The recent book by Daya Prakash Singh on Maurya Emperor Ashoka, is beyond facts and motivated by malice. After facing flak for this, much as the BJP may claim that Daya Prakash Singh is not associated with their organization, the truth is that this attack is a part of the RSS history project in which Muslim rulers were targeted earlier and now rulers from Dalit-Backward communities are being targeted.
The historical fact is that after a bloody struggle for power in his early life, Ashoka underwent a humanitarian change of mind and he propagated Buddhism widely through his Dhamma campaign. He also gave state shelter to all the religions and ideas of that time and did not discriminate in any way. He also did many welfare works for the Ajivak community. His Dhamma policy is rarely found anywhere else in history. It was a serious attempt to solve the problems and tensions of society. Ashoka also did many works for public welfare and he adopted a very liberal attitude.
The RSS Sanghi project is targeting Ashoka for two reasons. Firstly, the Buddhist, Jain and Ajivik sects were anti-Brahminical movements in character and secondly, Ashoka himself came from a backward caste. Before the rule of the Sungas, Magadha was ruled only by rulers from the backward community. Therefore when the Sungas, who supported Brahmanism, captured Magadha they massacred a large number of Buddhists.
The same liberal character is also evinced in Akbar's rule where all religions were treated equallly. The Sanghi project has always targeted Aurangzeb by calling him a fanatic, but they ignore the fact that during Aurangzeb's rule it was Hindus who held the highest position in the Mansabdari system.
CPIML Politburo member Kunal has condemned this attempt of maligning history and said in a statement that in today’s times there are continuous attacks on dalits, backward communities and minorities by the BJP and the Sangh Parivar and now they are also infiltrating history for this purpose. The falsification of history and its utilization by the BJP to further its own interests cannot be allowed. Instead of learning from rulers like Ashoka the concept and practice of a uniform attitude of the state towards all religions, this attack is being perpetrated because Ashoka does not fit into the Sanghi history project of the RSS.
