Question

Which Emperor in India started using the 'inscriptions' for reaching out to his subjects?
A. Ashoka
B. Kanishka
C. Kharavela
D. Chandragupta Maurya

Answer 1

Hint: The first emperor in history who started using the inscriptions for reaching out to his subject was a famous Indian emperor of the Mauryan dynasty. He ruled between the period c. 268 to 232 BCE. He was the grandson of the founder of the Mauryan Empire, Chandragupta Maurya.

Complete answer: The edicts of Ashoka is a collection of more than 30 inscriptions found on boulders, pillars and cave walls which are attributed to the great emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire. It was after the destructive war against the state of Kalinga he converted to Buddhism. Throughout his life, Ashoka promoted the spread of Buddhism across ancient Asia. To spread the teachings of Buddhism Ashoka used the expression of Dhamma lipi. These inscriptions were spread throughout the areas of India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan and modern-day Bangladesh and provided the first evidence of Buddhism. In the edicts of Dhamma, Ashoka describes the attempt to solve some of the problems that were faced in a complex society.
Now we will learn about the other rulers who used the inscriptions and what they tell us about them.
-Kanishka was a king of the Kushan dynasty in the $2^{nd}$ century. The connection of Kanishka with the other Kushan rulers is described in the Rabatak inscription. Kanishka also followed Buddhism and encouraged its teachings. The greatest contribution to Buddhism is the Kanishka stupa at Peshawar.
-Kharavela who was the ruler of Kalinga during the $2^{nd}$ century BC. He inscribed the Hathigumpha inscriptions from Udayagiri.
-Chandragupta Maurya ruled between 321 to 297 BCE and was the founder of the modern Empire. The sources of his records can be found in the religious Indian texts and inferences from Greek and Roman historians that were written after his death. Apart from this, the Rock inscriptions inscribed by Rudraman suggests the Chandragupta control on the Malwa region in Central India.
Hence, the correct answer is option-A.

Note: In the inscriptions of Ashoka, he described himself as ‘beloved of the gods’ or Devanampiya. The inscriptions revolve around the themes of his conversion to Buddhism, the description of his efforts to spread Buddhism, his social and welfare animal programs and his moral and religious precepts.