The References of Environmental Preservation in Kautilya‟s Arthasastra

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Environment and ecological, 4th century B.C. by Kautilya

Abstract

Environment and ecological crisis have been the hottest topics of debates for the last decades. The basic issues of today‟s environmental awareness for preservation and prevention of its degradation are discernible implicitly in a number of Sutras in Arthsastra, considered to have been written in 4th century B.C. by Kautilya. During the early 20th century Rabindranath Tagore dealt in detail with various aspects of environment in his various writings. Unlike the present day piecemeal and adhoc approach towards the issue ancient Indian environment consciousness was holistic in its approach and it sprang from the Upanishadic gospel „Vasudhaiva kutumbakam‟, i.e., all the beings of the entire universe belong to the one family. The various injunctions on land use, on do and don‟ts, penalties and punishments specified for violation of these, rewards and incentives for proper use etc. demonstrates the awareness developed at that time for the preservation of land as a resource. The nature of land has been given much importance in Arthsastra. The ideal Janpada is the one which was “devoid of mud, stones, salty ground, uneven land….endowed with agricultural land with protected pastures….with farmers devoted to work”. It was perceived that “cultivable land is better than mines because mines fill only treasury while agricultural production fills both the treasury and store houses”. Natural and man-made calamities can afflict population have been listed in Kautilya‟s Arthsastra. Kautilya‟s prescription for disaster management is worth noting, particularly the anticipation of disasters and prior preparation for preventing them as far as possible. First he classifies the disasters caused by nature. Natural calamities are considered as act of God, and prevention of these have been prescribed through worship, oblation and recitals of benediction. Kautilya also prescribes that everyone should be careful about preserving common property and bio-diversity. Otherwise he would be fined. The people are supposed to perform duties towards community living. “Every one shall contribute his share to the building of common facilities. No one shall obstruct or prevent the lawful use of such facilities by others in the neighbourhood.

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References

Rabindranath Tagore: Rabindra Rachanavali, 125th Anniversary Edition, Visva-Bharati Publishers, Calcutta,

, (1) Bharatvarsha, Vol-2, p. 695; (2) Swadeshi, Vol-6, p. 497; (3) Dharma, Vol-7, p. 447; (4) Shantiniketan,

p.521; (5) Aranya Devata, p. .372.

A.R. Panchamukhi, SOCIO-ECONOMIC IDEAS IN ANCIENT INDIAN LITERATURE, Rashtriya Sanskrit

Sansthan, New Delhi, 1998, p. 467.

Kangle, R. P., The Kautilyan Arthasastra, (English translation), Motilal Banarasidass, Delhi, 1986, pp. 165 –

L.N. Rangarajan, (ed.), Kautilya- The Arthashastra, Penguin Classics, 1992. p. .370.

Ibid, p. 116.

Klaus Michael Meyer Abich, Humans in Nature: Toward a Physiocentric Philosophy, Daedalus, Journal of the

American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Vol. 125, No. 3, p. 214.

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Published

30-07-2017

How to Cite

Dr. Jai Prakash, & Dr. Vishwanath Verma. (2017). The References of Environmental Preservation in Kautilya‟s Arthasastra. Jai Maa Saraswati Gyandayini An International Multidisciplinary E-Journal, 3(I), 240–247. Retrieved from http://jmsjournals.in/index.php/jmsg/article/view/74

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