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CONTENTS |
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| CONTENTS:- Dynasties and Rulers; 1. Old political, legal and military India as depicted by Manu; 2. Development of the Hindu policy-a comparative study; 3. Political diplomacy in the epics; 4. Political philosophy of Kautilya; 5. The place of Kautilya's Arthasastra in the Hindu legal history; 6. Hindu law, a code of duties; 7. Administration of criminal Justice under ancient Hindus; 8. Crime and punishment in the days of Gautama; 9. The Platonic concept of justice compared with the Hindu concept of Dharma; 10. Hindu law in South India : was Hindu law never administrated in South India in ancient times?; 11. Ancient Jain heritage; 12. The Hindu ideal of sovereignty and state; 13. Buddhism in India, its origin and diffusion; 14. Asoka's place in history; 15. Administrative machinery of the Buddhist era; 16. Marriage in Buddhist literature; 17. Brahmanical counter-revolution; 18. Politico-legal aspect of the caste system; 19. Social, cultural and religious life in ancient Hindu times; 20. Military advancement in ancient India; 21. Warfare in ancient South India. |
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In his earlier book on Vedic and Aryan India, the author covered the groundwork of the magnificent edifice representing the ancient Indian political, legal, social, religious and military history to which the present and the next books will be the structure. The subject is vast and varied. Nevertheless the erudite editor has brought out in this work the excellence and declension, the harmony and conflicts, the fusion of cultures and social and religious dogmas, political and military revolutions and evolution of society and civilization in ancient and medieval India.
The political system in ancient India rested on monarchical system of government, though republics of assemblies flourished in Northern India and democratic government and rule of law were not unknown in ancient India. The first and foremost duty of the King, as prescribed by the Shastras, was the protection of the subjects from outside aggression and internal disorder. Besides the government was to support and help the weaker sections of the society and the victims of natural calamities and war ravages. According to Kautilya 'the good of the King does not consist in what is pleasing to himself, but what is pleasing to the subjects, constitutes his good'.
The initial articles in this book mainly rest and expound the political and legal philosophy of ancient India as explained above. 'Old Political, Legal and Military India as Depicted by Manu', 'Development of Hindu Polity', 'Political Philosophy in the Mahabharata', 'Political Philosophy of Kautilya', 'Hindu Law, a Code of Duties', 'The Hindu Concept of 'Dharma', 'The Hindu Law of Sovereignty and State', inter alia emphasise that 'idea of the sovereign as the parent of his people, is the basis of Hindu politics'. The rise of Jainism and Buddhism and the Brahmanical counter-revolution, the politico-legal aspect of the caste system and the social and cultural life in ancient India have been included in this book. How much ancient India had advanced militarily has been analysed in 'Chanakya's War Machine' and 'Gunpowder Originated in Ancient India', two very informative articles. As regards army and its composition in South India the four fold vision of the army consisted of infantry, war chariots, cavalry and elephants. The frequent war factors were inter dynastic feuds for the throne, carrying away cattle and abduction of women. In warfare, strategy and tactics were fully employed. |
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