Followers

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Chanakya on Democracy and Foreign Policy

Ruler should take a decision on the strength of the majority of opinion submitted by his counsellors after deep and deliberate consideration of the issues involved.A ruler should adopt his foreign policy by deploying the well established four-fold policy of Sama (persuasion, conciliation), Dhana (monetary and other gainful incentives), Bedha (divide and rule policy) and Dhanda (punishment).

Foreign Policy / Political Ethics

A ruler should adopt his foreign policy by deploying the well established four-fold policy of Sama (persuasion, conciliation), Dhana (monetary and other gainful incentives), Bedha (divide and rule policy) and Dhanda (punishment).
http://www.philosophy.ru/library/asiatica/indica/authors/kautilya/canakya_niti_sastra.html

Who is Chanakya

Father of Political Science,Most of his views were so farsighted that they appeared to be prophesies also known as King Maker

His Dreams - How to run a Country

Broadly speaking, Chanakya dreamt of a country reaching the following levels of development in terms of ideologies and social and economic development:

• A self sufficient economy which is not dependent on foreign trade.
• An egalitarian society where there are equal opportunities for all.
• Establishment of new colonies for the augmentation of resources. He also advocated the development of the already annexed colonies. His imperialistic views can be interpreted as the development of natural and man made resources.
• According to Chanakya, the efficient management of land is essential for the development of resources. It is essential that the state keeps an eye on the occupation of excess land by the landlords and unauthorized use of land. Ideally the state should monitor the most important and vital resource – Land.
• The state should take care of agriculture at all times. Government machinery should be directed towards the implementation of projects aimed at supporting and nurturing the various processes; beginning from sowing of seeds to harvest.
• The nation should envisage to construct forts and cities. These complexes would protect the country from invasions and provide internal security. The cities would act as giant markets increasing the revenue of the state.
• Internal trade was more important to Chanakya than external trade. At each point of the entry of goods, a minimal amount of tax should be collected. The state should collect taxes at a bare minimum level, so that there is no chance of tax evasion.
• Laws of the state should be the same for all, irrespective of the person who is involved in the case. Destitute women should be protected by the society because they are the result of social exploitation and the uncouth behavior of men.
• Security of the citizens at peace time is very important because state is the only savior of the men and women who get affected only because of the negligence of the state. Antisocial elements should be kept under check along with the spies who may enter the country at any time.
• Chanakya envisioned a society where the people are not running behind material pleasures. Control over the sense organs is essential for success in any endeavor. Spiritual development is essential for the internal strength and character of the individual. Material pleasures and achievements are always secondary to the spiritual development of the society and country at large.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Chanakya Neeti

MONEY

TYAJANTI MITRAANI DHANAIRVIHIINAM
DAARAASHCHA BHRITYAASHCHA SUHRIJJANASCHA
TAM CHARTHAVANNTAM PUNARAASHRAYANTE
HYARTHO HI LOKE PURUSHASYA BANDHUH

(The money- less man is quit cold by friends, wife, and well wishers and dependents, on his becoming rich, they hang on to him again. In this world, money is only the true ally of man.

ANYAAYOPAARJITAM VITTAM DASHAVARSHAANI TISTHATI
PRAPTE CHAIKAADASHE VARSHE SAMULANCHA VINASYATI

(Unjustly earned money stays only for ten years. In the eleventh year, it disappears along with the Principal)

BIRTH AND DEATH

JANMA MRITYUN HI YAATYEKO BHUNAKTYEKAH SHUBHAASHUBHAM
NARAKE CHA PATATYEKA, EKO YAATI PARANGATIM

(Everyone experiences birth and death alone, he also faces the consequences of good and bad actions, and he faces the hell and heaven alone)

DESTINY

PATRAM NAIVA YADA KARIRVITAPE DOSHO VASANTASYA KIM
GHUKO NAIVA VILOKATE YADI DIVA SURYASYA KIM DUSHANAM
DHAARAA NAIVA PATANTI CHATAKMUKHE MEGHASYA KIM DUSHANAM
YATPURVAM VIDHINAA LALAATALIKHITAM TANMAARJITUM KAH KSHAMAH

(It is not the fault of spring season, if leaves don’t grow on a KARIRA tree. It is not the fault of the sun if the owl can’t see during the day. Cloud is not to be blamed if no raindrops fall into the mouth of the cuckoo. One is powerless to wipe off the destiny inscribed on one’s forehead)

AAYUH KARMA CHA VITTAM CHA VIDDYA NIDHANAMEYA CHA
PANCHAITAANI HI SRIJAYANTE GARBHASTHASYAIVA DEHINAH

(Life-span, occupation, wealth, education and ‘How death will occur, these five things are determined while a person is in the womb of the mother)

RANKANKAROTI RAJAANAM RAJAANAM RANKAMEVA CHA
DHANINAM NIRDHANAM CHAIVA NIRDHANAM DHANINAM VIDHIH

(The beggar becomes a king and the king becomes miserly. Destiny makes the rich poor and the poor are made rich by destiny)

ALMIGHTY GOD

AGNIRDEVO DVIJAATINAAM MUNINAAM HRIDI DAIVATAM
PRATIMA SVALPABUDDHINAM SARVATRA SAMADARSINAAM

(Brahmin (Dvija) believes God to be in fire. Sage believes God to be in the heart itself. A person with little knowledge thinks that God resides only in the Idol. But a man with just knowledge knows that God is omnipresent)

NA DEVO VIDDYATE KAASTH, NA PAASHAANE NA MRINMAYE
BHAAVO HI VIDDYATE DEVASTASMAADVBHAAVO HI KAARANAM

(The deity not only dwells in a piece of wood or in a stone or clay model He dwells in one’s faith)

DUTIES

MAATRU DEVO BHAVAH! PITRU DEVO BHAVAH!
AACHAARYA DEVO BHAVAH! ATITHI DEVO BHAVAH!

