Public Administration in Ancient India c19.76

c19.76

Although the force of circumstances compelled the Indians to submit for a time to Alexander, they did not brook for long the burden and reproach of foreign thraldom. Even before the Conqueror's departure from India, the standard of revolt had been raised in many parts of the country, and within a few years of his death, the whole of the Punjab threw off the foreign yoke. In this work of liberation, the Brāhmanas played an important part,¹ and it was the Brāhmana politician, Chānakya, who not only perceived the necessity for the establishment of a centralised administration in India, but actually helped Chandragupta to bring the whole of Northern India under his imperial sway. The beneficial result of this political change became manifest when only a few years later, Chandragupta was able to inflict a severe defeat on Seleukos, and compelled the Conqueror to sue for peace by offering to cede all the Greek provinces on the frontier of India, including Gedrosia and Arachosia.