Ashoka's Reign: The Controversial Transformation

From a ruthless warrior to an apostle of peace, Ashoka the Great's transformation reshaped ancient

India. But was his path truly enlightened, or a calculated move for power?

His early reign was marked by brutal expansion, culminating in the horrific Kalinga War.

Untold suffering, a conquest so devastating it broke even the conqueror. Witnessing immense destruction,

Ashoka underwent profound change. He renounced war, embracing Buddhism and its message of

non-violence, a personal awakening that echoed through history. He tirelessly spread

the Dhamma, carving edicts on pillars and rocks. Missionaries, with scrolls not

swords, transformed a subcontinent. A peaceful empire was born. But critics argue: