30/04/2023
Ashoka (Aurangzeb): A tale of two Emperors of the Indian Subcontinent.
Father Bindusara (Shahjahan) wanted his son Susima (Dara Shikoh) to succeed him. Ashoka (Aurangzeb) supported by his army and father's ministers who found Susima (Dara Shikoh) an inefficient successor. They resisted Bindusara's (Shahjahan) decision. With the help of the army Ashoka (Aurangzeb) later succeeded to the throne by killing 99 (2) brothers. Ashoka, a Hindu (Aurangzeb, a Muslim) ruler later considered expanding his Empire and moved to south and attacked a Hindu state of Kalinga/Odisa (a Muslim state of Golconda/Bijapur). During the war Ashoka (Aurangzeb) killed 100,000 (???) and displaced 150,000 (???) people. Ashoka (Aurangzeb) ruled for 40 (49) years. Never before Ashoka any rulers of the subcontinent controlled a territory of that length and breadth. It was Aurangzeb who later achieved what Ashoka did almost 1800 years ago.
(See the Map)
(As you may have noted the facts relating Aurangzeb are written in the brackets).
About fifty years after Ashoka’s death the last Maurya King was assassinated and that was the end of Maurya Empire. On the other hand exactly after 150 years of Auranzeb’s death the last Mughal Emperor was exiled to Burma by British resulted in demise of Mughal Empire in the Indian Subcontinent.
How similar are the facts and how different is our interpretation of Ashoka and Aurangzeb. Why do we ignore crimes committed by Ashoka. In contrast to Aurangzeb, Ashoka used state money and his family to propagate Buddhism in the subcontinent. He almost routed Hinduism from the Indian subcontinent. Given historical facts and crimes committed by Chandal Ashoka (nick name given to him due to his crimes), are Indians ready to change many names given to many roads and institutions after him or are Indians ready to reconsider Ashoka chakra at the center of their flag?
Most of us study historical events to know 'what' had happened; in fact our reason to study history should be 'why' it happened. When we read it to know "what", it is only a story however when we understand "why" it becomes a science. People who consider Aurangzeb an angel are wrong and people who consider him a monster are wrong too. He was a ruler who did mistakes like any other rulers.
We are living in a world where ignorance can easily grip our emotions, initially we start hating a person (Aurangzeb) and later a community (Muslims). Should we blame others for the propaganda? Or do we have right and resources available to enlightened our mind. I am sure we have.
Ignorance is a curse and twisting facts are crime. At the moment we are manipulated by both.
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