KAutilya statecraft - refer ignou notes along with them PDF

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Topic:- Explain the theory of State craft initiated by Kautilya. Do you think Kautilya state was a welfare state.

Name- Rohit Kumar

Class- Ba(H) Political Science

Roll No.- 18/62587

Introduction Kautilya, also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta was a great scholar of repute who played a dominant role in the overthrow of the Nanda dynasty and founding of the Mauryan empire in the 4th century B.C. He was the adviser and prime minister of Chandragupta Maurya. The Arthshastra is believed to have been compiled between 300 BC and first century AD. A full text of the Sanskrit treatise published by R. Shamasastry of Mysore in 1909. Arthshastra deals with the problem of “acquiring and maintaining the earth”. It is thus the science which deals with the acquisition and protection of the means of livelihood. It is a treatise concerned with the political economy of the state and the structure and functions of public administration.It Contains 15 parts, 180 divisions, 150 chapters and 6,000 shlokas. Kautilya discussed one major theoretical exposition, that is the Saptanga theory of the state. Saptanga is from two words: Sapta and Anga, meaning seven organs or limbs-just as the

human body has several organs. For a smooth functioning of the human body harmonious relationship and proper functioning of all the organs are necessary. Similarly Kautilya believed that for the smooth functioning of the state atleast a harmonious relationship and proper functioning of seven organs are necessary. The Saptanga theory refers to seven Angas or at some places Kautilya called them Prakritis. These seven Angas or Prakritis that constitute a state and a very proper blending of functions of all these for the state is necessary to sustain in an efficient manner. The Angas are Swami, Amatya, Janapada, Durga, Kosha, Danda and Mitra. One should remember that these seven Angas have been mentioned by Kautilya in a descending order of magnitude. According to Kautilya, In the welfare and happiness of the people lies the king’s welfare and happiness. The Arthashastra is a textbook of practical politics and statecraft. One of the outstanding contributions of Kautilya’s Arthashastra to statecraft and governance in a monarchical state. Hence, Kautilya’s theory of state envisages a rational approach to governance and state craft which conceptualizes the state and the office of the kingship to be human artifacts. In formulating the details of his political ideals, principles, plans and ethico-political strategies, Kautilya had taken cognizance not only of the events of his days, but also the ones that were likely to change the entire course of thought and action. That is why he and his Arthashastra have their marked relevance not only for our times, but also for the generations to come.

Kautilya Kautilya is the most important thinker of ancient Indian political thought. He is the writer of a celebrate work “ Arthashastra” which shifted the attention from the supremacy of religion to the autonomous sphere of polity in ancient Indian Political thought. The book was written for the guidance of kings who desire to acquire and maintain political power. Like Machiavelli’s “Prince” , it is a manual on statecraft and art of administration.

Social Structure The structure of the society that emerges is one based on the varnashrama system. The varna system refers to the four orders into which society was ideally divided, and the ashrama system refers to the four phases of a life-cycle viz. brahamcharya, grihasthya ,vanaspratha and sanyasa. The society was divided into four varnas: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishya, and Sudras. There were two kinds of Brahmins or the priestly class: srotriya and Brahmins in general. The special function of the Brahmins was the performance of ceremonial and sacred rituals. Women were supposed to be always subject to patriarchal control by father, husband, orson. Non-Aryans were outside the pale of the four varnas.

Economic Structure The structure of the economy as revealed in the text appears to be considerably developed withregard to terms of ownership of

property and division of labour. The institution of private property existed and so did state-ownership. The state claimed ownership of common resources such as water and all residual, abandoned or disputed but unsettled private claims to property. Birds, fishes, vegetables on waterworks, irrespective of whether built by the state or private parties belonged to the state. The king is advised to maintain a diversified economy efficiently and profitably. Land, livestock, mining and fishing were all both in state and private ownership. Virgin land tracts were state-owned but arable land was cultivated both by the state and the private parties. However, state monopolies existed in gold, silver and gems, liquors, gambling. The state and local and foreign merchants were involved in trade and commerce

