Hindu Administrative Institutions c11.s4.1

c11.s4.1

Clauswitz whose work on ‘the art of war’ still holds the field as a classic defines ‘information’ in war as the knowledge of the enemy and his country. This is generally sought by letting loose informants and sending ambassadors to the enemy's kingdom. The institution of informants is as old as the composition of the *Ṛg-Veda Saṃhitā*. No other author than Kauṭalya gives a fuller treatment of this institution. The king-in-council shall appoint these secret officers after completely satisfying himself as to their character and ability.¹ According to Yājñavalkya these secret commissioners like the ambassadors must report to the king-in-council.² The *Kauṭalīya* says that the informants should be set in motion against inimical, friendly and neutral kings as well as the various departments of the state.³ The informants in the enemies' kingdom are to move with the people at large and intrigue against the king by inciting the people against him by playing on their weaknesses.⁴ The work of these informants consists mainly in informing their king of the attempts and movements of the enemy kings. They may also sow seeds of dissension among the enemies' army officers, ministers or royal princes.⁵ How much could be effected by sowing the seeds of dissension is seen from a careful perusal of section 1 of Book xiii of the *Kauṭalīya*. Again these informants encourage the army on the eve of the battle by speaking of their own successful operations and the failure of the enemy.⁶ This is because the soldiers knew full well that the information furnished by these officers should be correct as it was first-hand.