14. Emperor Ashoka

Alkon's ox is worn and old, He has gained him grain and gold; Must he to the shambles go? 'Nay,' says Alkon, 'Never so: Long he helped me at the plough, I'll be grateful to him now. His declining days shall pass Knee-deep in the pleasant grass.'                       -- W.E.A. Axon Ashoka (269-232 BC) is a name dear to us because he was the first emperor of India that taught people to love and value the lives of animals as dearly as the lives of men. He was also perhaps the first emperor in the world to build hospitals for animals and establish Pinjrapoles in the different parts of his extensive empire.     Do you know what is meant by Pinjrapole ? It is a home of rest for old and infirm animals. You know that Government servants and employees of some firms are given pensions in their old age. Similarly animals which have become unserviceable are sent to the Pinjrapole. Here they are fed and cared for till they die.     Just think of the idea of the great King Ashoka, more than two thousand years ago, giving pensions to animals!     After Emperor Bimbisara, Ashoka ruled India for nearly forty years. He was a powerful monarch, for his empire extended from what is now called the North-West Frontier Province to Mysore in the South, from Kathiawar in the West to Orissa in the East.     In the early part of his reign, he went to war with the ruler of Kalinga. The sight of the bloodshed and misery caused by the dreadful war completely changed his character. He swore he would never again cause any injury to men or animals; he became a complete convert to the merciful teachings of Buddha and issued orders that no cruelty of any kind should be practised in the land. These orders were inscribed on stone pillars and rocks all over his extensive empire.     Today we are giving thought to Animal Welfare and Animal Protection. But it is not an idea of our own times. It really originated with the Emperor Ashoka who lived more than two thousand years ago. In the twentieth year of his reign, he issued instructions that every state should do all that was possible to promote animal welfare and animal happiness. He put a stop to such cruel sports as cockfighting, ram-fighting and bull-fighting.     It is true that these noble ideas were not easily accepted, for people in those days did not know that animals ought to be treated like ourselves. It took many years of toil on the part of Ashoka. But he had his reward.     The great emperor was able, during his life-time to see animals live in peace and happiness throughout his vast empire.     In the inscriptions of Askoka, he is called Priyadarsa. It means one who loves all creatures of God. What a noble and beautiful title for a king ! ****  **** Additional Information of Interest Click here to find out more about the great emperor Ashoka. Click here to read more on Animal Rights & A History of King Ashoka. Click here to read on "What is a Pinjrapole"?