Nature of State The Mauryan era of ancient India gave the world a significant treatise, the Arthashastra of Kautilya.It offers deep insights into political statecraft. Kautilya is known as the Indian Machiavelli because of his ruthless and shrewd tactics and policies reflecting an approach to statecraft including warfare. The state of nature is imagined to be one of total anarchy, in which ‘might was right’.When people were oppressed by Matyanyaya, the law of the fish, according to which the bigger fish swallows the smaller ones, they selected Manu– son of Vivasvat the king. It was settled that the king should receive one-sixth of the grain and one-tenth of merchandise and gold, as his due. It was the revenue which made it possible for the king to ensure the

security and prosperity of his subjects. People agreed to pay taxes and he ruled by one person in order that they might be able to enjoy well-being and security. In Kautilya’s Arthashastra, there is no explicit theory of social contract as laid down by the contractualist. Neither does Kautilya use the contract to make the king all powerful.

The Saptanga Theory The word “Saptang” indicates seven limbs, constituents or elements. Together, they constitute the State as an organism, “like a chariot composed of seven parts fitted and subservient to one another”. The Saptanga theory refers to seven Angas or at some places Kautilya called them Prakritis. These seven Angas or Prakritis that constitute a state and a very proper blending of functions of all these for the state is necessary to sustain in an efficient manner. The Angas are Swami, Amatya, Janapada, Durga, Kosha, Danda and Mitra. One should remember that these seven Angas have been mentioned by Kautilya in a descending order of magnitude.

Elements of State Kautilya enumerated seven prakritis or essential organs of the state. They are as follow: (i) Swamin (The Ruler) (ii) Amatya (The Minister) (iii) Janapada (The Population) (iv) Durga (The Fortified Capital) (v) Kosha (The Treasury) (vi) Danda (The Army)

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Mitra (Ally and Friend)

Swamin Kautilya gives extensive powers to the king, alongwith an extensive list of duties which he must perform for the welfare of his people. Firstly, the king should preferably belong to the nobility, be a native of the land and follow the teachings of the Shashtras. The King’s foremost duty is rakshana (protection) and palana (nurture) of his subjects. He is also asked to ensure their YogaKshema, a broad term implying the idea of welfare, wellbeing, prosperity and happiness. The text asserts “In the happiness of the subjects lies the happiness of the King and in what is beneficial to the subjects, lies his own benefit”. The king was the head of civil, judicial and military administration and Appointments to the most important offices were to be made by him. The King would lay down the broad outlines of public policy and protect the social order based on the varnashramas. Among his other duties, great stress was laid on welfare administration, such as building of bridges and irrigational works, providing pastures for livestock, opening of trade routes and working of mines. The subjects were to be protected from natural calamities and anti social elements. It was the duty of the King to provide social security for the minors, the sick, the aged and the unemployed. Together with the ideal of the welfare state, the Arthshastra maintains that danda (the use of coercive power) is the symbol of sovereignty and is

absolutely mandatory to prevent anarchy in a state. However, he also advises the King to exercise danda with utmost restraint. Its improper use turns the ruled against the ruler, a situation of revolt may also develop if a majority of the public are discontented (atusta) or disaffected (apacarita) and the army rises against the King. By virtue of his power to guard the violation of the Dharmas, the king is the fountain of justice. The king who administers justice in accordance with sacred law (dharma) evidence (vyavahara) custom (samstha) and edicts of king (nyaya) will be able to conquer the whole world.

Amatya The king rules through an elaborate administrative machinery. Amatya stands for the higher echelons of administration who form an inner cabinet. The Prime Minister and the High Priest are the most important ministers. The Inner Cabinet assists the king to appoint the ministers and the executive heads of departments. The important ministers in Arthshastra include the priest, the prime minister, the commander of the Army, the Treasurer General and the Collector General. Amatya means high official in the administrative set-up. The number of Amatyas, according to Kautilya, should be around thirty-seven to forty-two. They are officers or administrators to the state or a cadre of officials from which different functionaries were recruited to the state for the smooth functioning of the state. Kautilya talked about several kinds of Amatyas and explained how could they be recruited and how they could conduct their work. Kautilya mentioned four kinds of

tests for recruitment – Dharmapada, Arthapada, Bhayapada, Lobhapada.

