The living past
Living past- hungry-food-
Great king- Ashoka-Dharma
We know what hunger is.
We know what feels is like.
Millions of children without food face hungry in the so many countries.
They do not get even their rice or roti every day. They go to bed hungry.
The right to sufficient food and water is a basic human right. That is why hunger is more than just a social injustice.
`All men are my children. I am like a father of them as every father desires the good and happiness of his children; I wish that all men should always be happy.’ These are the words of Ashoka, the great Mauryan emperor, who lived almost 2,500 years ago.
He is one of the greatest personalities of history. Much of our knowledge of Asoka comes from his edicts, which were inscriptions engraved on rocks and pillars. His greatness is not based on his political or military achievements but no his message of peace and Dharma. So intense was his determination to help people that he undertook the difficult task of installing pillar and engraving rocks across his empire. He wanted his message to reach everyone. He wanted all people to be touched by the noble ideas of dharma.
Fortunately, these edicts have survived over the centuries, keeping Ashoka’s message alive. The message is relevant today as when it was written. `Of all victories, the victory of dharma is the noblest. One may win a piece of land by fighting a war, but by kindness, love and pity one can win the hearts of people. The sharp point of the sword spills blood, but from dharma springs the fountain of love. The victory won by arms brings fleeting joy but the victory of dharma brings lasting joy’.
For Ashoka, the welfare of his people was an extension of his `love for the land’.
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