Arthasastra-
This ancient treatise on Politics and governance by Kautilya is perhaps the earliest of its kind in the world.Kautilya, also known as chanakya conjures up history as well as legend ‘.Legend has it that he worked at Nanda’s court and to avenge his honour groomed a boy to challenge the mighty king.The boy who founded the empire named after him was Chandra Gupta Maurya.
Kautilya chose not to enjoy the fruits of office.On the contrary, he set down his thoughts on polity, society, the role of kings,the norms of service under the king and the tax structure.
So Arthasastra is both a treatise on poltics as well as economy.Kautilya sees the twin fields as intertwined. He asserts that a cruel king could be deposed by the people.
The author of the Penguin classic was a Indian Foreign Service officer and is familiar with the culture, traditions and language of Arthasastra. He has also studied various other versions and other political commentators before plunging to work on this classic.He interposes the other view where necessary.
The book’s merit lies in the fact that it offers a comprehensive picture of the society at that time.
Arthasastra is not outdated.If we substitute the king for democratically elected governments, it is as valid as ever.
The originality of the thoughts may be gauged from the fact that it was written during the period when the king was revered as god in human form.
Nothing is left out, not even the superstitions and the occult practices of the day.the book’s message is strident: there is nothing good or bad. Our usage makes it so.
“Welfare in the Arthasastra covers maintenance of social order,increasing economic activity, protection of livelihood,protection of weaker sections of the population, prevention of harassment of subjects, consumer protection and even welfare of slaves and prisoners”.
On law and justice, Kautilya’s comment echoes in the corridors of power.”It is the power of punishment alone, when exercised impartially in proportion to the guilt,and irrespective of whether the person punished is the king’s son or an enemy that protects this world and the next.
Was Kautilya’s thinking centuries ahead when he made this prognosis: A Single assassin can achieve with
weapons, fire or poison, more than a fully mobilized army”.
The present interpretation is summarized from the Penguin classic by Mr Lokanathan