Unit-IV Indian PoliticalThoughts: Classical Era

Hindu Conception of State

Introduction
Classical Hindi view of state is lound in Rajadharma Rajyashastra, IDand
Nitishastra and Arthashastra, which are diflerent Nomenclatures for the ndant.
scie
the study of the state. The problem which dominated the classical hindu vieu
state is its origm. the
Origin of state or kingship
In ancient India, the state has becn considered a
highest good on the cart
The state has been viewed as a concrete onc. Political
thought in ancicut ind ia
mainly concentrated on "Monarchy' as it was the most cominon form of
There is not as much speculation about the origin of the state as governinent
about the origin of
kingship. The state has been treated as synonymous of Monarchy. So, to the
Indian thinkers, the origin of the state meant the ancient
origin of the monarchy or kingshin
In vedic literature, Itihasas, smrithis,
Puranas, Mahabharatha, Ramayana and
in kautilya's Arthashastra, we find
many valuable views on the
kingship. The following are some theories of the origin of state ororigin
of
state or

Namely,
kingship.
1. Divine
origin theory
2. Force theory
3. Social Contract
theory or election theory
4. Evolutionary theory
5. Organic theory
(Saptanga theory)
In the Ramayana, the great
epic of India, the theory of dividing origin of
kingship has been referred. It also referred to the
king was compared to a Father.
In the Mahabharata, there are reference to
the divinty of the king. The
Mahabharatha states that a epic
person endowed with
descended from heaven to be the king on the earth. superior
talent and calibre
He was really a portion of
Vishnu on earth. "Established by the
God, No one transcends him."
In ancient Indian thought, there is
evidence that the institution of state
. .

came into being as a result of

war. Aithareya Brahman
the firth time.
mentioned this theory for
Nitikavya Mitra states that he who can not protect his people is unworthy of
being calleda king. Mahabharatha recognises the
of the state. Vedic literature inmportance offorce
in the formation
says that the successful leader in the struggle becomes
the king.
According to the social contract theory, it is believed that the institution
state came into
being as a result of contract between various of the
of
groups socieiy
by human will by an agreement between the
election of the king is found in ancient people and the king. The practice o
times. Kautilya's Arthashastra explains
when it became a
strong. and capable person to deal effectively with ne tna
socials and wlho sould be
capable of restoring a sense of security such a peia
[70
 olitical Thoughts:
Classical Era
71
share of paddy and Marchendix in
and
get
a. exchange for his services. Every
w2s o
ereed
to obey the command ofthe person.
as Hindu polityusualy believes..not a single Factor but
Hindu polityusu
The multiple..combined
theorigin state. The property, the family and are the predominant
ogetherfor

in the
process of the state origin.
x1ors
arding to the
tecording tothe roganic theory of the origin of state, the state is a living
like animals and plants, possessing organs each of which performs:
ganism,

function and is subject to development and decay. The organs are dependent
y i h i e d

other and
other and on
on the
th whole for their continued existence. This can be evidenced
on
each
the Saptanga theory proposed bytheancient Indian writers like Manu, Kautilya,
Vasiyavalka etc. The Matsya purana says."The king was the root and the subjects
the part of tree."Similarly,the 'Sukra Neethisara' Compares the seven elements
werethe
af the state with the parts of human body, Namely, the king is the head, ministers
the eye exchequer the mouth, army the heart, fort the hands, and the territory the
Kamandaka states thar The state can exist and function properly only if all
feet.
the limbs of its body politic become mutually integrated and co-operate with each
other" Thus ancient Indian thinkers.and classical Hindu view believed that a kingdom
without a sovereign is like a river without water a forest without vegetation.

Nature of State According to Hindu View

As regards the Nature of the state, It was thought to be "as essentially a
of
beneficient institution evolved in pre-historic times for the efficient protection
human life and for the better realistation of its higher ideals."
of the state was the underlined idea held by ancient
Organic conception
India thinkers Manu and Kautilya postulated the organic theory, because according

to them" the state was not a loose assemblage

of parts, each having its own interests
and moving at its own will, it was characterised by an organic unity."
the state is a living organism,
According to organic theory of the origin state,
of
each of which performs a specified
like animals and plants, possessing organs,
function and is subject to development and decay.

