Buddhist legends have glorified Ashoka to such an extent that in several languages like Sanskrit , Pali , Sinhala, Thai, Lao and khotanese his achievements remain historically intact and relevant.
Romila Thaper , eminent historian, opines Ashoka’s Dhamma was a pragmatic political strategy to consolidate his power and to legitimise socialist
goals .
H. C.Ray Chaudhury in his work : political history of Ancient India - observes he turned his civil administration for religious propaganda . Further prioritising a religious revolution over military strength has weakened his military might and this is relevant as Mauryan empire lost its relevance just after his death and declined roughly in later fifty years .
People of India today admire his relevance as Indian constitution as adopted symbols like : three lions and Dharma chakra ; principles of Ahimsa and non violence . He is further remembered for his mighty empire that extended from Kashmir in the North to Mysore in modern day Karnataka in the south.
Did you know there’s a legend that Asoka had a torture chamber that looked beautiful on the outside - like a beautiful palace, but once you in there it was a torture cell!
Re Nehru, I read that he said Akbar was the ‘father of modern India’ - as in his secular and inclusive style of governance was something he envisioned for an independent India. Noble pursuit, but I do think it would’ve been better for all of us - India Pakistani Bangladesh - if we all had some autonomy and a weak central government - the polarisation from splitting up has been intense for us all.
Re asoka and his father, it’s so often that in such families they have favourites and yet they do still give them important positions - Aurangzeb killed dara shikoh but I believe he still married his daughter to dara’s son. And there are countless such examples!
Beautifully written Devansh. I have always felt it difficult to trust such simplistic narratives. Really appreciate you making a series about it. Liked how you explained all different texts about him without picking sides. Excited to read more such stories 🙌🏻
You must know first about a Britisher who lived in India and discovered the script of Ashoka period and we came to know about Ashoka and Buddhism. He died too early but dedicated life on this project!
And you say your research completed in few days!!
It is nothing but a dream you have watched when you were sleeping. All non historians had such great dreams.
AI can give all details and anyone can mention them but to be a historian is a different thing. Anyone can dream anything about history and write it, but citing it as correct and trying to dismantle the truth established by learned historians of the world through that dream is a foolish act in my opinion.
You need to accept it and put your perspective then it is OK. If I follow your way then I can prove all scripture as false. And my dream about them as true.
It was a powerful symbol, and a successful identity was created with the Ashokan story. Since the 1950s, historians have uncovered a more layered and nuanced picture of Ashoka’s life, yet our textbooks have scarcely been updated to reflect that knowledge.
Today, with Modi, whose legacy is inseparably tied to the Gujarat riots, his hostility to Nehru, and the RSS ideology that schooled him, the old symbols of non-violence and secularism are being deliberately erased. The lathis, the “bunch of thoughts,” the blunt tongues: these are the new instruments of nation-making. If Ashoka, Gandhi, and Nehru are declared irrelevant, the question is not just what replaces the pillar, but what kind of India emerges when violence and exclusion, rather than restraint and pluralism, become the pillars of the nation.
I completely agree with your thoughts & I want to clarify - I didn't write this post with any intention of declaring Ashoka, Gandhi or Nehru irrelevant. Far from it.
I wrote this because I found the complexity of Ashoka's story baffling.
My goal wasn't to diminish what Gandhi and Nehru did or to suggest the symbols they chose were wrong. My goal was to explore the messy reality behind those symbols because I think understanding that complexity makes the story even more interesting.
The simplified Ashoka serves an important purpose. The real Ashoka teaches us something valuable too. Both matter.
Thank you 👍🏾
Thank god we have this fan fiction! If we were left to our current devices, all our heroes would be self-centred, right wing majoritarians.
Thank you so much! I loved reading this. Will read it again at night. I look forward to your series on Indian kings. I wonder if you’re including hindu kings only or both Hindu and muslim?
This is such important work, btw, writing about history without agenda, without picking a side.
Please read my ten letter series to India, the first one has a bit about Asoka. Would really like to hear your thoughts on it.
Thank you for reading! I will be writing about both, have picked some favourites of mine already!
