ABOUT THE BOOK

In ancient India, there was a close link between the nature of political authority and forms of political protest. Authority of the king was legitimized through the Vedic rituals such as consecration ceremony. Second method of legitimization was based on the consent of the people which was secured through social contract theory of origin of kingship. Indian thinkers argued that the king who did not follow the principle of Dharma would suffer loss of authority.

In ancient India, the people followed various methods of protest to bring about change in the unjust policies of the government. If the king did not change his behavior after the protest, the people tried to overthrow the government. They used both nonviolent and violent methods. They offered dharna, demonstrations, fasting, jumping in fire to register protest, non-payment of taxes, assassinations of the tyrants and mass lynching of wicked despots. Freedom fighters in modern India followed some of these forms of protest to fight against foreign rule. It is for the first time that the forms of protest are described and critically analyzed in a book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Ashok Chousalkar completed his M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from University of Mumbai. He secured his Ph.D. in Comparative Political Theory. He worked with Dept. of Political Science at Shivaji University and retired as its Professor and Head.

Thrust area of his research is the nature of political resistance, rebellion and forms of political protest in ancient and modern Indian political thought.

His publications include 12 books in Marathi, 8 books in English, 6 edited volumes and more than 50 research papers. Some of the important books he authored are: Social implications of Justice and Dharma, Indian idea of political resistance, Rebellion and state, Comrade Dange-A political biography, Navaratra, Prof. D D Kosambi and interpretation of Indian civilization.

He has received many prestigious awards like Maharashtra Foundation, Yashvantrao Chavan award by the Govt. of Maharashtra, The M.P. Goenka award of Maharashtra Tatvadnyan Parishad. At present, he is editing a quarterly journal of social sciences in Marathi: Samaj Prabodhan Patrika.

CONTENTS

1. Introduction .................................................................................. 9
• Political Authority • Logic of Shankha and Likhita • Three Traditions • Authority and Dharma • Resistance and Protest • Objectives of the Study • Methodology • References.

2. Political Authority in Ancient India .......................................... 15
• Three Theories of Origin of Kingship in Vedic Literature • First Theory • Second Theory • Third Theory • Vedic Sacrifices • Brahma and Kshatra • The Vajapeya Sacrifice • The Rajasuya Sacrifice • The Horse Sacrifice • Constitutional Significance • Dharma and Legitimacy • The Concept of Danda • Constitution of Political Authority- theories of origin of kingship • Election of the King • Theory of Social Contract of Origin of Kingship • Vedic Roots of Social Contract • Buddhist Theory of Origin of Kingship • Kautilya on Social Contract Theory of Origin of Kingship • Theories of Origin of Kingship in the Mahabharata • Dread of Anarchy • Social Contract Theory in the Mahabharata • Social Contract Theory of Kapavya • Strategies of Legitimisation of Authority • Dr Coomarswami on Authority • References.

3. Nature of State and Ideologies of Dissent in Early India ........ 41
• Changing Nature of State in Ancient India • Social Order in Ancient India • The Nature of State and the Concept of Oriental Despotism • Ideology of Political Dissent in Ancient India • Ideology of Dissent of Buddha • Buddha’s Views on Politics • Fearlessness is Dharma • References.

4. Forms of Political Protest in Early India ................................. 57
• Political Protest in the Vedic Literature • The Sautramani Sacrifice • Political Protest in the Buddhist Literature • Forms of Political Protest in the Jatakas • In the Vessantar Jataka • Protest in the Arthashastra of Kautilya • Causes of Revolts • Meaning of Prakriti Kopa • Four Groups of Rebells • Forms of Protest in the Mahabharata • Protest in the Ramayana • Forms of Protest in the early India.

5. Revolts and Protests in Ancient India ....................................... 79
• Introduction • Gunadhya’s Form of Protest • Ideology of Somadeva • Suicide as the Form of Protest • Sacrifice of Vineet Mati • Brave Protest by Three Women • Punishment for Treason • Sacrifice of Jimuta Vahana • Victory of Truth • Mistake Amended • Forms of Protest in the Katha Sarit Sagar • Kalhana and Raja Tarangini • Salient Features of the Raja Tarangini • Dr Kosambi’s Interpretation • Unjust King Punished • Revolt Against the Inefficient King • Sandhimata was Winner • Militant Non-Violence of King Megha Vahana • The King and the Right of the Leather Worker • Protest Fast by Brahmin Woman • Lalitaditya- A Great Conqueror • Subaltern Defence of the King • Brahmin Revolt Against Excessive Taxes • Unjust Kings Assassinated • Wicked King Dies • Election of the New King • Hunger Strike of a Brahmin • Brahmins and Hunger Strikes • Ananta, Kalasha and Harsha • Violent Satyagraha of Vijayraj • Forms of Protest • References.

6. Political Authority and Forms of Political Protest in Indian Tradition: A Critical Study .......................... 107
• Constitution of Political Authority in Ancient India • Forms of Political Protest in Ancient India • Ideology of Reconciliation in Ancient India • Relevance in Modern India • References.

Conclusion ................................................................................ 121

Bibliography ............................................................................. 127

Index ......................................................................................... 133