ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 of the book undertakes a broad overview on the (pre) disciplinary underpinning of Arthashastra. Some of the questions raised in the chapter are related to the identity of the text and the author. These arguments set the stage for understanding Kautilya’s Arthashastra, by highlighting nuances which are generally associated with the broad disciplines of political theory, diplomacy and strategy. Questions of revisiting Arthashastra, its significance and the logic of re-engaging the text underlined. Why is Arthashastra relevant? Why is the text an important referent point for strategic thought? Who was Kautilya—a mythical figure as some scholars argue or is the name associated with a broader ‘Kautilya’ school? The chapter closes by underlining the ‘civilizational value’ of Arthashastra, in shaping political ideas and concepts. It also underlines its broader emphasis on examining post-disciplinarity as a technique which is embedded in Kautilya’s Arthashastra.
