This movie is pretty long, over two hours, and it has lots of Bollywood elements, since it’s made in India. It has romance, Bollywood dance intervals, adventure, and intrigue. But the final message is extremely powerful. Asoka is a man who faced a lot of intrigue and danger due to plots against him by his jealous brothers, who wanted the throne of the kingdom.
For a while, it made him a very ruthless, vengeful and bloodthirsty person. It also shows the internal conflict between Buddhism and Hinduism at that time.
Nevertheless, it is very, highly relevant today. Asoka reminds one of a certain President, however, in the end, Asoka was able to redeem himself. Unlike a certain President for whom total destruction and victory means everything.
After defeating a rival country, he realized that his true lost love was the princess of the very country he destroyed.
I have to ask, what will it take to wake up the bloodthirsty warmongers running my country to these words of Asoka?
“I have become the greatest Emperor...the mightiest ruler...I have won it all...I have also destroyed it all....What did I win?...?”
“What can emperors win?....Only wealth land and kingdoms....My destiny transcends an emperor’s...My destiny will be that of a traveler....who completes his journey...And today I start my journey...a journey of love, peace and nonviolence...”
I hope you can watch this on Youtube. I had to pay $5 to ‘own it’. But it is definitely worth it. If you can, watch it here, or pay if you must. I wish Youtube would make this free as a public service and have every member of government—especially Trump—watch this…Who knows, it might awaken some neurons in his lizard brain.
