ASHOKA – The Search for India’s Lost Emperor by Charles Allen

ASHOKA – The Search for India’s Lost Emperor by Charles Allen

Charles Allen was born in present-day Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, where six generations of his family served under the British Raj. Though his formal education was in England and Italy, he was more of an Anglo-Indian after he came back to India with his parents later. He was more of a travel writer in his early days of writing and took affiliation to Buddhism when he was in Nepal. He turned into a fulltime historian later with his interest in Indian history. He was an ardent supporter of Dalit rights in India and an opposer of Brahminism. He wrote more than a dozen books about India and its historical past. Died in 2020 after finishing his last book ‘Aryans’.

StoryLine:

Ashoka (Without Sorrow) the Great or Ashokavardhana, was the son of Bindusara and grandson of Chandragupta Maurya. Ashoka was the true emperor of India as his kingdom extended from Eastern Persia on the north-west to Bengal in the north-east and from Kashmir in the North to Karnataka in the South. The book speaks about his greatness in managing such a huge territory comprising of several vassal princely states single handedly through his weapon of “Dharma”, also called as Moral Law. Though he was a ruthless and cruel king in his early stages of usurping the throne of Magadha by killing his half-brother Sumana, he later converted to Buddhism under the influence of one of his cousins, Nigrodha, and adopted a policy of non-violence and good governance through moral laws of teachings of Lord Buddha. Though not much of his rule is mentioned in this book, the importance of Dharma in his rule had been spread across the country and neighboring countries like Nepal, Afghanistan, Persia, Tibet and South East Asian countries through his Rock Edicts, Minor Rock Edicts and Pillar Edicts. The author is of the strong opinion that many of the present popular Hindu temples are built upon Buddhist structures. He is also of the opinion that the Brahmanical Hinduism has suppressed the voice and spread of Buddhism which is much older and thus the greatness of Ashoka erased from history, since he challenged the caste based Brahmanical order.

Many interesting facts about Ashoka’s times were described in detail. One such fact is about destruction of the world famous Nalanda University and its exquisite library by the ruthless Muslim invader Mohammad Bhaktiyar, just because he didn’t find a copy of Quran in its collection. The library is said to have burnt for months. The book also elicits the fact about how a standardized script called Brahmi has been carved out of ancient Indian scripts Pali, Prakrit and Sanskrit and the same inscribed on to Edicts of Ashoka across the length and breadth of his Empire. The author has meticulously brought out the facts and figures related to the origin of Buddhism in fourth century BC and its spread across the subcontinent in the later periods through Ashoka the Great. Lots of information is brought regarding how Ashoka’s grandfather Chandragupta usurped the throne of Magadha from the Nanda kings, with clever plotting of his mentor Chanakya (Brahmin author of Arthashastra) and with the help of associates of Alexander the Great of Greece. Though Ashoka was also called as Chandashoka (The Angry Ashoka) though his terrible deeds in suppressing his opponents, he is said to have become a pious and ardent follower of non-violence taught by Sakhyamuni Buddha, after his conversion to Buddhism from Hinduism.

Almost each and every surviving ancient historic sites (stupas), manuscripts, edicts and sculptures of Ashoka’s period were deeply studied and analyzed to the core by various British archeologists and historians like Sir William Jones, Horace Hayman Wilson, Buchanan, Colin Mackenzie, James Princep, Markam Kittoe, Brian Hodgson, Dr Fuhrer etc during in the 19th century, through their prestigious research organizations Asiatic Society of Bengal and Archeological Survey of India. Such interpretations have been beautifully presented in the book with corresponding illustrations. It was from these findings that it is established that Ashoka could take Buddhism to as far as Greece, Persia, Afghanistan, Tibet, Bhutan, China, Burma, Combodia etc through his appointed special classes of religious officers called “Dharma Mahamatras”. The author even took account of the recordings of Chinese travelers HuenTsang and Fa-hein to confirm the exact dates of Ashoka’s reign. It was observed that almost all the Ashokan edicts were located at remotest and isolated places away from big towns as a precaution from being destroyed by the forthcoming dynasties who might act against Buddhism or be pro-Brahmin. The wonderful idea of carving his doctrines on to rock instead of cloth or leaves in those days, should be given credit as the former would last for ages compared to the latter.

