About the Book: Ashoka: Portrait of a Philosopher King
This is the first book in the Indian Lives series, edited and curated by
Ramachandra Guha..
Ashoka, the last great Mauryan emperor, is one of the most iconic figures in
Indian history. Under his rule (268-232 BCE) the Mauryan empire extended across
almost the entirety of the Indian subcontinent. Apart from his effective reign
over his vast kingdom, Ashoka is well known for his renunciation of war, his
development of the concept of dhamma, his patronage of Buddhism, and his
promotion of religious harmony.
Ashoka has been imagined, and reimagined, many times over. It has been said that
there are