Daily Answer Writing Challenge-18th August

Q1. The policy of Dhamma advocated by Ashoka through his edicts remains relevant  in the context of issues in public life even today. Elucidate with examples.   (150 Words, 10 Marks)

Answer: 

Ashoka’s Dhamma is basically a moral code to guide individual behaviour in society according to  universal moral laws. This doctrine becomes essential, especially for public servants in a society  mired with challenges such as inequalities, intolerance and various ethical-political dilemmas. 

Present-day relevance in the context of public life: 

•  Secularism and tolerance: Ashoka’s dhamma explicitly mentions that ‘one shouldn’t extol one’s  own sect or disparage those of others, as doing so will harm others. 
•  Duties of Public servant: Special officials were appointed to distribute alms to all sects so that  all thrive and co-exist. They also taught people about ethics and read out messages for people  who could not read. 
•  Foreign Policy and Soft Diplomacy: Internationally, his policy is also relevant in today’s  approaches to soft diplomacy, as he sent messages to spread ideas about Dhamma to other  countries. 
•  Sustainable Development Goals: Invoking these ideas in present-day governance and  administration will not only create social capital and harmony but also enable India to achieve  the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. 
•  Human face to administration: It advises public servants to be free from jealousy, anger, cruelty,  hastiness, laziness and fatigue. 
•  Environmental democracy and justice (Environmental Ethics): The idea of planting trees  along the roads to provide shade; building guest-houses for travellers and constructing  several watering places lay the foundation of modern environmental ethics by highlighting the  importance of nature for a sustainable life. 

Therefore, Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma becomes imperative in present times as it always kept  people above profits, focuses on moral duties and secular harmony among all.