The death of Ashoka in final days was said to be very pitiful as he lost all his personal wealth due to countless donations and gifts in gold, silver and copperware to Buddhist monks for their welfare and construction of Buddhist monasteries, stupas, edicts and other welfare measures of his kingdom. Thus, Mauryan empire under Ashoka the Great is said to be the first Welfare State of the then known civilized world of ancient eras. Eventually, the great Ashokan dynasty came to a sad end after Pushyamitra Shunga from the Shunga dynasty killed last of the Mauryan ruler Brihadrata and destroyed most of the Buddhist monuments and edicts in order to erase the religion from history.

Ashoka the Great would be remembered as the man who first forged India into a single nation state, and thus has a real claim to be its founding father; the first Indian ruler with a distinctive, identifiable voice; the pioneer of non-violence, the first proponent of conquest by moral force alone, whose words remain absolutely, unequivocally, unique among rulers as a statement of governing principles. Hence, the twenty-four-spoked wheel known as the chakra, or ‘Wheel of Law’, which was set at the centre of the Indian tricolour; and, for its national emblem, the Ashokan capital excavated at Sarnath in 1904– 5 showing four lions standing guard over four chakras, representing the ‘lion’s roar of the Buddha’ spreading to the cardinal directions. These symbols were expressly chosen to represent the new, secular India, free of any specific religious affiliation, to create a country governed by righteousness. Ashoka’s doctrine of governance had three main goals: non-violence as a means of achieving ends, allowing conquest by Dharma only; freedom of religious expression with respect for the views of others; and the promotion of the ‘essentials of all religions’ based on proper behaviour, consisting of purity of heart, self-control, firm devotion, respect for each other, generosity, good deeds, gratitude, restraint, impartiality, not injuring or harming others, and forgiving those who do wrong ‘where forgiveness is possible’.

My favourite Rock Edict no 13: Truly, Beloved-of-the-Gods (Ashoka) desires non-injury, restraint and impartiality to all beings, even where wrong has been done. Now it is conquest by Dharma that Beloved-of-the-Gods considers to be the best conquest … I have had this Dharma edict written so that my sons and great-grandsons may not consider making new conquests, or that if military conquests are made, that they be done with forbearance and light punishment, or better still, that they consider making conquest by Dharma only, for that bears fruit in this world and the next.

Pros: This book is an extensive research-based historic template of the life of King Ashoka, his predecessors and successors with almost accurate timelines. Credit should be given to the author for reviving the lost memories of the great Emperor of India who had given a uniform civil code in the 3rd century BC itself when rest of the western world was still in its nascent stages of good governance. Illustrations of rock edicts, pillar edicts, archaeological sites, monuments, souvenirs, coins belonging to Ashokan period at right parts of the book, excites the reader to dig deeper into the book without wink of an eye.

Cons: The author seemed to be strongly anti-Brahman and seemed to have a strong opinion that the fall of Buddhism in India is mainly due to the tyranny of pro-Brahmanical rulers after Ashoka, which might not be true. His opinion of Buddhist temples being converted into Hindu temples is also not proved with evidences anywhere in the book. His final linking of Dalit icon Dr. B R Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism with his opinion seemed out of context and immaterial.

My rating : 4.5 out 5 

THE BLUE EYED AFGHAN By Stephen F Cole

 

THE BLUE EYED AFGHAN Written by Stephen F Cole

The author seems to be a simple man who liked to travel a lot, hitch hike, and is always in search of adventure. Having got bored with his long sales career, took to writing and this could be one of his first books. Does not like to reveal his whereabouts due to security reasons.