The Hindu Organic theory of the state

is based largely on the Saptangas or
state. The seven elements are:
I. The king or sovereign
-

seven elements of the

3. The territory and population (Rastra or
(swaming) 2. The minister (Amatya)
-

The Army (Panda) 6. 1The friends and allies

Jonapada) 4. The treasury (kosha) 5.
-

most important of all the elements.

(mitra). 7. The king or the swamin is the
root and the subjects were the
The Mastya Purana says, "The king was the
Mahabaraths also provides similar reference in supportofthe organic
parts oftree."
state is cqually important and the healthy
theory of the state. Every element of the
the proper working together of each
functioning of the body politic depends upon
can strictly be
element or the limb. Manu states that "No limb ofthe body politic
can not stand if one of
regarded as more important than any other. The body politic
them is missing, Just as three sticks poiscd properly against one another will collapse
if one of then is taken away"
2 Political Science
Aims of State During Ancient Time
Indian political thought
During Vedic period (i.e. down to 600 B.C.) the aims of state was peace.
order and Justice were the prominent. But after the vedic period, the fourfold aim
of the state were promotions of dharma, artha, karma and moksha. These included
he all round moral and material progress of individual and
society.
Following the salient Features of Hindu state:
1. In ancient India state was regarded as a divine creation and
the king was
ppoionted by God to rule over them.
2. Monarchy was popular in ancient India.
3. The state consisted of seven
elements, Namely, the king, the minister, the
erritory, the resources, the forts, the military and the allies to perform their duties.
4. The state was a welfare state for the well
being of all sections of the people.
5. The state protected and
promoted dharma, artha, kama and moksha.
6. The
king was the custodian of the state and Government.
7. Kingship was
regarded as a sacred trust and the king was an honourable
ustee of hindu state.
8. Varuna, the God of
rain, would punish the unjust king.
9. The threat of shell was a
great deterrent to a corrupt king.
,
10. The divinity resided in the kingship, but not in the
anctions of the state person of king.
State
discharged the following functions during anicient India.
Social Functions
According to Kautiha "tho fother
 ideals
apart from fully prosperous social and econonic life.
Islamic Concept of State in India
Introduction
Emihent scholar like Dr.R.P.Ashral, Dr. Ishwari prasad, Prof. A.. Sivaslava,
etc. hold that the muslim state in medival lndia was
theocracy.
The king was both eaesar as well as popo. But, his autlority was restricted
by the principles of shariat. His rule was based on religion and the ulemas
predominated the state. It has been accepted by almost all the scholars that the
medieval Indian state was run on the dictates of the shara.
Dr. Qureshi himself admits that sharnma is based on the Quaran which is
believed by every muslim to be the world ofgod revealed to prophet Mulummad on
the two rocks the Quran and Hadis (the prophet's interpretatio on the revelation
-

embodies in his tradition) is built the structure of muslim law. Thi law was the
actual sovereign in muslim Lands."
In other owrds, we can say that it is adnilted on all hands that the law which
law, All Ihe rulers
prevailedduring medieval lndia was shara, il was not a secular
of Islam.
Juringthat period were bound to rule according to the law
 State (Nature)
oncept of the founder of the first muslim
state
was
other .as the
Mohammad
The prophet
one as the
and other
founder of the Islam and
two capacity,
world and acted in sn
(PUB) called upon to enforce and read
faithful. The prophed
emporalhead ofthe
ihe quranic law.
is not to be found in the Our
The association of divinity and kingship
for all muslims rulers there could
According to the muslim principles of sovereighty, and this muslim rulerwaas
wherever they might be living
be only one muslim king
Master and ruler of the entire
world and khalifa i
the caliph (khalifa). God is the
on this earth.
the human representative of God
"Touhid stands for equality
The islamic state is based on the unity of God.
Monotheism infused unity, homogeneity and stabilit
Solidarity and freedom. Islamic
abolished all discrimination and
in muslim society. The islamic shariat (Islmaic law)
promoted the concept human equality. The early Islamic state was based on the
of
idea ofunity of God, equality ofal, solidarity of people and freedom of individuals.
The Islamic state ofthe republic of Medinal (624 A.D.) was democratic in character
Subsequently the umayyad dynasty replaced the democratic character ofthe Islamie
state with the hereditary monarchy. The Islamic state is a Government of the muslims,
by the muslims and for the muslims. It is based on one script (Holy quaran), on
sovereign (lmam) and one Nation (Muslim brotherhood).
The main charactristics of the Islamic state can be summarized in the
following.
1. The Islamic state derives its authority from the concept of vicegerency
of Allah."
2.The safequard ofreligion and the superemacy of the word of Allah are the
first and primary objectives of the Islamic state.
Every other thing becomes secondary to that,
3. The policies
ofthe state are drawn within the limit ofthe intent of Shariyan-
4.The implementation of shariah is the target of the Islamic state and it is tne
purpose of its
very existence. This applies on all aspects of the state
political, economical, social and
behaviou
military, and it also applies on all the relationsiu
between the state and individuals.
5. It
should be absolutely non-discriminatory on the basis of race,
color

