Ashokan Amnesia
“While the memory of Ashoka having set up stone pillars persisted, what his epigraphs recorded was entirely forgotten. The pillar at Niglihawa, while recognized as Ashokan, is said to have been engraved with “the record of the nirvana’ of an earlier Buddha. Later, even the connection of such pillars with Ashoka was forgotten.”
~Nayanjot Lahiri, Ashoka in Ancient India, 301.
We hardly need to be reminded of
The evils of the greatest kings of kings
Like Alexander stomping from above
On monarchs and their peoples. Vast vile things
He perpetrated, like disgusting acts
Of Genghis Khan and caesars. Such wrongs are
Harsh matters of the annals of cold facts.
One emperor unlike them raised the bar,
Though. Carving mercy and forgiveness deep
In stone, Ashoka meant to be recalled
Forever for his kindness. In the creep
Of time, such decencies as his went bald
In people’s memories. Sometimes centuries smeared
Forgetfulness. His mildness disappeared.