Ashoka

Ashoka was prince of a kingdom around the city of Patna. As viceroy he crushed rebels in the far northwest and nearer central India. He was ruthless in his ascension to the throne after his father's death.

In pursuing a policy of expansion of power over neighboring kingdoms, his campaign to subdue present day Orissa resulted in over a hundred thousand casualties. This destructive war became a turning point. Filled with remorse for the huge loss of human life, Ashoka began to rethink the idea of war and aggression. Eventually he embraced the teachings of Buddha and strove to spread the message of right conduct all over India.

It this unique message of peace and tolerance that survives in his rock and pillar edicts spread across 33 locations in what are now India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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