Janapada This refers to the citizens settled in the territory of a nation. Kautilya points out that the territory of the state should be devoid of rocky, saline, uneven and thorny tracts, be free from wild beasts and abound in fertile lands, timber and elephant forests. The land should be watered by rivers and there should be suitable places for establishing villages and cities and should be provided with all means of communication. The people hould be industrious and followers of dharma. The king has to protect both land and the people from external aggression and make all possible efforts to promote the economic prosperity of the state.

Durga Durga is the fourth element of the state and it literally means a fortress. Kautilya has referred to only four types of durgas, they are as under .audaka durga (surrounded by water), parvata durga (made of rocks) dhanvana – durga (surrounded by desert) and Vana – durga (surrounded by forests). The first two type of durgas were useful for protecting Janapada in case of emergency and the following two types provided shelters to the king in the event of any emergency. At that time the capital was the only town where different kinds of people were engaged in different kinds of activities and belonged to different social strata. The inhabitants of the Durga belonged to different Varnas

also who lived in their respective demarcated territories. Kautilya stressed on an invincible fort, which according to him is the most important pillar on which the superstructure of the state stands

Kosha All the activities of the state depend on finance and therefore foremost attention should be given to the treasury. The state treasury should be a permanent source of revenue for the state. The king is advised to take one sixth of the produce and there must be sufficient reserves of currency and valuable minerals like gold. In case of emergency, particularly in times of war, the king was at liberty to collect heavy taxes from his subjects. The chief sources of income of the state were the King’s share of the land produce, customs duties and the amount collected as fines. The main tax payers were the farmers, traders and artisans. Finance is life blood of any state without which it is almost impossible to run it. Money is needed for paying salaries, building new infrastructure, etc. The treasury should be full of money and valuable metals and gems. It can be increased through taxation and plundering enemy states in war.

Danda The King should have at his command a strong military force. The army ought to be well versed in military arts, contended and therefore loyal and patriotic. The kshatriyas are best for military

service and the senapati (commander in-chief) should generally belong to this caste. A good fighting and loyal army is an nvaluable asset to the King. The state should have a regular, large, disciplined and well trained military. It is crucial for the security of the state. The soldiers should be recruited from those families which are traditionally associated with military. The soldiers should have paid well and their families should be taken care of in most suitable way. Proper training and equipment should be made available. Well-fed and well trained soldiers can win any battle. The king should take care of the soldiers and the soldiers will be ready to sacrifice even their life for him.

Mitra It refers to friends of the king. The monarch should maintain friendly relationship with traditional friends of his forefathers. He should also make new friendships. He should send gifts and other pleasantries for his friends. They should be helped in times of emergency. They should be loyal. Friends add to the power of the state. They are also important from foreign trade view point. Kautilya was always in favour of expanding the kingdom of the state and for that purpose he said that Mitra is an important constituent. The Swamin needed the help of his allies whenever he wanted to start an expedition. This aspect is actually discussed in details in discussion of foreign policy of the state. ➢

The seven prakritis or angas constituted what is called the Saptanga theory of the state which is considered the very major contribution of Kautilya towards the theoretical exposition of the ancient Indian political thought.

Role of the King Kautilya gives extensive powers to the kings and attaches an element of divinity. His foremost duty is protection of the subjects and their property. King’s sources of power revolving around three sources– Prabhu Shakti (the power of the army and the treasury),Manta Shakti (advice of wise men, specially the council of ministers) and Utsah Shakti (charisma). Duties of Kings Kautilya’s Arthashastra does not believe in the ‘Theory of Divine’ origin of the Monarch. According to him, state is a human institution and it should be manned by a human being. So, the king should be the protector of the dharma of whole society. Arthashastra pointed out duties of kings are : Should follow his rajya dharma. Should exhibit attributes, i.e. Atma Vrata (self-control) Should ease the six enemies— Kama (lust), Krodha (anger), Lobh (greed), Mana (vanity), Mada (haughtiness), and Harsh (overjoy).

