Hi Everyone!! This article will share Instead of The War Drum Questions & Answers.
In my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of Tansen – The Musical Genius, Daffodils, January Night and I Am Malala so, you can check these posts as well.
Instead of The War Drum Questions & Answers
Question 1: Choose the correct option:
1. Sanghamitra and her twin brother, Mahindra, had been sent to Sri Lanka to
(a) conquer new realms for Magadha
(b) help spread Buddhism
(c) build a stupa
2. Ashoka’s edicts proclaim
(a) Ashoka as the Emperor of India
(b) Ashoka as Chand Ashoka
(c) Ashoka’s belief in the Buddhist principles of dhamma
3. The Emperor was remorseful because
(a) many of his soldiers had died in the battle of Kalinga
(b) the battle had caused much more destruction than expected
(c) he had been responsible for taking the lives of many individuals
4. The king expected his subject to
(a) lead a vegetarian lifestyle
(b) respect each other’s religious beliefs
(c) spread the Buddha’s teachings to other kingdoms
Question 2: Fill in the blanks.
1. Her brother was waiting for her on the island.
2. Emperor Ashoka was an ardent Buddhist.
3. He became a fearless warrior.
4. The prince also led small wars in distant parts of the kingdom.
5. Kalinga was plundered and destroyed.
6. He swore to never wage another war again.
7. Ashoka dedicated the rest of his life to popularizing Buddhism.
Question 3: Write True or False for the following statements:
1. A young woman was sailing to a faraway island – True
2. She wasn’t just any young woman – True
3. Emperor Ashoka was an ardent Buddhist – True
4. In all, 22 such inscriptions have been found, which are collectively referred to as Ashoka’s edicts – False
5. For six years after his coronation, Ashoka fought many wars and conquered many territories – False
Question 4: What are Ashoka’s edicts, and why are they important?
Answer: All the 33 inscriptions found on boulders and caves are collectively referred to as Ashoka’s edicts. They are important because they proclaim Ashoka’s belief in the Buddhist principles of dhamma, or non-violence, and his intention to win over people by good deeds. They also talk about his social efforts to protect his subjects, both humans and animals.
Question 5: Why was Chand Ashoka a well-deserved nickname for Ashoka?
Answer: The young prince Ashoka was nicknamed as Chand (fierce) Ashoka. It was a well-earned name because he was a fearless warrior, brave soldier and clever statesman. He also led small wars in different parts of the kingdom. After his father’s death, he declared himself to be the new king.
Question 6: Describe the incident that transformed Emperor Ashoka.
Answer: The ambitious Emperor Ashoka was determined to make Kalinga a part of his kingdom. He started a war against Kalinga which was bloody and horrific. Kalinga was plundered and destroyed. When the war finally ended, Ashoka was badly moved by the loss of life and property. He swore to never wage another war again.
Question 7: What were the ways that Emperor Ashoka adopted to avoid violence altogether?
Answer: Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism and made it the state religion. He banned hunting, drew up a list of protected animals, and even urged his subjects to stop eating meat and turn vegetarian.
Question 8: What is a living proof of Emperor Ashoka’s change of heart?
Answer: True to his word, Ashoka dedicated the rest of his life to popularizing Buddhism. Today, almost 70% of all Sri Lankans practice a branch of Buddhism – a living proof of Emperor Ashoka’s change of heart.
So, these were Instead of The War Drum Questions & Answers.