Question

Two statements labelled as Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are given below. Read them carefully and select the correct option :
Assertion (A) : Asoka’s dhamma emphasized generosity, kindness and respect for religious traditions.
Reason (R) : Asoka tried to hold his empire together with universally applicable principles.

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

Hint:

To test assertion-reason questions in history, look at the ruler's objective: Policy Content (A) $\rightarrow$ Kindness, Generosity, Tolerance
Political Goal (R) $\rightarrow$ Empire Unification and Social Stability
Goal explains the content $\Rightarrow$ Correct Explation

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: Following the Kalinga War, the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka formulated an ethical and social philosophy known as *Dhamma* (the Prakrit form of Dharma). This code was not a religious faith or a new dogma, but a civic and moral philosophy designed to maintain peace across a multi-cultural empire.

Step 1: Evaluating the individual validity of Assertion (A).
The assertion states that Ashoka's *dhamma* emphasized generosity, kindness, and respect for religious traditions.
• This is historically true. According to his major rock edicts, the core tenets of his *dhamma* included showing kindness to slaves and servants, obedience to parents, generosity toward Brahmas and Shramas, and respect for different religious sects to maintain social peace.

Step 2: Evaluating the individual validity of Reason (R).
The reason states that Ashoka tried to hold his empire together with universally applicable principles.
• This is also historically true. The Mauryan Empire was vast and highly diverse, spanning different ethnicities, languages, and religious traditions. Ashoka recognized that relying purely on military force was unsustaible over the long term.
• He introduced *dhamma* as a universal ethical framework that transcended rrow religious boundaries, designed to ensure peaceful coexistence and social stability across his realm.

Step 3: Determining if the Reason explains the Assertion.
We now link the two sentences using "because": *Ashoka's dhamma emphasized generosity, kindness, and respect for religious traditions BECAUSE he was trying to hold his highly fragmented and vast empire together with universally acceptable and applicable socio-ethical principles.* The statement flows logically. The specific moral codes mentioned in the assertion were chosen by Ashoka because they formed the foundatiol values needed to unify his diverse subjects. Thus, Reason (R) provides the correct underlying political explation for Assertion (A).