Ashoka the Great, the ruler of ancient India’s largest kingdom, took the path of
peace, tolerance, non-violence and compassion after a fierce battle in Kalinga.
He now addressed his subjects as a father would his children, and erected
pillars that spread his thoughts throughout the land in the people’s own
language. He put their welfare above all else and worked towards that for the
rest of his life. One of the most well-known symbols from India’s history, the
Ashoka chakra, now adorns India’s national flag, and the lion capital from his
pillars is our national emblem.
In this lively, engrossing account of Ashoka’s life and the times,