Inscribed Rock Edicts of Asoka, Kalsi, Dehradun Kalsi, located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, is the only site in North India where Emperor Asoka inscribed all fourteen Rock Edicts. The edicts are inscribed on a quartzite rock and are written in the Prakrit language using the Brahmi script. These inscriptions reflect Emperor Asoka’s humane approach to governance, his fatherly concern for the moral and spiritual welfare of his subjects, and his strong commitment to non-violence and the abandonment of warfare. Through these edicts, Asoka introduced both restrictive and prescriptive policies. The restrictive policies discouraged unnecessary slaughter of animals, advised people to avoid despicable and useless beliefs and practices, and emphasized restraint in glorifying one’s own faith. The prescriptive policies encouraged self-control, purity of mind, gratitude, respect and service towards parents and ascetics, charity towards spiritual communities and Sramanas, proper behaviour towards friends, relatives, servants, and slaves, and harmony in religious matters. Source: Archaeological Survey of India