In his new book Ashoka: Portrait of a Philosopher King, Professor Patrick Olivelle talks about the life, moral philosophy and ideals of Mauryan emperor Ashoka. The book is the first in a new series edited by Ramachandra Guha, ‘Indian Lives’, which uses biographies to tell the story of India’s past.
Olivelle and Guha sat down with The Wire to talk about Ashoka’s rule, the characteristics that set him apart as a ruler, how he came to embrace and then spread his moral philosophy, and more.
“The main thing is that he [Ashoka] exposes himself, he opens himself out in his writings, to his people in a way that most kings or even politicians rarely do. He makes himself vulnerable; he was strong enough to say that he’s sorry about various things that he did in his life,” Olivelle said.
Watch the full interview below.