And ofcourse, I will definitely check out your work - sounds interesting!
Thanks again!
Fantastic stuff! what an awesome read!
Fabulously written and the link to ur previous article was immensely helpful! Kick ass stuff
thank you!
This was a fantastic read!
thank you!
Stories! Loved this one. And thank you for reminding me about SRK’s Asoka. Brought back so many memories :)
I rewatched the movie while writing this one - can never miss an excuse to watch and SRK film.
Such a beautiful perspective!! I love how you consider all perspectives, cause with Ashoka I see two camps, either — he instantly changed after Kalinga or he never changed, it was all political white-washing. But are not true and truth as usual lie in the grey zones, inbetween.
Great writing, narration, research and perspective. Subscribed!
Also could you recommend some books pertaining to the Mauryan empire history, especially that of Ashoka??
Sounds good and solid in its content and evaluation of the historical character Ashoka the Mauryan Emperor who was able to hold a mighty Empire that was earlier founded by Chandragupta .
Conversion to Buddhism no doubt is a debatable one whether it is prior to Kalinga war 261B.C. or earlier yet it has made the ruler to divert his resources in such a way that his edicts portray him as a ruler with a broader concept of social welfare .
The Buddhist legends have glorified Ashoka to such an extent that in several languages like Sanskrit , Pali , Sinhala, Thai, Lao and khotanese his achievements remain historically intact and relevant.
Romila Thaper , eminent historian, opines Ashoka’s Dhamma was a pragmatic political strategy to consolidate his power and to legitimise socialist
goals .
H. C.Ray Chaudhury in his work : political history of Ancient India - observes he turned his civil administration for religious propaganda . Further prioritising a religious revolution over military strength has weakened his military might and this is relevant as Mauryan empire lost its relevance just after his death and declined roughly in later fifty years .
People of India today admire his relevance as Indian constitution as adopted symbols like : three lions and Dharma chakra ; principles of Ahimsa and non violence . He is further remembered for his mighty empire that extended from Kashmir in the North to Mysore in modern day Karnataka in the south.
Hello there Devansh, great post, and given the topic, I thought you might enjoy hearing about a rather obscured Asian empire:
https://open.substack.com/pub/jordannuttall/p/a-cartographic-view-of-tartaria?r=4f55i2&utm_medium=ios
I just re-read this!
Did you know there’s a legend that Asoka had a torture chamber that looked beautiful on the outside - like a beautiful palace, but once you in there it was a torture cell!
Re Nehru, I read that he said Akbar was the ‘father of modern India’ - as in his secular and inclusive style of governance was something he envisioned for an independent India. Noble pursuit, but I do think it would’ve been better for all of us - India Pakistani Bangladesh - if we all had some autonomy and a weak central government - the polarisation from splitting up has been intense for us all.
Re asoka and his father, it’s so often that in such families they have favourites and yet they do still give them important positions - Aurangzeb killed dara shikoh but I believe he still married his daughter to dara’s son. And there are countless such examples!
https://open.substack.com/pub/theflamekeeperscrolls/p/more-pain-than-ink?r=5yb7jb&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Beautifully written Devansh. I have always felt it difficult to trust such simplistic narratives. Really appreciate you making a series about it. Liked how you explained all different texts about him without picking sides. Excited to read more such stories 🙌🏻
You must know first about a Britisher who lived in India and discovered the script of Ashoka period and we came to know about Ashoka and Buddhism. He died too early but dedicated life on this project!
And you say your research completed in few days!!
It is nothing but a dream you have watched when you were sleeping. All non historians had such great dreams.
Hey, thanks for reading!
I wrote about James Princep as well. You can find the link to that post either on my profile or somewhere in the above post as well.
AI can give all details and anyone can mention them but to be a historian is a different thing. Anyone can dream anything about history and write it, but citing it as correct and trying to dismantle the truth established by learned historians of the world through that dream is a foolish act in my opinion.
You need to accept it and put your perspective then it is OK. If I follow your way then I can prove all scripture as false. And my dream about them as true.
He dedicated his life so that people like us can do it quickly. With the resources available today, one need not be a historian to write about history