System of Law Although, Kautilya’s state theory states the monarchical democracy, but the sole authority vested under the king to make law and that it derived from four sources Dharma (sacred law), Vyavhara (evidence), Charita (history and custom) and Rajasasana (edicts of the king). Arthashastra represents a system of civil, criminal and mercantile law. For instance, the

following were codified a procedure for interrogation, torture, trial, the rights of the accused, Constitution of permissible evidence, a procedure for autopsy in case of death in suspicious circumstances, Constitution of (deformation) and procedure for claiming damages, invalid and invalid contract.

Machinery of Government The Arthashastra catalogues a phalanx of officers called superintendents, lower in importance than the ministerial officers and much below them, belonging to the sixth order, according to remuneration. They are not heads of departments. The superintendents might be as chiefs of sections dealing with various economic and other activities of the government. Most of these sections are the modern business departments. A dual control is exercised over the superintendents. As far as control of the services of the personal and collection of revenue are concerned, they are under the Collector-General. The functions of the government have been arranged horizontally according to public service delivery needs. Under the Collector General are the Commissioner, the District officer and the Circle Officer, in charge of a division, a district and a circle of villages respectively. The major departments of administration were Revenue, Exchequer, Stores, Armoury, Prisons, Accounts, Agriculture, Mines, Metals, Forest, Cattle, Shipping, Commerce, Customs, Intelligence, Religions Institutions, Excise, Weights and Measures etc.

Functions of State:

PROTECTIVE FUNCTIONS 1. To protect:(i) the life of his people, especially the ones in distress, the widows, the women without children, the women with infants, the orphans, the sick and the indigent; (ii) hermits, shrotriyas and students, and (iii) property of the people; 2. To put down violence and maintain law and order; 3. To avert dangers and command the army; 4. To 'redress peoples' grievances; 5. To punish the wrong-doers; and 6. To administer justice impartially and in accordance with the sacred law (Dharma, evidence (Vyavhara), history (Samstha) and enacted law (Raajasthasana)

PROMOTIVE FUNCTION 1. To promote the moral and material happiness and welfare of his people, as in their happiness lies his happiness and in their welfare his welfare; 2. To enable them to pursue freely their independent efforts in life; 3. To maintain unity and solidarity; 4. To reward virtue; 5. To promote agriculture, industry and arts;

6. To regulate the means of livelihood especially of the labourers and artisans; and 7. To encourage education and help students.

A Critical Appraisal One of the basic reasons for Kautilya’s emphasis on a strong state capable of creating order and providing good governance to his subjects is his acute awareness of the dangers of anarchy and being witness to the malady of his times - the prevalence of a number of small states constantly at war with one another. He was the first thinker who reached the pivot of realpolitik by stressing on a strong political centre in India and propounding a theory of politics which dealt with the practical concerns of administration and governance. He strongly believed that anarchy is worse than the highest tyranny. Although he was in favour of a powerful ruler, he made it very clear that this power is to be used only for the welfare of the ruled. The monarch’s powers were to be hedged in with many restrictions. He was to work 18 hours a day and all questions of political importance would be discussed in the two houses of parliament (pura-janapada), a powerful instrument to curb the King’s absolute authority. He also refers to the authority of canon law, customary law, usage and logical principles. Despite these restrictions on his absolute authority; the king is given the last say in all important matters of governance. This emphasis on the principle of kingship became the basis of consolidating perhaps the first centralized government in India.

Welfare state The seeds of a welfare state are sown into Arthshastra with as much emphasis as an elaborate discussion on the state structure and the administrative machinery. There was nothing more important to the king than the welfare of his subjects. The idea of a welfare state is taken up and the King is authorized to create conditions for a good life by digging wells, canals, constructing dams, planting trees...