Question

The Kalinga war was fought in

• A. 221 BC
• B. 265 BC
• C. 261 BC
• D. 316 BC

Hint:

For historical dates, direct factual recall is necessary. Focus on key battles and events associated with major historical figures like Ashoka.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the historical date of the Kalinga War.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The Kalinga War was a pivotal event in ancient Indian history. It was fought between the Mauryan Empire under Emperor Ashoka and the state of Kalinga (modern-day Odisha). The war is famously known for its brutal scale and for profoundly impacting Emperor Ashoka, leading to his conversion to Buddhism and his subsequent embrace of non-violence (Dhamma-vijaya).
Historical records, particularly Ashokan edicts, confirm that the Kalinga War took place in 261 BC.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The Kalinga War was fought in 261 BC.

Answer 2

This question asks for the exact historical year in which the Kalinga War, fought between Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire and the state of Kalinga, took place. Let's examine each of the given years against the historical record to identify the correct one.

1. 221 BC: This date falls well within the broader Mauryan period, but it does not correspond to any event recorded in Ashoka's own inscriptions relating to Kalinga. It is sometimes confused with dates from other ancient civilizations of roughly the same era, but it has no direct bearing on this particular war.
2. 265 BC: This year is close to the actual date but does not match the year confirmed by Ashoka's Rock Edict XIII, the primary historical source used for dating the war. It falls within Ashoka's early reign but predates the war by a few years.
3. 261 BC: Ashoka's Rock Edict XIII states that the Kalinga War occurred in the eighth regnal year of his reign. Since Ashoka's coronation is dated to around 269-268 BC, adding eight years places the war in 261 BC. This is the year accepted by historians, and it is also the year after which Ashoka is recorded to have turned toward Buddhism and non-violence.
4. 316 BC: This date is far too early, falling within the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka's grandfather, well before Ashoka came to power. It cannot be the date of a war fought under Ashoka's rule.

Working from Ashoka's own regnal-year count in his edicts, only the year 261 BC lines up with the eighth year of his reign, when the Kalinga War is recorded to have taken place.

Therefore, the correct answer is 261 BC.