(MOTHER, FATHER, TEACHER AND GUEST are perceivable Deities)

EKENAAPI SUPUTRENA VIDDYAYUKTENA SAADHUNAA
AAHLAADITAM KULAM SARVAM YATHAA CHANDRENA SHARVARI

(As the moon illuminates up in the night, in the same way only one good son who is well educated and upright is a delight to the whole family)

KIM JAATAIRBAHUBHIH PUTRAIH SHOKASANTAAPKAARAKAIH
VARAMEKAH KULAALAMBI YAATRA VISHRAAMYATE KULAM

(One virtuous son is enough than a hundred duds for only one moon can dispel the darkness and not the stars though they are in thousands)

EKEN SHUSKAVRIKSHENA DAHYAMAANENA VAHVINAA
DAHYATE TADVANAM SARVAM KUPUTRENA KULAM YATHAA

(A wicked son causes distress to the whole family, in the same way as one dried up burning tree makes the whole forest to burn)


DUTY OF A WIFE

SAA BHAARYAA YAA SUCHIRDAKSHA SAA BHAARYA YAA PATIVRATAA
SAA BHARYAA YAA PATIPRITA SAA BHARYAA YA PRIYAVAADINI

(Wife is she who is chaste and deft, she swears only by her husband and she takes delight in her husband and she is soft spoken).

MIND CONTROL AND PURITY OF MIND

MANA EVA MANUSHYAANAAM KAARANAM BANDHMOKSHAYOH
BANDHAAYA VISHAYAASANGO MUKTAYAI NIRVISHAYAM MANAH

(The human mind is the cause of bondage and deliverance. The love for pleasure enslaves us but indifference towards it, liberate us).

NAASTI KAAMSAMO VYAADHIRNAASTI MOHASAMO RIPUH
NAASTI KOPASAMO VAHNIRNAASTI GYAANAATPARAM SUKHAM

(Passion causes distraction of the mind, the delusion is the biggest enemy of the mind, and Anger burns the mind the most. One who possesses the enlightened mind is the happiest)

ANGER (KRODHA)

KRODHO VAIVASVATO RAAJAA TRISHNAA VAITARNI NADII
VIDDYA KAAMDUHA DHENUH SANTOSHO NANDANAM VANAM

(Anger is the king of death, greed is the river of hell, knowledge is the wish granting cow and contentment is the celestial garden)

GREED (LOBHA)

DHANESHU JIVITAVYESHU STRISHU CHAAHAARKARMASU
ATRIPTAH PRANINAH SARVE YAATAA YAASYANTI YAANTI CHA

(Man is unsatisfied with life, women and food because it does not have permanence. Man has to leave all his belongings one day)

ATTACHMENT (MOHA)

YASYA SNEHO BHAYAM TASYAA, SNEHO DUHKHASYAA BHAAJANAM
SNEHAMULANI DHUKHANI SNEHAM TYAKTVA VASETSUKHAM

(Attachment is the root cause of fear and suffering by giving up attachment one gains happiness)

Sunday, March 22, 2009

7 Pillars of a Business

In his groundbreaking Arthashastra, Chanakya a.k.a. Kautilya (c. 350 - 283 BCE) lists seven pillars for an organisation.

"The king, the minister, the country, the fortified city, the treasury, the army and the ally are the constituent elements of the state" (6.1.1)

Let us now take a closer look at each of them:

1. THE KING (The leader/CEO/CMD)
All great organisations have great leaders. The leader is the visionary, the captain, the man who guides the organisation. In today's corporate world we call him

2. THE MINISTER (The Director/Manager)
The person who runs the show - the second-in-command of an organisation. He is also the person whom you can depend upon in the absence of the leader. He is the man who is always in action. An extra ordinary leader and an efficient manager together bring into existence a remarkable organisation.

3. THE COUNTRY (Your market - Segmentation,Targeting and Positioning)
No business can exist without its market capitalisation. It is the area of your operation. The place from where you get your revenue and cash flow. You basically dominate this territory and would like to keep your monopoly in this segment.

4. THE FORTIFID CITY (Head office)
You need a control tower - a place from where all planning and strategies are made. It's from here that your central administrative work is done. It's the nucleus and the center of any organisation.

5. THE TREASURY(Finance/Budgeting)
Finance is an extremely important resource. It is the backbone of any business. A strong and well-managed treasury is the heart of any organisation. Your treasury is also your financial hub.

6. THE ARMY (Your Team/Security)
When we go to war, we need a well-equipped and trained army. The army consists of your team members. Those who are ready to fight for the organisation. The salesmen, the accountant, the driver, the peon - all of them add to your team.

7. THE ALLY (friend / consultant)
Being, in the same boat, he can identify with you and stay close. He is the one whom you can depend upon when problems arise.

Look at these seven pillars. Only when these are built into firm and strong sections can the organisation shoulder any responsibility and face all challenges.

Chanakya / Biography / Collection of Information

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanakya
http://www.worldofbiography.com/9046-Chanakya/
http://www.esnips.com/_t_/chanakya

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