5026 Indian Political Thought-I

Course Name: POL HC 5026 Indian Political Thought-I

About the Course:

Course objective:

This course introduces the specific elements of Indian Political Thought spanning over two millennia. The basic focus of study is on individual thinkers whose ideas are however framed by specific themes. The course as a whole is meant to provide a sense of the broad streams of Indian thought while encouraging a specific knowledge of individual thinkers and texts. Selected extracts from some original texts are also given to discuss in class. The list of additional readings is meant for teachers as well as the more interested students.

Course Outcome:

• To underline themes and issues in political traditions of pre-colonial India.

• To compare and contrast positions of different political traditions those were present in pre-colonial India.

• To evaluate the relevance of political thought of pre-colonial India for contemporary politics

Course Plan: POL HC 5026 Indian Political Thought-I

Session Plan:

II. Ved Vyasa (Shantiparva): Rajadharma (5 lectures)

III. Manu: Social Laws (6 lectures)

IV. Kautilya: Theory of State (7 lectures)

V. Aggannasutta (Digha Nikaya): Theory of kingship (5 lectures)

VI. Barani: Ideal Polity (6 lectures)

VII. Abul Fazal: Monarchy (6 lectures)

VIII.Kabir: Syncretism (5 lectures)

Essential Readings:

I .Traditions of Pre-modern Indian Political Thought:

• B. Parekh, (1986) ‘Some Reflections on the Hindu Tradition of Political Thought’, in T. Pantham, and K. Deutsch (eds.), Political Thought in Modern India, New Delhi: Sage Publications, pp. 17- 31.

• A. Altekar, (1958) ‘The Kingship’, in State and Government in Ancient India, 3rd edition, 64 Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, pp. 75-108.

• M. Shakir, (1986) ‘Dynamics of Muslim Political Thought’, in T. Pantham, and K. Deutsch (eds.), Political Thought in Modern India, New Delhi: Sage Publications, pp. 142- 160

• G. Pandey, (1978) Sraman Tradition: Its History and Contribution to Indian Culture, Ahmedabad: L. D. Institute of Indology, pp. 52-73.

• S. Saberwal, (2008) ‘Medieval Legacy’, in Spirals of Contention, New Delhi: Routledge, pp.1- 31

II. Ved Vyasa (Shantiparva): Rajadharma

• The Mahabharata (2004), Vol. 7 (Book XI and Book XII, Part II), Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.

• V. Varma, (1974) Studies in Hindu Political Thought and Its Metaphysical Foundations, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, pp. 211- 230.

• B. Chaturvedi, (2006) ‘Dharma-The Foundation of Raja-Dharma, Law and Governance’, in The Mahabharta: An Inquiry in the Human Condition, Delhi: Orient Longman, pp. 418- 464.

IV. Manu: Social Laws

• Manu, (2006) ‘Rules for Times of Adversity’, in P. Olivelle, (ed. &trans.) Manu’s Code of Law: A Critical Edition and Translation of the Manava- Dharamsastra, New Delhi: OUP, pp. 208-213.

• V. Mehta, (1992) ‘The Cosmic Vision: Manu’, in Foundations of Indian Political Thought, Delhi: Manohar, pp. 23- 39.

• R. Sharma, ( 1991) ‘Varna in Relation to Law and Politics (c 600 BC-AD 500)’, in Aspects of Political Ideas and Institutions in Ancient India, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, pp. 233- 251.

• P. Olivelle, (2006) ‘Introduction’, in Manu’s Code of Law: A Critical Edition and Translation of the Manava –Dharmasastra, Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 3- 50.

V. Kautilya: Theory of State

• Kautilya, (1997) ‘The Elements of Sovereignty’ in R. Kangle (ed. and trns.), Arthasastra of Kautilya, New Delhi: Motilal Publishers, pp. 511- 514.

• V.Mehta, (1992) ‘The Pragmatic Vision: Kautilya and His Successor’, in Foundations of Indian Political Thought, Delhi: Manohar, pp. 88- 109.

• R. Kangle, (1997) Arthashastra of Kautilya-Part-III: A Study, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, rpt., pp. 116- 142.

• J. Spellman, (1964) ‘Principle of Statecraft’, in Political Theory of Ancient India: A Study of Kingship from the Earliest time to Ceirca AD 300, Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 132- 170.

VI. Agganna Sutta (Digha Nikaya): Theory of Kingship

• S. Collins, (ed), (2001) Agganna Sutta: An Annotated Translation, New Delhi: Sahitya Academy, pp. 44-49.

• S. Collins, (2001) ‘General Introduction’, in Agganna Sutta: The Discussion on What is Primary (An Annotated Translation from Pali), Delhi: Sahitya Akademi, pp. 1- 26.

• B. Gokhale, (1966) ‘The Early Buddhist View of the State’, in The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. XXVI, (1), pp. 15-22.

• L. Jayasurya, ‘Budhism, Politics and Statecraft’, Available at ftp.buddhism.org/Publications/.../Voll1_03_Laksiri%20Jayasuriya.pdf,Accessed: 19.04.201

VII. Barani: Ideal Polity

• I. Habib, (1998) ‘Ziya Barni’s Vision of the State’, in The Medieval History Journal, Vol. 2, (1), pp. 19- 36.

• M. Alam, (2004) ‘Sharia Akhlaq’, in The Languages of Political Islam in India 1200- 1800, Delhi: Permanent Black, pp. 26- 43

VIII. Abul Fazal: Monarchy

• A. Fazl, (1873) The Ain-i Akbari (translated by H. Blochmann), Calcutta: G. H. Rouse, pp. 47- 57.

• V. Mehta, (1992) ‘The Imperial Vision: Barni and Fazal’, in Foundations of Indian Political Thought, Delhi: Manohar, pp. 134- 156

IX. Kabir: Syncreticism

• Kabir. (2002) The Bijak of Kabir, (translated by L. Hess and S. Singh), Delhi: Oxford University Press, No. 30, 97, pp. 50- 51 & 69- 70.

• V.Mehta, (1992) Foundation of Indian Political Thought, Delhi: Manohar, pp. 157- 183.

• G. Omvedt, (2008) ‘Kabir and Ravidas, Envisioning Begumpura’, in Seeking Begumpura: The Social Vision of Anti Caste Intellectual, Delhi: Navayana, pp. 91- 107.