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ADMINISTRATION OF KALINGA
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Edicts in the newly conquered country of Kalinga itself would indicate towards a very well organised administration. Under a Kumāra Viceroy
After its conquest and annexation to the Mauryan Empire by Aśoka, the country of Kalinga appears to have been assigned the status of a Province (or rather Viceroyalty), under the charge of a Viceroy, for administrative purposes. The Special Kalinga Edicts refer to a Kumāra (Aryaputra? in the case of Suvarṇagiri, cf. Minor Rock Edict I)--a prince of the royal family, in charge of this Viceroyalty with headquarters at Tosali, no doubt Dhauli, where a set of Rock Edicts have been found. There is an incidental mention, in the same Edicts, of three other such Viceroyalties with headquarters at Takshasilā (SKE I), Ujjayini (SKE II, Dhauli version), and Suvarnagiri (MRE I, Brahmagiri version), which, indirectly, proves that a full-fledged system of provincial government existed under Aśoka. But the provincial Governors appear to have been of two classes in Asoka's time as also in the Gupta period in later times. The first provinces which were of political importance, and which, therefore, required loyal and tactful administration, were assigned to the princes of royal blood, designated as Kumāras. The second category consisted of
1. D. R. Bhandarkar (Asoka, p. 56), agreeing with J. F. Fleet, took Āryaputra to denote a Vice-Regent or a Yuvarija-a Crown Prince, who carried on the administration during the temporary absence of the Emperor from bis capital. The term Aryaputra of the Mysore Edicts denotos a Prince of the Royal Blood, who was higher in rank to a Kumāra Viceroy.
B. M. Barua (A.H.I., Vol. I, p. 170) opines that if by Aryaputra, in Minor Rock Edict were meant one of the brothers of Asoka, his posi. tion was not different from that of his sons--the Kumāras, who were appointed viceroys in other outlying provinces.
2. Bhandarkar, Asoka, pp. 52-53 ; Mookerji, Asoka, pp. 51-52, and AIU, Ch. V, pp. 79.80.
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