STORY LINE:

This book is about how a poor young Afghan national, who loses all his family, in the turmoil during Taliban rule in Afghanistan is saved and taken back to London by a British military officer, to live with his family, thenceforth. This blue-eyed Afghan, called Babur, is for the first time exposed to the taste of true democracy and lives on to securing his life as a good citizen through highest education from London University. He loves London and its people but hates the ongoing religious radical attempts of Islamic preachers in order to bring the country under Sharia Law, just like the way it was at back home. Though he has nothing to do with the murder of one such radical Islamic preacher Abu Hamza, he is framed to be the prime suspect by two influential anti-religion and anti-Government Britishers, the real killers, to create religious conflict and hatred between Muslims and Christians using latest drone technology and dangerous chemicals by killing hundreds on both sides and subsequently gain political power through their own new political party called Fresh Start. This plot gets identified by the British Detective Agency and they hunt down the real culprits behind the entire episode. But, finally, one of the two perpetrators end up becoming the Prime Minister of UK after winning an election, while the other gets killed in a Police operation. The book has lot of truths revealed about how politics and hunger for power decide the life of innocent citizens. Also, a lot of hatred is spewed on Islam and its ideology, which might be not true, but for a few who have been radicalised through hate speeches. He seemed to have represented the voice of a common Britisher who enjoys democracy and freedom of speech.

Pros : The ugly face of politicians in converting a peaceful and lawful land into a riot laden, hatred filled State is well elicited in this book. The reader gets to know how once a peaceful United Kingdom is reeling under the pressure of religious conflicts between two major religions of the world, only because some greedy power mongers of the country would like to occupy the political power, by appeasing the immigrants’ vote bank. The reader can come across some of the most relevant and beautiful quotes relating today’s life of a common man vs the politics of a country.

Cons: The editing of this book seems to be flawed as there are many grammar errors throughout. The author seems to be one of the victims of the Government policies and hence wrote this book to vent up his anger on the Government as well as Islamic radical mindsets. The title doesn’t justify the story as Babur’s role in this entire story is almost negligible, except for the benefit of doubt of how he could have got blue eyes, having being born in an Asian country, once invaded by the blue-eyed Alexander the Great, from Greece. Food for thought!

My favourite Quote in the Book: “The planet is 2 billion years old and our occupation of it is has lasted a tiny fraction of that time, it is a fantastic miracle that we are here at all, instead of being content with that, most of that time has been spent trying to wipe each other out, most slaughtered in the name of God. Thank God”

My rating: 2.5 out of 5

THE LOST MARY By James D Tabor

 

THE LOST MARY By James D Tabor

JAMES D. TABOR is a retired professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he served as department chair for a decade. His previous ten books include the international bestseller The Jesus Dynasty, The Jesus Discovery, and Paul and Jesus. Over the past three decades Tabor has combined his study of ancient texts with field work in archaeology, and since 2008 he has been co-director of the acclaimed Mt. Zion excavation in Jerusalem. Tabor’s work has been featured in dozens of major magazines and TV documentaries, including on PBS Frontline, BBC, Discovery Channel, Nightline, 20/ 20, and the History Channel. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

STORYLINE: Its one of the best books that every Christian should read to learn about how Christianity was born and evolved over two centuries. The book is full of interesting facts and illustrations about Mary, the biological mother of Jesus and her re-discovery from the lost status in Bible. Equally astonishing are the facts about how she and her surviving family of Jesus have been effaced from the Bible tactically to start an entirely different ideology. Though the book might be appearing highly controversial by followers of Jesus Christ as God, the author produced enough archaeological evidences about Jesus’s birth and life as on ordinary man who inherits the genes of King David. All facts presented in this book point out to the reality that he was a Messiah of God along with John, the Baptist (his elder cousin) but not God himself. The book turns even more interesting when the evidences of Mary’s royal lineage are illustrated and how she is portrayed as a “Virgin” having been the vessel to bring in the Messiah of God into the world. It is also proved that she has six more biological children (four sons and two daughters) after Jesus’s birth. The author mainly concentrated on establishing Mary as the torch bearer of starting and taking forward the Jesus movement after the crucifixion and death of Jesus through his brother James. But her efforts have been diluted in the New Testament by strategically masking her involvement in the birth of Christianity. Instead, Paul, one of the later apostles who haven’t even met Jesus ever, wrote the New Testament of the Bible under the influence of his allegiance to Roman kings.  The main reason behind this cited to be as to present Jesus as a God and not just Jewish Messiah of God for which he needs to be born of divine intervention but not through regular biological methods. This tactical move of Paul silenced the original seeds of Christianity started by Mary and her family, through his original preachings as a Messiah. The author put all his efforts to bring back Mary to lime light whom he considers as the one who bore the brunt of all sufferings during the reign of King Herod the Great to give birth to Jesus and also raising him through the ruthless barbaric killing of thousands of Jews by means of crucifixions in Jerusalem. He considers her as the most important of the greatest women of the world who needs to be given the credit of bringing Jesus, the son of God to the mortal world and also raising him to become the future leader of the deprived and needy, during the most tumultuous periods of Jewish sufferings.

