A tribute.....

... to a person who cares a lot about our motherland.

The complete version is here: click . The whole conference was about 2 hours long.

I like the basic concept of the approach that there is someone out there, who is directly interacting with the people and coercing them to do something for the nation. However, there are a few flaws with the push of the arguments.

1) It heavily relies on information gathering.
2) It heavily relies on middle class action.
3) It ignores the masses and wants them to do nothing.
4) It ignores the spark to fire up the three Is - inspiration, information, involvement.

I doubt the existence of this middle class in the past, when we defeated the Bactrian Greeks, annihilated Scythians, Yueh-Chis, assimilated the Hephthaelites (ok this is still up in the air, one version is that we managed to destroy them as well), almost destroyed the Sultanate rule, almost destroyed the Mongol rule, forced the British to leave. I doubt a broad based information gathering system then.

So, how did these things happen and how did we fare better then than we are doing now? I will leave this question open to visitors.

I doubt the middle class will do anything to save the nation. Although they have the means, they feel the pangs of the nation being tore asunder by forces beyond their control, they have all the reason to stay quiet. A few genuinely concerned people will continue to struggle nonetheless. Anything that doesn't involve the masses will fail.

About information, how many would sincerely sit down and absorb all that is out there? How should an average person reading something for the first time confirm the veracity of facts? What or who will motivate him to get involved after getting informed and inspired?

Somewhere, people have left out the elephant in the room in their quest to reform India. In fact two elephants. The two elephants that Chanakya did not miss. Check the following videos:

(Edited on 31st October, 8:16 pm. At the advice of Karmasura, and since none have taken up the conversation so far, I am expanding on the following videos and what they mean in the present day context for India so as to make my point clearer to the audience)

1) Chanakya's speech at Kaikayiraj Sabha.

This is a speech Chanakya makes in the conference room of Kaikayiraj. Karmasura had provided the translation of this post here for the same purpose as mine. The purpose is to rally up support following the Greek invasion from different quarters of the society. Chanakya says that an important pillar of any society is the education system and its participants i.e. the teachers. To paraphrase, the lesson from the video is that a teacher should feel proud only when the nation is victorious. The nation will be victorious when its values and customs will be maintained. This is possible by the nation when the teacher follows his duties. Thus, to reform India, we need to reform the teacher, and the education system and instill them with a nationalist zeal. There is also a suggestion for arming the teacher and militaristic training in schools and rebellion against the state if force is required to restore national pride. Most likely, there will not be any need of a rebellion to reform India, but the military drill can instill good health among the youth, and good health will enhance productivity, and also keep them from stupor and other ills in the society.

2) Chanakya's speech to a friend's mother.

This video was also translated by Karmasura here. Chanakya talks to a mother of a person who wishes to volunteer for the revolt against the Greeks. The issue was about getting recruits to fight against the Greeks. Chanakya's younger brother wishes to join the military but his mother refuses to. In the video, Chanakya says that if a mother is attacked, her sons will not stay quiet. So, if the motherland is attacked, why should her sons stay quiet? This wins her over, and gets his younger brother to join the army. The video is a showcase of the powerful influence of a mother in a family. While the father is away at work for most of the day, it is from the mother that a child does basic schooling. Many great people on this god forsaken third rock have shown great regard for the lessons they have learnt from the mother. Thus, if the mother is instilled with a patriotic zeal, she will instill the same in her sons and daughters, and they will not betray her teachings when they grow older. And, an extra effort to train today's mothers is needed, because once the part in no. 1 is established, the resultant human females from the education system will have automatically imbibed the patriotic spirit.

Once the spirit of nationalism is instilled, people will be automatically inspired to get informed and then get involved in participating in national activities. No effort needs to be done to invoke the 3 "I"s as has been mentioned by Shantanuji in the video.

These two, I think, will do a tremendous good for the upliftment of the nation, rather than specifically bombarding the middle classes.

