Emperor Ashoka's treasury of loyal
thoughts:
The work approaches the story and the idea of the 47- Rōnin,
and the great war of Kalinga fought by Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC, both historical
event, one from ancient time in India and the other from the medieval Japan. After
witnessing the horrors of the war, emperor Ashok renounced violence and adopted
Buddhism that became a landmark turning point
in the history of Indian sub continent. While the story of 47 Ronin became the
most widely adopted in various art forms like Kabuki theatre and later in films
during edo, meiji and present era.
Here through
a critical lens the work questions and examines mechanics of triumph and
heroism through the idea of avengement and expansionism that is prevalent in
human psyche since 30000 years. An instinctive behaviour that maintains its presence and manifests as a chain reaction only to realize the gloom that
follows it like a shadow over the period of time. These totemic, vegetal forms
then become symbols of nature’s way of regaining a balance over the darker
aspect of the human psyche.
