Question

Before becoming the king, Ashoka served as the Governor of which province?
A) Ujjain and Tamralipti
B) Ujjain and Dakshinapatha
C) Taxila and Ujjain
D) Taxila and Pataliputra

Answer 1

Hint: Governors are the chief legislators of a unit of a nation, such as a state or a province. They supervise staff, perform administrative and ceremonial duties, and act as primary agents for their governed region. They regulate the local governments of their region.

Complete answer:
Ashoka was the son of Bindusara. During his father's reign, he was governor of Taxila and Ujjain. After successfully defeating his brothers, Ashoka sat on the throne around 268 BC. There were four years between Asoka's accession to the throne (273 BC) and his royal coronation (269 BC). Therefore, it is obvious from the available proof that there was a battle for the throne after Bindusara's death.

Ashoka reached a wide audience and established an all-time lasting record because of the pillars and rock edicts that he made in his time. That architecture was recognized by the whole world. He is considered an exemplary ruler who controlled a vast and diverse Mauryan empire through peace and respect, with the Dharma at the centre of his ideology.

Ashoka taught people to live and let live. He emphasized compassion for animals. His teachings were aimed at strengthening the family as an institution and the existing social classes. Ashoka generated the political unification of the country. He associated it with dharma, a language, and practically a script called Brahmi, which was used in most of his inscriptions. Ashoka urged his successors to abandon the policy of conquest and aggression.

Thus, the correct answer is an option (C) Ashoka served as the Governor of Taxila and Ujjain.

Note: Edicts were issued by Ashoka which carried the message concerning Dharma which resulted in the expansion of his empire as many kings followed what he said. Until Ashoka’s inscriptions came out in 1837, he was practically unknown except in the Buddhist chronicles of Sri Lanka.