Raj Dharma - 3

Recap: Part 1 and Part 2

In the third part of the series, we will see the qualities of a ruler according to the Arthashastra by Kautilya. My attempt here is to paraphrase material from the rendition of Arthashastra by L.N. Rangarajan, and try to produce a generalized attempt at understanding the conditioning of a king, his self control and his duties as explained in the Arthashastra which are essential parts to understand for people of a democracy, so that they can choose the right kind of leader for themselves. Those aspiring to participate in politics should also have a brush with these topics, since these qualities are to be expected of them as well:

Note: I am only skimming these ideas in brief. For a complete study, I urge you to buy the book I'm reading (click), or another translation of the Arthashastra.

Training a king: (In modern parlance, a PM?)

Importance of self discipline:

The three sciences [philosophy, the three Vedas {four now} and economics] are dependent on the science of government. Without the rule of law, pursuit of learning or vocation would not be possible. The rule of law can guarantee security and welfare of the people, and this rule of law is dependent on the self discipline of the leader. {1.5-2}

This self discipline is of two kinds - 1) Inborn and 2) Acquired. There needs to be a certain capacity of a person to benefit from training in discipline. This includes - obedience to a teacher, desire and ability to learn, capacity to retain, understanding, reflecting and ability to make inferences on what is learnt. A king should be able to acquire discipline and follow it in life.

Self Control:

This part mostly pertains to controlling the senses, not falling prey to lust, anger, greed, conceit, arrogance and foolhardiness. The leaders of a nation should avoid over-indulgence in the pleasure of the senses i.e, hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell.

Duties of a king:

The King is advised by Kautilya to be a Rajarishi {who is wise like a sage}. The features of such a king include:

- Having self control, conquering the temptations of the senses.
- Cultivates intellect by association with elders (in modern parlance, experts from various fields).
- Keeps a vast spy network.
- Is ever active in promoting security and welfare of the people,
- Ensures observance of dharma by people by authority and example.
- Endears himself to people by enriching them and doing good to them.
- Avoid daydreaming, acting by whims, falsehood and extravagance.
- Respect councillors and purohitas who warn him of bad behavior, make him follow his schedule and caution him when he errs.

Kautilya also advises the king to be energetic. If he is so, the subjects will be equally energetic. If he is slack, the subjects will be too and be a load on the economy. A lazy king as per Kautilya, is of ten a victim of his enemies.

Disaffection among subjects:
Besides, the king also has to control disaffection among his subjects, and must not act in a manner which would cause impoverishment, greed or disaffection among the people. If such a thing were to occur, he should take remedial measures {7.5.28}

The Arthashastra also warns the king against possible behavior which causes impoverishment, greed and disaffection among the subjects. This it says to happen when:

- The king ignores the good and favors the wicked.
- Causes harm by new unrighteous practices.
- Neglects the observation of proper and righteous practices.
- Supresses dharma and propagates adharma.
- Indulges in wasteful expenditure and destroys profitable undertakings.
- Antagonizes the knowledgeable by lying and mischief.

From {7.5.19-26} Such would cause resentment of the people against the King, cause rebellion and an opportunity of mischief in the country for the enemy. (Sounds similar, doesn't it?)

In addition to this, I would also like you to go over the earlier two parts of this series to have a complete review on the topic of Raj Dharma (Part 1 and Part 2) as covered until now. Let this also be a lesson for this Independence day. The pathetic and lax attitude of India's democratic rulers are one reason for our current condition. The other reason is public being unaware of the properties they need to look for in a leader, often getting swayed by petty issues like caste, free food, free electricity, narrow regionalist outlook, quota, etc. From a morally corrupt citizenry, only a morally corrupt leadership can emerge. May the above be a template for us to choose our leaders wisely, and to participate in the democracy with additional fervor than what we regularly show. The solution to a failing democracy as ours is not no democracy, as so many deluded people believe today, but is more democracy. The power is yours people, to be the change you wish to see in the society.

