Kauṭilya’s Arthaśāstra in the Light of Civil Engineering and Architecture

Abstract

In this article entitled ‘Kautịlya’s Arthaśāstra in the light of Engineering and Architecture’ we have tried to forecast on Kautịlya’s thinking in the light of Engineering and Architecture of modern science. The Kautịlya’s Arthaśāstra as the name indicates is a treatise on Arthaśāstra. A definition of this śāstra is founding the concluding section of the work. There are many indications in the text that it has in view a comparatively small sized state. Similarly the book refers to ‘Janapada’s Or ‘vāstuka’. From these references vāstuvidyā or Engineering science has been choosen as topic of discussion. Janapada the territory with people settled on it, durga the fortified capital etc. play an important part in the administrative system.Arthaśāstra considered as a manual of statecraft and administration contains within it a wide spectrum of technological details by way of infrastructural adjunct to the various spheres of administration. The author injecting contentment and sense of security in the overall social fabric, would conceive that a strong superstructure can be built only on strong infrastructure. Various branches of Civil Engineering, as we understand today that technology, like town and country planning lay out plans for buildings architecture, design, construction materials, sanitation, irrigation etc. are to be found occupying appropriate place in the Arthaśāstra. In Arthaśāstra the sūtras, which are related to vāstuvidyā that is to the more comprehensive technology of Civil Engineering of today have been discussed in this article. Town planning architecture and civil Engineering, soil Mechanic