Studies in Ancient Hindu Polity (Based on the Arthashastra of Kautilya), Vol. I c11.6

c11.6

The distinguishing feature of Chandra Gupta’s census appears to be that it was not periodical, but a permanent institution—a department of the State run by permanent officials. The department was a large one, manned by several officers. The head of the department was called समाहर्ता, i.e. collector-general, who combined in himself, besides those connected with the census, various other functions, such as collection of revenue, checking accounts, land survey, and the like. The area under his administration was in the first instance divided into four districts, and each district into a number of villages. Each district was placed under an officer (स्थानिक), and under him was appointed a number of subordinate village officers (गोप), whose work was supervised by their superiors, the district officers. The village officer was put in charge of five or ten villages, according to the directions of the collector-general.¹ Besides these, inspectors (प्रदेशा) were appointed for checking both the work and methods of the village and district officers. But this inspection was not enough. Over and above the inspectors, a special batch of officers was appointed by the collector-general to work as spies and "overseers" under various disguises on their own independent lines and supply information on their own account. The sphere of work of the spies was not identical with that of the village officers, for it included certain points of inquiry to which the village officers had to attend, and at the same time a few independent heads of inquiry, as will be explained below.