Question

Two statements labelled as Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are given below. Read them carefully and choose the correct option :
Assertion (A) : Most Asokan inscriptions were in the Prakrit language.
Reason (R) : The use of Prakrit shows his attempt to spread the message amongst the common people.

• A. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
• B. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
• C. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
• D. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Hint:

Ashoka personalized his edicts by language and region: Prakrit in India's mainland, Aramaic and Greek in the northwestern borderlands (like Afghanistan), matching the local spoken languages.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: Mauryan Emperor Ashoka was the first Indian ruler to issue royal edicts engraved on stone pillars and rocks. His principal motivation was to propagate his philosophy of \textit{Dhamma} across his vast kingdom. Step 1: Verifying Assertion (A) While high-class literature of ancient times was largely recorded in Sanskrit, the vast majority of Ashokan inscriptions found across the core regions of his empire were composed in the Prakrit language (written mostly in the Brahmi script). Hence, Assertion (A) is true. Step 2: Verifying Reason (R) Prakrit was the lingua franca or the spoken vernacular tongue of the common people during the Mauryan period. Ashoka explicitly chose to publish his moral code and state rules in Prakrit so that ordinary citizens could easily read, comprehend, and follow his messages without the need for elite priestly mediation. Hence, Reason (R) is true. Step 3: Determining the causal link Why were most inscriptions written in Prakrit? They were written in Prakrit precisely because Ashoka intended to communicate effectively with the local common populace. Therefore, Reason (R) provides the direct and correct explanation for Assertion (A).