The ideals from Ashokan rock edicts and their relevance in the modern state
Acceptance: 04/05/2026
Published: 01/06/2026
Abstract
Vincent Arthur Smith has written that more than two thousand years ago, India’s first emperor had already achieved that level of scientific administrative efficiency for which his British successors later sighed in vain, and which even the Mughal emperors of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were never able to attain fully. The pillars and rock edicts of Emperor Ashoka are scattered across the country from one end to the other. He had rocks cut to construct caves for monks, commissioned—according to Buddhist tradition—the construction of 84,000 stupas, and erected pillars at various places whose polish and brilliance are extraordinary. The Ashokan pillars are unique examples of craftsmanship. Carved out of a single block of stone, standing about 40–50 feet high, their smooth, lustrous finish has amazed people of every age. On the Sarnath pillar, the lions display an extraordinary sense of strength and vitality; the naturalism visible in their swollen veins is unparalleled—not only in Indian sculpture but in the sculpture of the entire world. Ashoka's greatness stemmed not only from the size of his kingdom and his skill at running it, but also from his personality and the principles and objectives he aspired to preserve in his role as king.
Author Name:
Mr. Ashwajeet Gajbhiye & Dr. S. Vijay Kumar
Pages:
275-284
DOI Number:
10.5281/zenodo.20498191
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Writer Name
Mr. Ashwajeet Gajbhiye & Dr. S. Vijay Kumar
Pages
275-284
DOI Numbers
10.5281/zenodo.20498191
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