Consider the following statements: **Assertion (A):** Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire. **Reason (R):** Kalinga controlled the land and sea routes to South India. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2002
A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Answer: Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Option a is the correct answer.
Assertion (A) is true: The Kalinga War was fought between the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka and the state of Kalinga in 261 BCE. The war was a decisive Mauryan victory, but it also resulted in a great deal of death and destruction. After the war, Ashoka renounced violence and became a promoter of non-violence and religious tolerance. Reason (R) is true: Kalinga was located on the eastern coast of India and controlled the important trade routes between India and Southeast Asia. (R) is the correct explanation of (A): The annexation of Kalinga gave the Mauryan Empire control of important trade routes and helped to facilitate the expansion of Mauryan influence into Southeast Asia.