Revisiting Kautilyas Arthashastra

Abstract

Arthaand#7777;haand#772;and#821;stra is a pioneering work composed by Kauand#7789;and#299;lya known as an ancient text on newlinestatecraft. A broad range of studies has happened on this text and a critical analysis of newlinethe previous works is done to build the foundation of the current work. A scholarly newlineattempt has been made in this research to primarily analyse the Kauand#7789;and#299;lyan perspective of newlineethics and the ethical implementation of Kauand#7789;and#299;lyan principles in contemporary political newlineleadership. This is a qualitative explorative philosophical analytical study. newlineThe contour of the political scenario during Kauand#7789;and#299;lya s time has a significant newlinetransformation after 2500 years of the composition of the treatise. It is important to newlineremember that his suggestion to build a good governing system has followed the Code newlineof Law or Dharmaand#7777;hand#257;stra. The original text of Arthaand#7777;haand#772;and#821;stra is composed in Sanskrit and newlinea linguistic content analysis becomes an essential part of this study. Through analysis, newlinethe essence of the Sanskrit text as well as a few significant terms that are used as newlinekeywords like dharma and artha is understood better. Dharma encompasses the value of newlineethics and justice, and these concepts are mutually related. Dharmaand#7777;hand#257;stra as the Code newlineof Law has directions for people to maintain dharma, artha and kaand#772;and#822;ma in order to attain newlinemokand#7779;a. Dharma prevails in all directions of leadership, humanism, and ethics and thus newlineKauand#7789;and#299;lya s approach to the mechanism of a successful governing system adopts the newlineconcept of ethics as inbuilt support. Kauand#7789;and#299;lya s suggestions may appear to be hard to newlineimplement in the current political scenario, although there is a good scope of newlinereinterpretation of Kauand#7789;and#299;lya s principles and this research work puts an effort to find a newlinescope for implementing this ethical perspective in today s political leadership despite newlinehaving a huge time gap. A brief study of the leading trend of governance and sovereignty newlineacross civilisations and time has been done contextually. newlineThe presence of Sabhand#257; and Samiti in the Vedic administrative system, checks and newlinebalances as a part of governing structure, and most importantly directives of newlineDharmaand#7777;hand#257;stra could create an observatory around the king. The perspective of newlineinclusivity and equality has been explored in the context of the responsibility of the state newlinealthough the researcher likes to find responsibility as mutual. The ethical perspective of newlinepolitical leadership has been reflected in both internal and external state affairs. This newlineresearch contains a detailed discussion of some recent developments in national as well newlineas international politics and it shows that in any sphere of political leadership, ethics that newlineRevisiting Kautilya s Arthashastra: Leadership, Humanism, Ethics Kakali Roy Chowdhury newline12 newlinemerges with justice or dharma, maintain the trust quotient in the society. In a democratic newlinesystem, the trust quotient is an important factor that may lead to success and newlinesustainability. newlineEthics as a concept may be perceived in various ways in the context of different newlineindividuals, geographical boundaries, and time, but ethics as it merges with humanism is newlinenot time-bound. While exploring this concept this research attempts to implement newlineKauand#7789;and#299;lya s approach in relevant political leadership. newlineA survey has been conducted and the quantitative data is used to support the view stated newlinein this research. Ethics in leadership appears to be an interesting subject that combines newlinethe study of various domains in social sciences like sociology, economics, anthropology, newlinepsychology, humanities like history and philosophy, and organizational studies like newlinemanagement and education. Further studies and research may help in finding the possible newlinescope of exploration to a greater extent for the proposed research. newline