Abro

Hello, everyone! Today, we’ll talk about history—not just the history of kings and conquests, but the history of ideas, identities, and accommodation in South Asia. In our contemporary landscape, history has sadly become a battlefield. Across India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, the medieval past is frequently reimagined through the prism of modern communal polarization. There is a dominant narrative that seeks to portray the pre-colonial era as a monolithic "clash of civilizations," pitting an indigenous Hindu resistance against an encroaching Islamic imperialism. When we encounter this narrative, we often find ourselves reaching for examples of tolerance. We invoke the great Emperor Ashoka (r. 268-232 BCE), whose dhamma promoted religious harmony after the Kalinga War. Or we turn to Emperor Akbar (r. 1556-1605), who abolished discriminatory taxes, established sulh-i-kul (universal peace), and integrated Hindus into Mughal governance. These examples are absolutely valid and vi...

  Host: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this extraordinary dialogue across time. Today, we bring together two of the most iconic rulers in the history of the Indian subcontinent—two men separated by nearly two millennia, yet bound by their shared vision of governance, pluralism, and moral authority. First, allow me to introduce Emperor Ashoka the Great of the Mauryan dynasty. Rising to power in the 3rd century BCE, Ashoka transformed from a conqueror who unleashed devastation in Kalinga to a ruler who renounced violence and became a champion of Dharma. His edicts, carved in stone across South Asia, called for tolerance among all sects, compassion for all beings, and justice beyond narrow boundaries. Today, his lion capital stands as the emblem of India, and his Dharma Chakra adorns its flag. And alongside him, we welcome Emperor Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar, the third Great Mughal, who reigned in the 16th century CE. Known as ‘Akbar the Great,’ he consolidated one of the mos...

  Interviewer: Ladies and Gentlemen! Today, we have with us Genghis Khan, the founder of the largest contiguous empire in human history, yet history remembers him as the most ruthless person. But is that true? So, let’s talk to him and see what he has to say about himself. (Turning to Khan), Welcome Mr Khan. Hope this interview will give our readers a chance to know you better and dispel some myths attributed to you. Genghis Khan: (Adjusts in seat and nods his head) Thank you for inviting me.   Interviewer: So, my first question to you is: was your rise as a warrior and conqueror, or as a Khan, predictable? What was the socio-political situation in your region that paved the way for your rise? Genghis Khan: (Raises an eyebrow) Predictable? No way. If my rise had been predictable, my enemies would have killed me in the cradle. You know, or perhaps you don’t, I was once enslaved by Tayichiud tribe as a boy. If they knew I, Temujin, would one day become a Khan, they wou...