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State and Government in Ancient India c5: Preface to the Second Edition

State and Government in Ancient India c5

Language
English

Preface to the Second Edition

c5.1

The hearty reception that was extended to the first edition of the *State and Government in Ancient India* showed that the observation made in the preface of its first edition that 'A comprehensive work explaining succinctly the Hindu political ideas, theories and ideals and describing the different features and aspects of the ancient Indian administration in its numerous branches was still a desideratum' was fairly correct. While preparing this second edition an effort has been made to make the work as comprehensive as possible by adding several new sections and chapters to it. Attention may be drawn to the following new features of the present edition :-

c5.2

(1) A section has been added to Chap. I explaining the precise scope and meaning of the terms like the *Rājyaśāstra*, *Daṇḍanīti* and *Arthaśāstra* used to denote the political science. The chapter now contains a more exhaustive discussion of the problem of the authenticity of the *Arthaśāstra* of Kauṭilya and gives a critical discussion of the value of the different sources of ancient Indian polity.

c5.3

(2) Chap. II contains a new section on the city states.

c5.4

(3) In chap. III a section has been added on the distribution of functions and the vesting of the sovereignty.

c5.5

(4) Chap. XII, dealing with Judicial Administration, is a new feature of this edition.

c5.6

(5) Chap. XIV dealing with Interstate Relations now includes a discussion of the *Maṇḍala* theory, so frequently referred to by the ancient political writers.

c5.7

(6) The last chapter of the first edition on Historical Survey and Estimate has now been expanded into three separate chapters. The historical survery in the first edition was rather brief, extending over seven pages only. It has now been made fairly exhaustive and covers 45 pages.

c5.8

This subject has now separate sections dealing with
(1) Administration in the Vedic period.
(2) Administration in the Age of the Later Saṁhitās and Brāhmaaṇs.
(3) Administration during *c.* 600 B. C. to 325 B. C.
(4) Administration in the Mauryan Age.
(5) Administration during the Dark Period, 200 B. C. to 300 A. D.
(6) Administration during the Gupta period.
(7) Administration under Harshavardhana.
(8) Administration under the Rāshtrakūṭas.

c5.9

The second edition will thus give to the reader not only an idea of the origin and development of the several concepts and institutions of the Ancient Indian polity, but would put before him a concrete picture of the administration as a whole, as it was functioning and developing in the successive periods of Ancient Indian History from the Vedic age to about 1000 A. D.

c5.10

‘General Estimate’ now forms a separate chapter, the last one (XVII), in the book. Some changes had to be made in this chapter also, especially in those portions of it that dealt with the lessons which modern India can learn from the ancient Indian polity. The original book was written when the Princely Order formed an effective part of the modern Indian Polity and the constitution of the Indian Republic had not been finalised. Some changes had to be made in the light of the new developments during the last six years.

c5.11

This new, revised and enlarged edition of *State and Government in Ancient India* will be found to be as comprehensive as a book of 375 pages can be reasonably expected to be. It is hoped that it will appeal as an authoritative book both to the general reader as well as to the University student and teacher.

c5.12

PATNA,

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