The Military Strategy of the Arthashastra

About the Book :

As the world awakens to the growing importance of India, an understanding of Indian strategic culture and adherence to moralpolitik policies will certainly help make sense of the way India sees the world. Any discussion on this must start by understanding the role of history in the development of Indian strategic culture.

India`s actions have their origins in the teachings of traditional Indian strategic thinking. The most important source of this is the Arthasastra written by Kautilya. It was with the help of Kautilya that Chandragupta Maurya laid the foundations of a truly great Indian empire in 320 B.C.

The Arthasastra is a brilliant and comprehensive treatise on all aspects of international relations and good governance. Kautilya synthesized ancient India`s accumulated knowledge on statecraft, economics, military strategy, judicial and intelligence matters. He also advocated the use of deceit to attain one`s objective and such methods as wearing a disguise of moral probity, religious righteousness or citing moral righteousness to mask one`s intentions. Kautilya is thus an important component of India`s wide spectrum of politico-cultural resources.

About Author :

Colonel Harjeet Singh took early retirement from the Army in 1998 after a tenure as Instructor at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington (India). A prolific military writer and thinker, he has contributed articles regularly to several professional journals during his career. He is well known in military circles for his erudition and perspicacity of analysis. He holds a Masters degree in Defence Science and an M Phil in Strategic Studies from the University of Madras and has continued his interest in professional military matters after leaving the Army. He edits the ``South Asia Defence and Strategic Year Book``.