Pros : The wonderful archaeological evidences with graphic, Biblical citations and original illustrations of the proofs of every aspect of Mary’s birth, her life before the birth of Jesus and her being silenced after that is worth reading. The author’s deep inquisitive knowledge about the geographical area of Nazareth, Jerusalem and its surrounding places gives even more strength to his evidences proving every aspect about Mary’s family history. Truly wonderful.

Cons : Though there is quite a believable historic evidence put forward, some to be just imaginations of the author that a particular event might have taken place at that time. Such were again mostly based purely on Biblical citations of New Testament which according to him was a deviation from originality of Christianity.

My rating : 4 out of 5

A HISTORY OF KASHMIR By Parvez Dewan

 

A HISTORY OF KASHMIR By Parvez Dewan

Parvez Dewan was born on 13 October 1954 in Srinagar. Dewan was educated at St Joseph’s, Allahabad; St George’s Grammar, Hyderabad; Stanes, Coimbatore; The Air Force Central School, Subroto Park, New Delhi and St Stephen’s College in Delhi. He did his higher education from the University of Cambridge in 1987 (Wolfson College). Dewan joined the IAS and was allotted the Jammu and Kashmir cadre and he was first posted as Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Basohli where he revived its school of miniature painting. Dewan was the Tourism Secretary of India (2012-14). Dewan asked for and was granted voluntary, premature retirement, in order to concentrate on his career as a writer, especially to work on his South Asian encyclopedia, Indpaedia.com. He has authored a series of books on Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.

StoryLine:

The author has great knowledge about the historical tradition of the land of Kashmir since 6th Century AD. The book consists of 11 Chapters that takes the reader right from the pre-history of Kashmir, starting AD 1200. Right from the legends of origin of the name of the land from Rishi Kashyap to the various dynasties that ruled the land and its elaborate linkage to other parts of the country and the world has been stitched in a very interesting manner. One who is interested in mythology clubbed with historical facts, would be delighted to go through the pages voraciously. The reader will be awestruck to learn how Jesus Christ and Jews are said to have reached Kashmir and made an impact of Christianity also in the Valley, though it cannot be taken seriously. The rise of Islam in Kashmir through various Muslim invasions of the country and the subsequent conversions of the resident original Hindus of the land to Muslims, and how various Muslim sects have influenced the lives of locals, is well explained without much of ambiguity. The impact of Sikhism on Kashmir through Sikh Gurus and their subsequent rulers along with the popular reforms that brought about major changes in the social fabric of the entire population is well elicited. Post 1947, the political changes brought about by politicians of Delhi in making Jammu & Kashmir a part of India with Pakistan constantly trying all its means to occupy the Valley through its religious and extremist provoking of the population, with the secret support of the evil out-going British diplomats, is one of the most transparent material that I have come across. The link between Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and other neighbouring Islamic countries with Kashmir has been clearly established through their influx and settlements after constant invasions. Finally, the regional histories of each and every part of Jammu and Kashmir along with their nomenclature is the best that I loved to read. The author’s extensive research and knowledge about each and every part of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is the biggest treasure that the reader can garner from reading this book.

Pros : One thing that the reader would have clarity after reading this beautiful book is that the actual problem of Kashmir is not the religious conflict between the original inhabitants, Hindus and later converted, Muslims, but it is only between the local Kashmiris and non-Kashmiris. One of the main reasons why Raja Hari Singh accepted Accession of the State to India instead of Pakistan and Article 370 was accepted by both the public and local Muslim majority politicians. Also, the reader is well informed about some of the pro-poor reforms that Muslim rulers of the State have brought about compared to their Hindu predecessors. A detailed chronological shift of a peaceful territory to the land of mass murders and terrorist activities through proxy tribesmen by Pakistan is the best to learn towards the end of this writing. The transition of the land from a predominantly Hindu majority to a Muslim majority has been well explained with chronological proofs.

