The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c11.t26.15

c11.t26.15

Some of the war-taxes were described by Kautilya euphemistically as *praṇaya* or "love"-gifts.⁵ The Empire used to pose as "beggar" and appeal to the "patriotism" of the citizens for "voluntary" subscriptions. And in order that the "modernism" of Maurya finance may be appreciated still further it has to be pointed out that titles of honor were conferred by the government on the patriotic contributors. Subscribers to the "liberty fund" were honored, for instance, with a rank in the court, an umbrella, or a turban or some ornaments in return for their gold.⁶ Moreover, the government took special steps to advertise and give publicity to the donations of the patriots in order to create a spirit of rivalry among the rich in the acts of self-sacrifice.