Author Profile

Ravi Ranjan has credit to his all higher qualifications B.A. (Hons.) PolSc., M.A. (Pol. Sc.) from Delhi University and M.Phil. from J.N.U. Presently, he is an Assist. Professor at Govt. K.R.G. College Jiwaji University, Gwalior. He Possesses a prolong experience of teaching and research works pertaining of Indian Government and Politics in current perspective. He is a prolific Writer and Editor and has attended many national and international conferences and seminars.

About The Book

The excerpt underscores the significance of political philosophy in understanding governance, societal structure, and the role of government. It emphasizes the broad range of topics within political philosophy, including liberty, justice, property rights, law enforcement, government legitimacy, citizen duties, and when governmental overthrow is justified. It also highlights the remarkable coherence in governance across diverse small states in ancient India, governed by similar laws or codes derived from texts like the Smritis. These texts provided guidance on administration, economic management, and political affairs to rulers. Despite their ancient origins, the teachings of these texts remain relevant in contemporary times, showcasing their enduring wisdom. Furthermore, the excerpt acknowledges the profound influence of various thinkers on Indian political thought. To understand modern Indian politics fully, one must grasp the ideas and philosophies of past political thinkers like Kautilya, Manu, Shukracharya, and Narada. Additionally, it mentions the political philosophies embedded in epic literature such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as spiritual texts like the Bhagavad Gita and Vedanta. The book "Ancient Indian Political Thought" is designed to provide students with insights into the adoption and impact of political ideas over time. Structured in a self-instructional format with four units, it includes introductions, unit objectives, easy-to-understand content, "Check Your Progress" questions, and exercises at the end of each unit. The inclusion of short-answer and long-answer questions, along with a summary and key terms section, enhances the learning experience and facilitates effective recapitulation of the text.

Table of Contents

Preface
Chapter 1 India’s geopolitical rise in context
Chapter 2 Vedic Values
Chapter 3 Features and Importance of Political Thought
Chapter 4 Political Philosophy
Chapter 5 Codification of Laws
Chapter 6 Theories about origin of kingship
Chapter 7 Agganna Sutta Theory of Kingsship
Chapter 8 Moral Reforms of Thiruvalluvar
Chapter 9 Adi Shankracharya: Advaita
Chapter 10 Kabir ji
Chapter 11 Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Chapter 12 Abu’lFazl: Monarchical Authority
Bibliography
Index