The study of Kautilya and his economic thought

Abstract

As Kautilya is our main theme of study, Arthaand#347;and#257;stra naturally sits at the focal point. There is plethora of research on Kautilya specifically and even more on Arthaand#347;and#257;stra. But the mystery of as to who Kautilya was, whether or not he was real, if Arthaand#347;and#257;stra really was his composition and in addition of the date of Arthaand#347;and#257;stra, still remains unsolved. It is our objective to find that missing link to establish the relationship between the Kautilya and his monumental treatise. Here is an effort aimed at bridging the gap between the past and the present; at establishing a strong bond between the Kautilya and times he interacted with. History is often accused of diluting the contents and flavours of the past. But it is what we have to rely upon to recreate past and its concomitant ideals and ideologies prevailing. The focus of the thesis is primarily on the economic thought of Kautilya and might extend to all length and breadths of supplementary deeds. Every minute detail has been subtly examined and every nuance browsed to reach at a definite conclusion; though certainty is a paradox, an unfeasible entity in historical research. The effect of physical nature or environment on the economy of people is inevitable. Rather the economy is primarily driven by the natural sources and resources at disposal. Hence in structural sense, Indian economy would be no exception. It much resembles the economy trailing from the ancient past. An analogy of both the systems would provide the better purview of our study. newline