The Science of Public Administration

  Kautilya was a professor at Taxila University and later became the Prime Minister of the Mauryan Empire.Kautilya is known as the Indian Machiavelli because of his ruthless and shrewd tactics and policies reflecting an approach to statecraft including warfare. The Arthashastra is a science which deals with the acquisition and protection of the means of livelihood. It is also a mean of ensuring the well being of human being in general. It's objective is two-fold. The first palana, refers to the administration and protection of state. The second, labha, is a conquest and acquisition of territory. According to Kautilya, an administrator can be an adept in the art of Public Administration only if he is conversant with the science of Public Administration. Kautilya enumerates seven prakritis or essential organs of the state. They are Swamin, Amatya, Janapada, Durga, Kosha, Danda and Mitra. The Swamin (Ruler) Kautilya says that the foremost duty of the king is protection of subjects...