Kautilya, also known as Chanakya, was an ancient Indian philosopher, economist, and political strategist who served as the chief advisor to Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire. In his seminal work, the “Arthashastra,” Kautilya extensively deliberates on the detrimental impact of corruption on the state apparatus and national development. According to Kautilya, corruption acts as a corrosive force within the governance framework, leading to the misappropriation of government treasury. He contends that when officials engage in corrupt practices, public funds are diverted for personal gain, resulting in financial mismanagement and a depletion of resources meant for the welfare of the state and its citizens. Furthermore, Kautilya emphasizes that corruption breeds administrative inefficiency, as officials driven by personal interests neglect their duties and compromise the effective functioning of government institutions. Additionally, corruption obstructs the path of national development by diverting resources away from crucial projects and initiatives, impeding progress and hindering the overall well-being of the state. Kautilya’s insights on corruption remain relevant today, serving as a timeless guide for understanding the far-reaching consequences of corrupt practices on governance and development.
Tag: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
Decoding the Question:
- In the Introduction, try to give a brief introduction about Kautilya and his book Arthashastra.
- In Body, you can give three subheadings:
- Corruption Causes Misuse of Government Treasury in the Path of National Development.
- Corruption Causes Administrative Inefficiency in The Path of National Development.
- Corruption Causes Obstruction in The Path of National Development.
- Try to conclude with the importance of the Arthashastra of Kautilya in the contemporary world.
Answer:
Kautilya also known as Chanakya is known for his seminal work called the Arthashastra. He had written this great thesis at a time when monarchy was the form of government and Kings were expected not only to defend their territories but also pursue the expansion of the boundaries by way of waging wars and winning wars. In the process of his analyses of the state and its machinery, Kautilya focused on several dimensions of running a state/government.
Corruption Causes Misuse of Government Treasury in the Path of National Development: Corruption can be a frightening problem in which governance and social conditions deteriorate irreversibly and venality takes the centre stage. The conclusion is inescapable: corruption must be eradicated so that the system can be nursed back to health, or, even better, it needs to be stopped before the primary graduates to the secondary. Corruption is not a recent phenomenon. It has been through several centuries.
Kautilya wrote in Arthashastra, commented on the political economy:
- Just as it is not possible not to taste honey or poison placed on the surface of the tongue, even so, it is not possible for one dealing with the money of the king not to taste the money in however small a quantity.
- Just as fish moving inside water cannot be known when drinking water, even so officers appointed to carry out works cannot be known when appropriating money.
- It is possible to know even the path of birds flying in the sky, but not the ways of officers moving with their intentions concealed.
- He should make those who have amassed (money wrongfully) yield it up and should change them in (their) works so that they do not consume (the king’s) property or disgorge what is consumed.
- But those who do not consume (the king’s) goods and increase them in just ways, should be made permanent in their offices, being devoted to what is agreeable and permanent to the king.
Remedial measures suggested:
- Constant vigil, through a system of checks and supervision to monitor the functioning of government offices
- Sufficient remuneration to bureaucracy to enjoy ‘bodily comfort’. (He suggested 1/4th of the government revenue to be spent on salaries.)
- Putting in place an ‘information organization’. He envisaged having informers in each organization to report corruption.
- Strong punitive measures include fines, confiscation of property, jail terms, etc. Measures such as naming and shaming too were envisaged to have sufficient deterrence effect.
- Steps should be taken to change the psychology of officers to keep them upright.
- Follow the rule of law and an impersonalized, impartial, non-emotive approach towards administration.
The Arthashastra of Kautilya thus shows that the ancient system of governance and administration was quite contemporary in operational guidelines when dealing with corruption. In India, the Central Vigilance Commission advises the Central Government in respect of all matters about the maintenance of integrity in administration. Remarkably, Kautilya anticipated these modern insights so far back in history.
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