Chanakya, a pioneer in politics is known for his work Arthashastra. The Sanskrit word Arthashastra means the science of material gain, but the accepted translations of the title include ‘Science of Politics’ or ‘Science of Political Economy’.
Composed between the 2nd and 3rd century AD, Arthashastra sums up Chanakya’s political thought and the text had great influence on governance. The book held explanations about various ideas to run an effective government, such as the nature of government, law, civil and criminal court systems, ethics, economics, markets and trade, the methods for screening ministers, diplomacy, theories on war, nature of peace, and the duties and obligations of a king.
Arthashastra disappeared in the 12th century and was re-discovered in 1905. The re-discovered edition dates back to approximately AD 250, which is many centuries after Chanakya, but the main ideas remain the same.
Picture Credit : Google
