The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c14.s2.16

c14.s2.16

It is clear, therefore, that in stead of comparing Aristotle, the father of European political science, with Ganeśa, the God of Success in Hindu mythology, who is invoked by priests at the commencement of all religious ceremonies Pollock should have commenced his *Introduction to Politics* with the name of Śukra, who in the estimation of India has monopolized the credit of systematizing and propagating *nîti-śâstras* among mankind. For the present, however, the real historic pioneer is Kautilya, the “guide, philosopher and friend” of the first Hindu Alexander, whose place may be compared to that of the chief justice of Bagdad, Mawerdi (972—1058), author of the Arabic *Artha-śâstra*, *El Akham es Soulthaniyah* (*Les Statuts Gouvernementaux*).