1. Kautilya
Key adviser/Prime minister to the Indian king Chandragupta Maurya,
who defeated Nanda Kings, stopped Alexander’s advancement and
established the first united kingdom of India.
Context: Invasion, violent competition among small
polities
Aim: to show a wise king how to defeat his enemies
and rule on behalf of general good.
Arthasastra-a science of politics
2. Vijigishu
• It tells a king about what to calculate and what brutal measures he must
carry out to preserves the state and common good.
• It has 3 distinct parts: administration; law and justice; foreign policy.
• At the centre of Kautily’s attention.
• The king desirous of fresh conquest.
• World is full of disorder, anarchy, chaos and danger.
• Absence of international law.
Matsya-Nyaya (the law of fish)
3. Chakravartin(the world conqueror)
• To survive in the matsya nyaya system, vijigishu has to be chakravartin.
• Kautily’s object is to make (vijigishu) chakravartin who can put an end to
the perpetual struggle contending states and lead his army to the
farthest horizon unchallenged.
• Means a circle of states
• Based on the geographical assumption
4. • Vijigishu (center or nucleus)
• Ari (real or potential enemy)
• Mitra (friend)
• Ari-mitra (friend of enemy)
• Mitra-mitra (friend of a friend)
• Parshnigraha (enemy)
• Akranda (friend)
• Parshnigrahasara (enemy)
• Akrandasara (friendly)
• Madhyama (middle kingdom)
• Udasina (neutral kingdom)
5. Prakriti
Seven constitutive power factors of state:-
• Swamin (the ruler)
• Amatya (the minister)
• Janapada (the people)
• Durga (the fortress)
• Kosa (the treasury)
• Danda (executive power)
• Mitra (allied state)
6. Shadgunya (six fold) policy
This consists of six foreign policy methods that the vijigishu uses to
achieve his goal;
• Sandhi (peace)
• Vigraha (war)
• Asana (neutrality) 3 aspects: sthana,
asana,
upekshana
• Yana (march)
• Samshraya (seeking alliance or shelter)
• Dvaidhibhava (double policy)
7. Upaya (means)
To implement shadgunya;
• Sama (conciliation)
• Dana (gift)
• Bheda (dissension)
• Maya-Indrajala (deceit and pretence)
• Danda (open attack or war)
8. Types of enemy
• Foe
• Vulnerable
• Weak
In terms of exterminating should follow:-
Kill only the leaders
Treat well towards ordinary soldiers and subjects
9. War
Kautilya suggested that, “ the commandant of the Army should be trained
in the science of all kinds of fights and weapons, and renowned for riding
on elephants, horses or in chariots.”
Types of war:-
Prakashyayuddho (open war)
Kutayuddho (guerilla warfare)
Tusniyuddho (secret war)
10. Humanitarian policy
• No massacres
• No insults, injuries
• Carry out agreeable and beneficial
• Help to distressed, helpless, diseased
• Leave property untouched