P.S: Some of these ideas have found a better, more fluid and contemporary expression in this article: click. Give them a tribute as well.

|| जय हिंद ||

The Dandniti

Quite often, politics involves conflicts of some kind. Some of them are among the King's own royal family/ PM's own party and some of them are between other enemies, sometimes of another party or sometimes of another country. Effective politics for a political power involves resolving these conflicts in its favor. Successful resolution of conflicts such that the issue never crops up again can ensure a long and unbroken stint of power for a politican / king.

One such doctrine of settling conflicts among political powers has captured the Indian mind since a long time. It is the four pronged approach of 'sama', 'dana' , 'bheda' and 'danda' (meaning conciliation, bribing, division and destruction) towards the enemy.

With today's India being pinned down on all its borders by indifferent or inimical interests, and Hindu Dharma being pinned down inside India by its sworn enemies, understanding the Dandniti becomes a prerequisite of Indians and Hindus and more so for those attempting to or desiring to join politics or do some social service. The four methods can be used singly, or in combination. Thus, there are fifteen combinations of tactics for dealing with conflicts by either choosing one, two, three or all four of these methods for dealing with conflicts. {9.7.77-78} The order of employing these methods could be an easier one first or a harder one first. Besides, it is easier to employ the earlier method in the order. For instance, 'dana' is two times more difficult than 'sama', 'bheda' is three times harder than 'sama' and 'danda' is four times more difficult than 'sama'.

The following is the Dandniti as explained by Chanakya in the Arthashastra and as translated by LN Rangarajan in edition from Penguin Classics (with some changes).

"Sama" - Conciliation:
'Sama' can be deployed in four ways

1. Praising the merits: This can be done by flattering a person on the basis of his pedigree, personal qualities, occupation, good nature, learning or wealth.
2. Linkage: Emphasizing relationship with the inimical entity such as a blood relation, relation by marriage, being students of the same teacher and other such commonalities.
3. Mutual benefits: Explaining how solving the conflict can benefit the two parties. {2.10.48-53}
   
4. Awards and honours: To award an internal enemy and give him honours to tame his warring tendency. {9.5.10}
   

"Dana" - Placating with gifts:
'Dana' can be employed by rewarding the enemy with money, granting favors, exempting from taxes and giving employment. {2.10.54, 9.5.11} In essence, bribing him to join the flock again. The gifts can be of five kinds: giving up demand on what is owed, return something received, donate something, allowing to keep something from the enemy. {9.6.24}

"Bheda" - Sowing dissension:
This is done by creating mutual suspicion between members of the enemy camp or by threatening one of them. {2.10.55} Techniques for this involve the use of secret agents to sow rumors of some kind.

"Danda" - Use of Force:
Basically, involves the destruction of the enemy, his property or liberty (plunder, harassment and death) {2.10.56}

Chanakya also provides some examples of usage of these tactics:
In case the target is a relative, the appropriate method is conciliation and placating with gifts. For citizens of a city, village or army, either placating with gifts or sowing dissension should be the option. In case of the tribal people or enemies, the method is dissension or use of force. This order is anuloma [natural and recommended]. If the order of methods are reversed, e.g. : 'danda' before 'bheda' ; 'dana' before 'sama', it is called pratiloma. {9.7.68,69}

In case of allies and enemies, a combination of methods ensures success because the different methods mutually reinforce each other {9.7.70.71}

Some methods are ideal in some cases and does not require the usage of others. Enemy ministers whose loyalty is uncertain can be grouped by conciliation, traitorous ministers can be pacified by gifts, a confederacy of an enemy can be disrupted by dissension and against a powerful enemy it can be outright war. {9.7.72}

With the idea of India gaining enemies immediately after its birth, Hindu Dharma's enemies being around for a long time, and the case getting progressively worse over the years, every Indian ought to master all the above four methods. That can increase the possibility of getting people in the political sphere who can deploy these tactics against India's and Hindu Dharma's enemies. Besides this, for us this post will also act as an appendix for future works