Unkindled Love

Chapter 1

It was a day of great excitement for the students of Ryan International School, Bandra, Mumbai.

The results of the interschool essay competition were to be announced that morning. The competition, open to students of the tenth standard, was a prestigious one not because of the prize money, but because the award had been instituted by a highly respected essayist. The prize-winning essay would be sent to the state-level competition.

The hall was abuzz with anticipation. The boys were in animated discussion,
the girls in whispered speculation. Competitions such as these invariably threw up unexpected winners.

Ugly ducklings often turn into beautiful swans when they are tested. So who was it going to be this time? The suspense was palpable.

When the history teacher Mr Kulkarni walked in, a sudden hush fell upon the
room. Sensing the tension in the air, Mr Kulkarni decided to prolong the
suspense a little longer.

He began by saying, ‘I know all of you are waiting impatiently for the results of the essay competition and to know who the winner is. But I am going to ask you to wait a little longer. I will read out the essay first and allow you to guess who the author of it could be. After hearing the essay I am sure you will agree that it is a most mature and heartwarming effort, definitely deserving of the prize.’

A few ooohs and mild protests of ‘tell us first, Sir,’ were quickly silenced, as
Mr Kulkarni began to read:

‘All are my children . . .
I am like their father.
Like any father wishes for his child,
Happiness and comfort,
I wish that for all human beings;
Eternal joy.
Wherever I am,
Whether I am having my dinner or at a party,
Whether attending to matters of secrecy, or inspecting the cattle pens,
Whether on a journey or resting in my garden,
Informers must bring me the news of my subjects.
Wherever I am I will work relentlessly to benefit my people.
Sacred of all duties is the path of dharma.
A man who is not conscious cannot follow dharma.
Dharma should flourish; not perish
Let people strive for its growth,
And not wish its destruction!’

''These are words inscribed on the stone edicts of Devanampiya Piyadassi Ashoka. Ashoka, the son of Bimbisara and grandson of Chandragupta Maurya
has earned for himself a special place in the history of the world. There have been many great kings who fought wars and won major battles—like Alexander.

There were great saints, full of compassion and who showed kindness to all living creatures, like Christ and Buddha. But the combination of a king and a saint there was none, other than Ashoka.

Emperor Ashoka was a great human being. After the battle of Kalinga, he saw the terrible suffering inflicted on the people as a result of the war and he was
horrified. His heart melted and he decided to be more tolerant and
compassionate and dedicated the rest of his life to the practice and preaching of
Dharma. He began to look upon his subjects as his children and did everything for their welfare.

When we study his rock edicts, we understand the nature of this noble king and come to know his valuable thoughts about Dharma.

Perhaps, Ashoka did not have a change of heart and turn to non-violence
merely because of the Kalinga war! That event may have merely acted as a spur
for an already gentle and sensitive emperor.

‘Ashoka had his edicts etched throughout the kingdom, on pillars, on stones
and in caves. It is said his kingdom stretched from Karnataka in the south to Pakistan and the borders of Afghanistan in the north; from the Arabian Sea in the west to what is now Orissa (then Kalinga) in the east. He had them inscribed in Pali, Prakrit, Brahmi and Aremic so that his message would reach the common
man. He has described the Kalinga war too in some instances.