Society, Law and Administration in Ancient India
Contents: Preface. Key to important terms. 1. Celebrated ancient countries in Eastern India. 2. The law of nations in ancient India. 3. The village headman in ancient India. 4. Jails and jail administration in Kautilya. 5. Buddhist India and rest of the world. 6. Foreigners in Ajanta paintings. 7. Foreign influences in ancient India. 8. Sailors of sixty centuries. 9. Ancient Hindu geography. 10. Guilds in ancient India. 11. Medical sciences and industries in Vedic India. 12. Woman in the Ayurvedic literature. 13. Modern light on ancient law. 14. The Hindu conception of moral judgment. 15. The concept of ‘Samrambhayoga’ in Hindu thought. 16. Some mathematical achievements of ancient India. 17. Disposal of the dead and funeral ceremonies in ancient India. 18. Widow in ancient India. 19. Wine drinking in ancient India. 20. Proceedings and judgment of a Hindu court in Sanskrit. 21. The royal court in Hindu period. 22. The angel and devil in Indian scriptures. 23. Ancient military India. 24. Strategy of Alexander the great and his campaign against Porus. Bibliography. Index.
"In the earlier two books viz. ‘Vedic and Aryan India’ and ‘Political, Legal and War Philosophy in Ancient India’ were examined the origin and growth of India’s civilization vis-à-vis polity, law, social manners, religious practices, culture, military organization and several connected matters. The emergence of Aryan civilisation in the north and the continuance of Dravidian civilization was also noticed.
"In this book we turn to pioneer achievements and a detailed study of a number of important subjects relating to ancient India such as advanced centres of art, culture and learning, the law of nations, the village administration and panchayati-raj, jails and jail regulations, Buddhism as international link, India’s external relations and foreign influences on Indian civilization, ancient Hindu geography, labour unions, Indian science of medicine, methods of the disposal of the dead and funeral ceremonies, and wine drinking in ancient India.
"Other unique subjects dealt with are : the Hindu concept of ‘samrambhayoga’, the Hindu conception of moral judgement as compared to legal judgement, some mathematical achievements, proceedings of a Hindu Court in Sanskrit and the angel and devil in Hindu scriptures. Ancient military Indian has been described in ‘King and his army’ and ‘Strategy of Alexander the Great and his campaign against Porus’. As already mentioned, the military affairs of a country, especially of ancient and medieval India cannot be excluded because of their impact on the political, economic, legal, social and cultural life of the people and as such for a proper perspective of history, military affairs must be included in any historical study.
"A solitary armed forces not united for resistance to a foreign armed attacks, capitulation in anticipation of defeat is favoured by many. But it weakens the morale of nation and induces them to surrender to a sterilizing defeatism. Modern weapons, however terrifying do not modify certain rules that are as old as nations. ‘The less a country fights against a conqueror, the more it will have to fight for him’. (jacket)
