Kautilya, also known as Chanakya and Vishnugupta, was a great political strategist, economist, educator and expert in diplomacy from ancient India who lived from 350-275 BC. His work, the Arthashastra, provides guidance on education, management, leadership, governance and human resource development. Some of his key teachings include emphasizing righteousness and ethics in leadership, building alliances through a mandala strategy, and establishing a balanced system where dharma and wealth reinforce one another. His works still provide highly relevant teachings around building trust, accountability, cooperation and focusing on shared goals and similarities over differences.

1. Contemporary Relevance of Kautilya’sArthashastra International AryaSamaj Conference MAHASAMMELAN 2010 September 23-26 2010 The Netherlands – Europe Sharda Nandram 0

2. Content Who was Kautilya? What are his teachings on Education? What are his teachings on Management, Leadership? What are his teachings on Governance, HRD? How relevant is his work for us?

3. Kautilya Kautilya, Indian, also known as Chanakya and Vishnugupta lived from 350-275 BC. Post Vedic period. He was a great political strategist, economist, educator and an expert in diplomacy. Why Kautilya in Dutch Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 2

4. Indian Civilization Vedic stage: perspective Focused on an outward foundation of the mind Physical and material aims Belief in the spirit (psychic function) was there/ people respected that there was more than only the physical reality Men need to turn from falsehood to truth to become immortal Also claimed the one Existence, ekam sat Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 3

5. Indian Civilization Vedic Stage: Religiousness Symbols Rituals The ritual of a physical sacrifice Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 4

6. Indian Civilization Vedic Stage: Spirituality First and primitive idea of the Divine based on external vision (moon, stars, rivers etc) Used these to guide men from physical to psychic and spiritual truths of his own being and that of the cosmos The external truth was for everyone The inner meaning was only presented to those initiated ( the inner Vedic religion). Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 5

7. Indian Civilization Vedantic system: perspective and religiousness preparation of the natural external man for spirituality Outcome of the Vedic discipline and experience (Upanishads ) People started to seek for the only One Truth in a big way as they were not satisfied with outer sacrifices Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 6

8. Indian Civilization Vedantic system: Spirituality The Vedic truth had been renewed by replacing much of the symbols by the language of intuition and inner experience Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 7

9. Indian Civilization Post-Vedic age: perspective A deeper mental and psychical living and brings man more directly into contact with the spirit and divinity within him Seeking intellect Science developed Inner continuity with Vedic and Vedantic origins with changes in mental and outward basis Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 8

10. Indian Civilization Post Vedic age: religiousness A transformation of symbol, ritual and ceremony Vedic Gods were overshadowed by the great Trinity Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva House of Fire replaced by temple Ritual or sacrifice replaced by devotional temple ritual Vedic Gods narrowed down in Vishnu and Shiva Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 9

11. Indian Civilization Post Vedic age: spirituality Intuition and soul’s experiences were core aspects Spiritual experience is a greater thing than reasoning intelligence Complex psycho-spiritual inner life of Puranic and Tantric religion and Yoga Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 10

12. Indian Civilization Puranic-Tantric stage: perspective Open the general mind to a higher and deeper range of inner truth and experience and feeling Not much change to the core but changes in instruments, atmosphere, and religious experience. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 11

13. Indian Civilization Puranic-Tantric stage: religiousness Ceremonies, picturesque temple worship Psycho emotional sense and direction given to physical images Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 12

14. Indian Civilization Puranic-Tantric stage: spirituality Opening of the heart and imagination of ordinary man For a deeper psychic spiritual truth experience the secret initiation remained The principle of the truth of the One in many aspects Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 13

15. Indian Civilization Spiritual Age (Sri Aurobindo) Various paths of Yoga Superman Decline of Indian culture In line with the puranic system, Vedic seers and Vedantic sages towards the deepest secret heart The indwelling Godhead And the luminous highest mind which directly open to a truth of the Spirit A divinization of human life and nature Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 14

16. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 15

17. Kautilya Professor at the University of Takkasila (also known as Takshila). Expert in commerce, warfare and economics. Takkasila was one of the topmost centers of education and according to some it was the world’s first university. Another great university was the Nalanda where Chanakya was once a student. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 16

18. Kautilya’sArthashastra The Arthashastra explains in detail the principle of righteousness in management and politics and stated that it is the essence of Kingship. To me he is World’s first Management GURU and Strategist. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 17

19. Education Kautilya’sArthashastra stated that teaching wrong things is a great crime. Learning is called learning from which result righteousness and wealth. In his opinion, training and learning destroyed unrighteousness, poverty and hatred. Along with the varies sciences the student was urged towards discipline and self-control. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 18

