Review – Buddhism and Asoka
Summary
This review assesses the book "Buddhism and Asoka" by J. G. Gokhale, published by Padma Publication Ltd., Baroda, a 296-page work divided into four parts covering religion, political conditions, social and economic conditions, and Buddhist art. The reviewer, U. P. Ghoshal, notes that while the book is an intelligent survey of the historical development of Buddhism, the title's focus on Asoka is somewhat unclear, as the text also extensively covers the Mauryan and Sunga dynasties and early Buddhist sects. The first part provides a lucid account of Buddha’s life, his teachings, and the sangha, emphasizing the lack of provision for the laity in early Buddhism. The discussions on Asoka’s faith and service to Buddhism are praised for bringing together the views of many scholars. However, the review heavily criticizes the book's numerous errors. The reviewer points out that the author's challenging statements regarding the state capital's investment in industrial development and the legislative, judicial, and executive functions of *ghat* are not warranted by any canonical text. The identification of *Nivartana* land-measure with one *akte* is deemed inaccurate, and the description of *kahapana* as an 8 square coin weighing about 146 grains, guaranteed by private punch-marks, is called hopelessly out-of-date. Furthermore, the statement that one-ninth of the produce was the king’s share is identified as a slip, and the claims about the prevalence of drinking and flesh-eating are criticized for ignoring bans imposed by Brahmanical *smriti* law and the Buddhist canon. The review also notes the author's approval of the exploded view that writing in India goes back to the 5th century B.C. and an unwarranted statement that the worship of Skanda, Mukunda, and Siva was in vogue during the lifetime of Mahavira. The identification of *Suvanpnabhiimi* with Lower Burma, Pegu, and Moulmein districts is considered too narrow. Despite these flaws, the reviewer concludes that the author has successfully focused light on the Mauryan and Sunga periods from religious and cultural aspects. The review concludes with a lament that the book bristles with typographical mistakes.
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Conclusion
The review of J.G. Gokhale’s *Buddhism and Asoka* highlights the book’s success in providing an intelligent, well-researched survey of Buddhism’s historical development during the Mauryan and Sunga periods. Gokhale effectively synthesizes scholarly views on Asoka’s faith and service to the religion, while offering lucid accounts of the Buddha’s life, teachings, and the early Sangha. The work successfully illuminates the cultural and religious aspects of the era through its sections on political conditions, social and economic life, and Buddhist art and education. Despite its title, the book serves as a comprehensive, if somewhat broad, study of ancient Indian history. However, the reviewer notes a significant drawback in the form of numerous typographical errors, which detract from the overall quality of an otherwise valuable academic contribution to the field.