Cons: Though the author seemed not to have any bias towards any religion, there appeared to be a slight mockery of Hindu mythology and legends while portraying the facts about origin of the names of some places. I didn’t understand why Mirza Haider Dughlat (1499-1551) from Central Asia, has been chosen as the prime ruler who actually shaped present day Kashmir’s society. A separate chapter allocated to him.

My Rating : 3.75 out of 5

Tales From Kathasaritsagara By Somadeva

The original author in Sanskrit Somadeva was a Kashmiri Shaivite Brahmin who lived in the eleventh century during the times of King Anantadeva. The book is said to behave been composed in around 1070 AD for the wife of King Anantadeva, Queen Suryamati. However Kathasaritsagara is only one part of the larger text called “Brihatkatha” written by Gunadhya, a mythical figure from Lord Shiva’s abode. 

Translated by Arshia Sattar, a PhD holder in South Asian Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago, teaches Indian literature at several institutions in India and is contributes to several journals and magazines. She has been working with the Valmiki Ramayana for thirty five years.

Story Line:

The book is divided into 10 parts each consisting of many chapters that make one story each. The 10 parts Kathapitha, Kathamukha , Lavanaka, Madanamanchuka, Ratnaprabha, Alankaravati, Shaktiyashas, Shashankavati, Padmavati, Vishamashila are all interwoven around Naravahandatta, one of the seven eternal rulers of Vidhyadharas. They are entwined within each other in such a way that one story leads to another story and then another and another. Its like an endless thread of stories one within each other that have morals attached to each and every story at the end. The reader enjoys them while reading and imagining how ancient tales used to be narrated over bed time or by gurus to their disciples/students. At some point or the other, I am sure that the reader misses the point where he started and may have to go back to find the previous reference. Its such a complex web of stories that is exciting to sail through. Though there have been some stories taken from Panchatantra and Vikram Betaal, most of them might be new to the reader or never heard before, even from our grandparents. The best part is to know how Gods and Goddesses (particularly Shiva and Parvati) were part of the daily life of commoners as well as the elite across the country, as they very frequently interact with them whenever they are propitiated or wished. I started thinking as to whether Shiva and Parvati and other Gods were actually humans with some magical powers, who were worshipped as Gods later. In fact all Gods seemed to be Super Humans. Out of all, one story really surprised me to the core. This story in Alankaravati is about Sita and her two twin sons. Here Sita is said to have only one biological son called Lava with Rama. His twin brother Kush is said to be made by Valmiki out of the blades of Kush grass, later projected to the world as twin brothers born to Sita. This needs more research and facts brought out by experts. Definitely there must be some concrete evidence to prove this when such tale has been in circulation in the 11th century itself. Rest all stories seemed to be real folklores that bring out the real lifestyle, cultures and traditions of people and kings who lived in not so ancient times. Most of the morals of the stories are relevant even today and have great impact on today’s lifestyle of general public in the country.

Pros : The collection of stories have great significance and relevance to how society was functioning in those times. Though there is a mention of Chaturvarna system in force actively, there seemed to be no major hatred or exploitation by the upper castes over lower castes. Moreover, both good and bad people have been portrayed equally with relevant stories with morals ending in a tragedy for the bad ones. On the lighter note, one can find across the length of the book, scores of beautiful novel Hindu names for their new born sons and daughters. Also, I loved how Gods are portrayed as not the invisible ones but those who regularly interact and invite deserving mortals to their abodes to and fro. Wish it could be the same today also. This I think used to motivate those who were narrated these stories to be virtuous and pious in order to be in the good books of the powerful Gods and Goddesses.

Cons: There seems to be a lot of literature that belittles women throughout. Most of the stories are having some reference or the other to portray women as the lustful ones and those who were not faithful to their husbands or one man, but always luring other men for physical pleasures. This is very disturbing to a rational reader. Men on the other hand were shown as loyal to their wives and lovers but fought with each other just to win over their faith on their spouses. Was this the kind of society that existed at that time? Food for thought.

My rating : 2.5 out of 5