The Ashokan Minor Rock Edict in Bahapur, Delhi

Abstract

The major purpose of writing this research paper is to analyse why the Minor Rock Edict of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka has been engraved on a small hillock of Bahapur only, near Srinivaspuri in Kalkaji, Delhi. Initially this site came to the notice of a contractor of Delhi, Shri Jung Bahadur, who came to the inscribed rock which was planned to be blasted for the development of a residential colony nearby. Later, this contractor informed about this site to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Cutting down the hiatus of the time, Shri M.C. Joshi and Shri B.M. Pande of the Archaeological. Survey of India (ASI) visited that spot along with Shri Jang Bahadur Singh on 23rd March 1966. The inscription was identified as an Ashokan epigraph by Joshi and Pande soon after conducting a survey on this site. In 2021, the site was visited by me so that I could shed some light over the significance of this isolated rock inscription of Ashoka, as to why this inscription was engraved by the artisan at this specific site only. For this, the site was carefully analysed and the links of the same with the Mauryan age hearth and well, that were unearthed in the series of excavations in Purana Qila, were also established. Conclusions were also drawn to answer the above-mentioned question that arose. The ASI has mentioned in their information board that this place was once the trade route in Mauryan Age. In this regard I have tried to hunt up for the answers. So, have a look for the answers that I came up with in this research paper.