The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c15.s3.37

c15.s3.37

The financiers' solicitude for the people's material prosperity is brought out in bold relief by the special arrangements they seek to devise for "hard times" in state housekeeping. Emergency finance is treated by them as something distinct from normal finance. Fines, land revenues, excise, etc., must not be enhaced, says Śukra,³ in normal times. Nor should holy places, religious establishments or properties consecrated to the gods be assessed as sources of public income under peace conditions. Extraordinary duties and fines may be levied when the state is preparing to maintain an army on war-footing.⁴ While the community at large is to be drawn upon for war-finance by regular enhancements of the rates, the pressure of the state is to be borne more distinctively by the rich. And the doctrine is laid down that loans are to be floated by the government to which the wealthy classes should be invited to contribute. The "public debt" is to be redeemed, however, with interest when the national danger is over.⁵