Review – Buddhism and Asoka
By Nalinaksha Dutt
Summary
This review examines B. G. Gokhale’s study of Buddhism and the emperor Aśoka. The book is divided into four parts: the rise of Buddhism, Aśoka’s career, the organization of the Buddhist church, and the development of Buddhist literaturefile:///home/oai/share/563025_compressed-177-251.pdf. The reviewer commends Gokhale for presenting a clear narrative and for critically assessing conflicting traditions about Aśoka’s conversion and missionary activities. The work synthesizes inscriptions, Pali texts and archaeological findings to present a balanced picture of Aśoka as a ruler and patron of Buddhism. However, the reviewer notes that the title “Buddhism and Aśoka” is somewhat misleading, since large portions of the book deal with pre‑Aśokan Buddhism. Minor criticisms include typographical errors, uneven chapter lengths and insufficient attention to socio‑economic contexts. Overall, the reviewer regards the book as a useful introduction to Buddhism and Aśoka that succeeds in combining textual and epigraphic evidence.
Conclusion
The reviewer finds Gokhale’s book on Buddhism and Aśoka to be a concise and balanced study that effectively combines inscriptional and literary evidence. Although the title could better reflect the content and minor typographical errors distract, the book offers a reliable overview of early Buddhism and Aśoka’s role in its spreadfile:///home/oai/share/563025_compressed-177-251.pdf.