20. Education Lessons of discipline could be imparted to those Whose intellect had the desire to learn Who had the capacity to listen attentively Who had the power to grasp what was taught, to retain it in memory Who discriminate between the important and the unimportant, draw inferences, deliberate and imbibe the truth and not to others. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 19

21. Management With his successful Mandala strategy he slowly chipped away at the edges instead of attacking the heart of Nanda’s territory. He was able to throw out invaders by building alliances with the small kingdoms. The Mandala strategy, building alliances and time management are all tools that can be useful in governance and management. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 20

22. Management Kautilya’s view on leadership departs from a holistic view. Built on deeper human values that further the connectivity between citizens and their leaders. He mentioned values which a leader should possess: truthfulness, reliability, gratefulness, liberality, promptness, freedom from vices (lust, anger, greed and vanity), long term vision and respect for the advice of elders. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 21

23. Leadership A leader should study four branches of knowledge: philosophy, scriptures, economics and politics. In his Arthashastra he talked about combining both because realizing artha without dharma he did not consider as sustainable. Therefore one can say that the meaning of the Arthashastra is a framework for building wealth, welfare and wellbeing. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 22

24. Leadership In the daily routine that he prescribed for the King he allocated time for meditation. In essence his leadership focuses on finding a balance between the inner self and the outer world, the balance many managers are lacking today. The essence of leadership lies in the ethical foundations therefore the leader should adhere to justice and ethics. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 23

25. Governance The Arthashastra is a manual for practicing politicians. He prescribed specific tested administrative procedures. the coercive authority (danda) when officers do not meet their task or if citizens not obey the rules and regulations. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 24

26. Governance He conceived danda to be the surest and the most universal means of ensuring public security as well as the stability of the social order. He contemplates the universal application of danda irrespective of the offender’s rank and status. Government officials could enrich themselves either by cheating the government or by exploiting the public. He prescribed punishment for both types of fraud. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 25

27. Governance Profit was a must in his scheme of running public enterprises. His mixed economy is an example for the current efforts between public and private institutions to address wicked societal problems. An official who did not generate adequate profits in crown undertakings was punished. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 26

28. Human Resource Development Kautilya’s theory of the recruitment and selection of officials. He had developed the wealth tests, the virtue test, the pleasure test and the fear test. Those who passed all four tests were appointed as ministers. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 27

29. Relevance Dutch Society The teachings of Kautilya has relevance for the Netherlands as well in a time where it’s seeking for building trust among several stakeholders in the Dutch community and leadership. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 28

30. Relevance Indian community Kautilya’s teaching would suggest clear leadership with service to the citizens and discipline of the leaders towards efficiency. By stressing the common aim of the several communities/replacing the ego. Dharma and Artha should go hand in hand. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 29

31. Relevance His mandala strategy would be helpful in cooperation: starting with the main differences tends to only enlarge these differences. Starting with the less important issues or the similarities will have a positive impact on the process of collaboration. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 30

32. Relevance Kautilya built trust by having set clear responsibilities. By using danda policy for fraud. By acknowledging people’s talents. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 31

33. Selection of Maxims from Kautilya In the happiness of the people lies the ruler’s happiness. Many rulers have been destroyed by being under control of six enemies: lust, anger, greed, infatuation, arrogance, envy. The whole aim of learning sciences and scriptures is this: control over the senses. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 32

34. Selection of Maxims A ruler should not harass the roots of righteousness and wealth. Just as it is not possible to know, when the fish moving in water drink water, similarly, it is difficult to find out when officers employed in the execution of works misappropriate money. Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 33

35. Implications for Hindustani Society Self Purification and Inner cleansing a must for building character next to skills and intelligence Seek Balance between Dharma and Artha Religiousness in line with spirituality (service to mankind; talent development) Discipline, control of senses, creativity Punishment of fraud / bribes Time management and focus in tasks Dr. Sharda Nandram, the Netherlands 34

36. Netherlands 1985 Jodhpur, India 1901 Suriname 1966

37. Bio dr. Sharda Nandram Founder Praan Solutions Professor Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences HAN Associate prof. at Nyenrode Business University Co-founder Passion Marble Other: Member steering committee European Spirituality and Economics Society Trustee Foundation of Critical Choices for India Co-Chairwomen GOPIO Married, Children: Navin (1997), Sharan (2001) sharda@praansol.com 36

38. QUESTIONS ?Thankyou 37