Recently, the BJP-led central government changed the popular Mughal gardens’ name to Amrit Udyan. As usual the liberal meltdown was seen after another Mughal name was demolished to make Sanskrit name prominent. One of them went to an extent to say that Mughals were the first who invented Gardens with fountains.

With this Fountain word one can only remember the claim of fountain against the Shivling in the Gyanvapi. Anyways, such lame argument only comes up when the Mughal legacy is hurt badly.

After this tweet netizens slammed him badly. Meanwhile a twitter user Prajapati explained how he’s wrong.

He mentioned that emperor Ashoka in his record 6&8 mentioned about planting mango orchards.

“The beloved of the gods, king Priyadasi, thus declares: An unprecedentedly long time has past since it has been the custom at all times, and in all affairs, to submit representa- tions. Now it is established by me that, whether at meals, in my palace, in the interior apartments, in discourse, in exchange of civility, shall convey to me the objects of the people. I will always attend to the objects of the punishment or reward, is further intrusted to the supervisors of mainla (or eminent persons)” as mentioned in edict VI.

Similarly edict VIII says, “King Davinampiya Piyadasi thus spake us among the present generation. Have I endowed establishments, appointed med very wise in the faith, and done…… …for the faith.”

“King Devanampiya Piyadasi again spake as follows:- Along the high roads I have caused fig-trees to be planted, that they may be for shade to animals and men; I have (also) planted mango trees: and at every half com I have caused wells to be constructed, and (resting places ?) for nights to be erected. And how many taverns (or serais) have been erected by me at various places for the entertainment of man and beast! So that as the people, finding the road to every species of pleasure and convenience in these places of entertainment, these new towns, (vayapuri ?) rejoiceth under my rule, so let them thoroughly appreciate and follow after the same (system of benevolence). This is my object, and thus I have done.”

Other kings apart from great Maurya, such as the Gupta kings also talk about spending time in different types of gardens in their inscriptions.

The Kalchuri king Jajalladeva I (1090-1120 CE) describes mango gardens in his records as well as making lakes etc. An inscription of the Eastern Chalukya king Vishnuvardhana III (719–755) tells of ordering a house to be built for a brahmin and a flower garden to be planted nearby.

The Great Chola king, in his Akhilek, talks about giving an entire village to 150 Brahmins, including mango pads and a garden full of flowers. Silhara Vijayaditya (1138–1175) donated some land which also included a flower garden.

There have been many such kings and emperors in history, who built lakes, ponds, gardens, temples, etc., but we often get to see lame arguments regarding fake successes of Mughals be it economy, or architecture or human rights.

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