language and Nationality.

6. It should
guarantee gender equality.
7. It should guarantee
equal rights to all religious groups and accept pluality
ofreligion as legitimate and accep
8. lastly it should be democratic in
dignity. Nature whose basic premice
 ah tat ni Relizatnnm atlh un Allalh and his pwophets, atom in accmlano
that Faih, and the alratumd ' s Ielatim lutind av a result ot actiom and
wIw

PaithPath whwh is deserile n the uran, the oly lnoh ol lslam,

a
teait Nist t eliY ng that Alalh (tind) alome is Wothy ot worship anul that
MaihithNae N hun) is the wssenger of Allalh, atd in beaving witleww t
a n eslatenmont
his inplies:
eNistence is that ot \llah alone: Mau and entire ereation enist only
ause Alah n ills them to evist.
2As tther camt be two svunves of' ereation, as Allah alone is the ercato,
ewnthinge s fivm hum and gws back to him, henee the entire eneatim neluding
enan is the manitestatiom ot Allalt's power and glony and heneeofhis qualities or
atbutes.
S. The relatim between man and Alah is that ofa servant and the master.
As nan owcs his very existenee to Alah to worship any thing else is to commit the
SraInest of sins.
4The abne three aspeets of Faith in Allalh are realized by man only when
he rsponds to the massage of Allah and this is possible when men believes in
muhammad (peace be on him) as messenger of Allah.
5. He is therefore the pertect ldeal for Mankind, the perfeet servant of Allah
aund hene the mast ovnplete and the ldeally balnced manitestation ofthe attributes
oTAllah
Actiou: Action deseribed in Arabic by the wond 'amal, is the manifestation
in actuality law for we are true sen ants of God. Aaction needs rules and rogulations
according to which we organise our individual and social behaviour the renelations
and the actual physical emnbodiment ofthese revelations in the action ofthe prophet
(peace be on him) provide both the basis and the strueture of the law of hunman
conduct. known as shmah.
The scheme of amal (action) as the system and structure has the following
mplications.
Man is accountable to Allah for all that he does. Allah will Judge him on
the Day of Judgement and send him either to heaven, a stage of existence which
leads to further blessing or to hell, a stage of sutfering and punishment.
2. This Implies that man's life does not end with his death in his worl.. He
has life after death.
3. Therefore all human action should be organised in such a manner that he
may not suffer in lite after death.
 Political Science
76 world implies the organization of allfact.
4. This organization of action in this
Collectime, hence educational, economic, political
ofhuman existence, individual and the rules of externalconduct.
and social shummah provides the guidelines,
choice and Action.
5. This means man is free in his will,
Allah is a spiritual aspect known
Realization: Realization ofman's relation to
in Arabic as 'thsan'.
This realization is regarded as the basis of true devotion.
It signifies that man had identified his will with the will of God and has brought
it, at least as far as he is concerned completely in tune with the Divine will.
onsequently, he begins to like what is like by his lord and to like what is disapproved
y him. man, them, not onlyavoids evils which God does not like to be spread on the
arth, but uses all his energy to wipe them off the surface of the earth. The most
example of the realization is that of the prophet (peace be on him).
Islam and social Responsibility
Everyone has obligations to his own Family, and we also have them towards
society. Individual responsibility here becomes clear, since the commanding presence
of God Alone Makes each one of us acutely aware of his
duty throughout the
world. The welfare tax redistributes wealth
among the poor and needy so that
society can function in ajust manner. Parent hood is a sirious obligation and must be
assumed in a responsible Sections on moral behaviour are traced out m
manner too.
like manner. Good manners in both
private and public are like wise considered to De
important.

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